By Bella Rowe, Link-Up Co-Leader
While 'challenge' for a Mayhew Link often means physical effort, true growth and development means challenging ourselves in many ways. This might be controlling pace so that the group stays together, checking in on others, or being ok with a group decision even if it's not what you personally want.
Our fourth group of Links embraced challenges. On Monday we came together to enjoy Greek-inspired chicken wraps in the backyard before taking on a tricky group initiative that required building a pyramid of plastic cups as a group using pieces of string attached to a rubber band...use your imagination! Around a campfire, Links played games that they'd learned on Mayhew Island and embraced the challenge of group decision-making as they weighed free choice options for Tuesday.
We woke up to rain on Tuesday and decided the best move was to get outside. We drove up to Franconia Notch and hiked the Lonesome Lake Trail up, fishing poles in hand! The lake was beautiful in the fog and we enjoyed making echoes across the water at another youth group. We had eaten our lunch on a bridge at the lake and watched as a diver bobbed around collecting trash in the lake. Lucky for us, this diver was a crew member at the hut and was available to give a tour once out of the water. Pierce from the AMC explained the history of Lonesome Lake as a fishing camp, advised us on the best area to fish, and talked about how goods get to-and-from the remote hut (and how a helicopter drops fish into the lake to restock it with trout!) Seeing the hut got us excited for our stay at Cardigan's high cabin and we 'left our mark' in the logbook on 7/23/24, and handed a thank-you card to Pierce. The weather cleared as we drove out of the Notch and we enjoyed better views before a delicious dinner on Mayhew Island and hiding some gnomes for island boys. After dinner we approached the dock to return to the mainland and a Link spotted a pile of wood perhaps 6 feet tall, 12 feet wide. Continuing their theme of embracing challenge, the group decided independently to take on what they called a "super work hour," spending two hours carrying the wood in a fireline to the boat, ferrying it to the mainland, carrying it off the boat and piling it neatly.
Rain continued Wednesday but we pushed ahead with our plans to canoe and camp on Belle Island, our first trip to the second-smallest Newfound Lake island. We packed up the canoes, returned quickly to the Base House for lunch and clean-up, and set off early in the afternoon. Building camp was more involved due to needing rain shelters for the kitchen and over our sleeping area, but this group embraced the work and moved quickly. We had ample time to swim and fish - some Links snorkeled from the south end all the way around to the north, with a staff member kayaking alongside. The north end was really where the fish were hanging out - several Links caught fish off the rocky shore and we all soaked in the peaceful view. We felt rain approaching and began dinner preparation while a game of whole-island capture the flag was organized. We had an exciting time and explored Charlie's Rock (if you want to know why it's called Charlie's Rock, ask Charlie!) We turned in for the night after beef ragu pasta and s'mores around a campfire.
In the middle of the night we had wet weather as forecasted and were grateful for our tarps overhead. We ate oatmeal in the morning and broke camp quickly which left us time to fish at the south end of Belle. Our canoe back to the mainland was the fastest of the four Links trips - and we were able to do it while staying as a group (sometimes more challenging than the physical effort of canoeing). Returning to the Base House, we packed up for Cardigan after some burritos and headed up the Holt Trail. We enjoyed pesto pasta for dinner, a sunset summit of Mt. Cardigan, and peach cobbler for dessert. Stargazing, a cool breeze in the cabin, and Moby Dick were all appreciated! One Link noted on the trail down from Cardigan's High Cabin that a favorite aspect of the trip had been learning from others. He noted, "I've learned from other Links - the quieter kids have really smart things to say...I learned from thru-hikers I spoke to by Lonesome Lake, I learned from staff."
Links rolled out of bunks Friday morning to apple cinnamon pancakes with maple syrup - I think some boys were still half asleep for their first bite. Most Links headed up to the South Peak and enjoyed laying out on the warm rocks and exploring the area before returning to the cabin to pack up, clean up, and lock up! We followed the Vistamont Trail to the Cardigan Lodge and enjoyed our lunch before swimming at Welton Falls and some Links spotted a huge fish in the main pool with their goggles on.
Friday afternoon Links handmade their own dough for pizzas, quickly made some cookie dough, and our final meal was served at the Base House. We reflected on a fun and challenging week; one Link realized Friday evening that what he had accomplished physically - over 12 miles of hiking, camping, canoeing - exceeded what he previously thought possible for himself. Another Link remarked that his only 'room for improvement' feedback was, "the trip should be longer...we need more time together."
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