Raton’s Boy Scout Troop 91 backpacked for two nights on April 26-28 throughout Sugarite Canyon State Park and Lake Dorothey Wildlife Area.

The group of boys, each after a full day of school, began hiking with full packs late Friday afternoon from the state park visitor center.  The temperatures were cool, cold in fact, with howling winds, by the time they hiked the few miles up to the Soda Pocket Campground.  The campground was closed to vehicles at the time, perfect for hike-in tent camping.

Overnight the temperatures dropped below freezing, and the water bottles inside the tents froze.  In the morning the tents and packs were covered by frost.

On Saturday the troop hiked with their packs several miles on the Opportunity Trail, to Lake Maloya, and up to the north end of Lake Dorothey, where they camped for a second night.  With warmer temperatures, the boys enjoyed fishing and kayaking in the small lake.