Troop 1 Katonah, New York

The Troop met at Katonah Elementary School early Saturday morning (December 6) for a 2 hour drive up to the Catskills and directly to the Kaaterskill Fall s trailhead. Once we got to the parking lot, we didn't waste any time and hit the trail that leads to the falls. At times the trail was icy and treacherous. The hike was up hill with about 250’ of elevation change over three-quarters of a mile. Once we arrived, the falls were absolutely amazing. It's clear why so many painters of the Hudson River School chose this site. We ate lunch at the falls and hiked back down to cars. Next we drove to South Lake and hiked 1.5 miles to the old site of the old Catskill Mountain Hous e. One of the famed "grand hotels" that served tourists from 1823 until it closed in 1941 and was abandoned. The property was acquired by New York State in 1962, who chose to remove the old hotel in a controlled burn in 1963 (Conservation Department policy forbids most man-made structures on land de...

More photos from the Kaaterskill Falls Hike and Campout, December 6-7, 2008. Photos by Alex Bacon. Enjoying dinner by the campfire Relaxing by the fire after a day of hiking Snug as a bug in a nylon encased, down filled bag Is this a dream? Can it be...? Holy cow! It did snow last night! Get that fire going to warm up and make coffee! Hey, is it snowing inside the lean-to? Our intrepid photographer, Mr. Alex Bacon Getting ready to pack out and head for home

This weekend, Troop 1 Katonah will be hiking and camping at Kaaterskill Falls . Scouts should come to meeting on Thursday with their packed packs, ready for inspection. Patrol leaders will be distributing food and equipment. We'll be going over last minute details in preparation for the trip. If you have questions about the upcoming trip, please direct them to your patrol leader or Scoutmaster.

Among some of the great photos we discovered in Doc Smith's collection were these unlabled snapshots from a camping trip sometime in 1954. What great examples of "old time" Scout camping, from the tents to the Chippewa tables, to the all-important bulletin board and duty roster. Recognize anyone in these photos? Know the location, or the occasion for the trip? Get in touch with us!

The Katonah Fire Department thanks the troop for their enthusiastic participation in Chili Night. The Scouts were a tremendous help, and their work is appreciated. Just a reminder to our Scouts that our first winter campout of the season is coming up. The troop will be hiking and camping out at Kaaterskill Falls on December 6. The troop will be preparing for this trip in the coming weeks. Many Scouts in our troop will be awared advancement ranks and merit badges at our December 18 Court of Honor . Parents and friends and family are invited to share in our boys' achievements! The annual Muscoot District Klondike Derby is coming up January 24. Each patrol will build their own Klondike sled and compete against other troops in skill events. The event will be held at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation , and more details will be available soon. Also in January, we are trying to set up some rock climbing sessions with Eagle Scout and climbing instructor Travis Winthers. Much to look forward t...

Scanned from Kodachrome slides found in Doc Smith's collection of Scouting ephemera from the last fifty years. Scouts from Troop 1 set up indoors demonstrating a "typical model campsite" at the Westchester County Center in White Plains during the Washington Irving Council Exposition in 1957. Our troop earned a blue ribbon for our "Campsites" display. We'd love to hear from you if you remember this event or others like it.

Please note three corrections to the Katonah Troop 1 Schedule . Katonah Fire Department Chili Night has been corrected to November 8. Our proposed camping trip to Kaaterskill Falls originally scheduled for November 22 has been moved to December 6 . Please update your schedules, and contact your patrol leader or one of the Scoutmasters for more information.

Thank you to everyone who came out to remember Doc Smith at the memorial service held at Katonah Methodist Church on November 1. And thank you also to the folks who could not make it in person, but sent their memories and condolences. On behalf of Troop 1 Katonah, we thank you for your kind words and support during this most difficult time. Rest assured, the teachings, dry wit, and warm memories of Doc will not soon be forgotten. If you have memories, photos, or stories to share, please send them along so we can share them at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Smith's memory may be made to the William H. Smith Memorial Fund, 171 Bedford Rd., Katonah, NY 10536.

These photos came from Craig Warner, an Eagle Scout from Katonah Troop 1. "I was a Troop 1 Scout from Fall 1963 (6th grade) all the way through Spring 1970 (12th grade). I was Hank Tschorn's Assistant Patrol Leader in 1965-66. Our patrol won the troop's advancement contest, so we got to go to Doc's cabin 1966 and in 67. I also attended the National Jamboree in Idaho 1969, and earned my Eagle in 1968 and "retired" with Gold Palms." Recognize anyone in these pictures? Please get in touch with us! Loading up at KES in the morning... Arriving at Doc's cabin Walker's Falls... when the covered bridge was still there "Get those canoes in the water, boys!" Camping at that bend in the river Fun and games back at the cabin Doc Smith and Todd Carruth engaged in a high-stakes game!

The funeral for Scoutmaster William "Doc" Smith will be on Saturday, November 1, at 11:00am, at the Katonah Methodist Church , 7 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY. All who knew him or connected to him in some way are welcome. It is requested that all Scouts appear in full dress uniform. Please email Otto Vondrak or call 585-820-2341 if you have any questions. From the Journal News, October 26, 2008: Dr. William H. Smith, 88, of Katonah, died on October 22, 2008. Dr. Smith ("Doc") was born in New York City on December 16, 1919 and was raised in Cold Spring, NY. He attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine and interned in pediatrics at the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania . During WWII he served in the Army in the medical corps. In 1950 he settled in Katonah to work as the first pediatrician at the newly formed Katonah Medical Group . He practiced with the group for 40 years and was the long-time Katonah-Lewisboro School District phys...

Dr. William H. Smith - "Doc" (1919-2008) It is with great sadness and deep regret that we inform you of the peaceful passing of Dr. William H. Smith, known to countless hundreds simply as "Doc." A valued friend to all, Doc continuously led Katonah Troop 1 since 1955. Teacher, healer, brother Scout and friend, Doc touched our lives in fantastic and positive ways that will continue to live on through all of us. Words simply cannot express our emotions at this time of great loss. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Smith's memory may be made to the William H. Smith Memorial Fund, 171 Bedford Rd., Katonah, NY 10536. Scoutmaster "Doc" Smith pins Dave Kane's Eagle award - 2008 Setting up Camp - Boston Freedom Trail - 1997 Dinner at Doc's Cabin in Maine - 2002 Canoeing on the Saco River - 2002 "In not knowing one's path through life is quite the dark trail traveled. Sadly when your guiding light goes out do not be taken back, but...