Promptly at 6:30 A.M., the first wave of Scouts set out from Alexandria toward National Harbor as part of Colonial’s Carpe Adventure Trek, or CAT. The 40 and 20 kilometer distances challenged Scouts to seize the (early) call for adventure during a day with a brisk wind and a high temperature of 47. In its second year, the CAT challenge was answered by 29 more hikers than in 2018 and included 14 units from four districts in the Council.
At support stops at Fort Hunt Park, Belle Haven Park, and at National Harbor, enthusiasm was high among Colonial’s hiking Scouts as they ticked off milestones and achieved greater distances. The smiles and laughs were plentiful (as were a few sock changes, blister treatments, and water breaks).
The first group of Scouts returned to Alexandria just shortly before 3PM to receive the coveted CAT Claw challenge coin for completing the 40km distance (akin to hiking a marathon).
Congratulations to all our CAT hikers who completed the trek. In addition, special thanks to Colonial’s Order of the Arrow chapter for managing the support stop at Belle Haven Park and to our many parent volunteers who helped at Good Shepherd Parish (host for the hike), Fort Hunt Park, Belle Haven and at National Harbor as well as the numerous volunteers who helped behind the scenes make this year’s CAT Trek successful.
The CAT awaits you in 2020….answer its challenge! “Many Are Called, Few Will Triumph.”
