The troop escaped the hot and humid air of Houston for the cool and dry air of the Rocky Mountains. In mid July, members of Troop 266 traveled to central Colorado to participate in summer camp and high adventure activities.

        The older scouts camped at Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base (RMHAB), located near Salida, Colorado. They rafted over 30 miles on the snowmelt fed Arkansas River headwaters through class 3 and 4 rapids. Some of the group continued through the treacherous class 4 and 5 rapids of the Royal Gorge. The boys showed off their mountain biking skills on the Rainbow Trail, dealing with steep hills, rocks, trees and numerous flat tires and bike problems. The crowning achievement for the scouts was when everyone safely summited a 14,000 foot peak-either Mt. Antero (14,269 ft) or Mt. Shavano (14,229 ft). People who hike extensively and run marathons claim that mountain climbing is much more challenging. The scouts agree!

       The younger scouts spend their fun-filled week at Camp Alexander near Lake George, Colorado. Their activities consisted of earning merit badges in rifle shooting, wilderness survival, orienteering and camping. Wilderness Survivial required the scouts to make their own shelter and sleep in the 40 degree Colorado night. Some of the scouts did mountain boarding and biking, others accomplished the 1 mile (cold) swim! One of the highlights of their week was the hike on Pike's Peak; the scouts woke around 3am and hiked up Blue Mountain to watch the sunrise.

       As part of the trip, the troop visited the Air Force Academy, had a sleepover at Peterson Air Force Base, and toured the Garden of the Gods in the Colorado Springs area.