Scouts gear up for hike challenge

12:33pm Wednesday 19th November 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

HUNDREDS of scouts will be pulling on their hiking boots next weekend in one of their toughest quests of the year.

Teams from Buckinghamshire and the surrounding counties will be taking part in the Grimsdyke Hikes orienteering challenge, with several trophies on offer for the winners.

But the teams could be battling against the elements as well as against each other in their hike across the Chilterns – with cold weather forecast for next week and the possibility of snow.

More than 100 teams comprising over 400 scouts and guides have registered to take part in the hike, which will be held at the National Trust's Ashridge Estate near Berkhamsted.

The younger contestants, aged up to 14, will be taking part in a 20km hike on Saturday 29, and putting their navigational skills to the test.

They will be competing for the Junior Scout Challenge Shield and the Misbourne Valley trophy.

The older scouts have a tougher task, with an overnight camp being included as part of their quest towards the Senior Scout Challenge Shield and the Open Challenge Fox’s Trophy. Their competition takes place over both days of the weekend.