NOTHING PEAKBAGGER AWARD

This award was developed and sponsored by Troop 1210 (Foothills Church), Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Parmenides was a 5th century BCE Greek philosopher born in Elea (now Ascea), a Greek city on the southern coast of Italy. He founded the Eleatic School of Philosophy, and pre-dated Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Parmenides is considered the grandfather of Western philosophical thought. Parmenides was the first of the ancient philosophers to consider the concept of not or nothing, and made the ontological argument against its existence...”For never shall this prevail, that things that are not...are”.

On July 4th weekend of 2011, Troop 1210 Scouts and Scouters attempted a day trek of 14,496 foot Mt. Whitney. The 2010- 2011 Sierra Winter had experienced the highest snowpack in its recorded history. Despite a 0300 start with headlamps, and trekking through snow with ice axes, Troop 1210 made it to 13,000 foot Trail Crest before making the right safety call, turning around and heading down. The Whitney summit was not to be that day.

Or...was it? According to Parmenides, not does not exist. And so it is with Scouting, although the summit was not reached that day, all Scouts and Scouters gained much experience and good Scouting fellowship and memories, and should not come away with nothing, because nothing does not exist. All should earn a High Adventure Award...this award.

Requirements:

1. This award is earned by Scouting units who plan and attempt to bag a peak, but for safety considerations turn back due to inclement weather, high water and/or snow, hazardous terrain or unanticipated illness or injury, among other safety reasons.

References:

1. Mountaineering : Freedom of the Hills, Sixth Edition. The Mountaineers, Seattle, WA, 2010.