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Mr. and Ms. Seaver and Mr. Merica led several mistletoe harvesting treks so we could have enough mistletoe for our Gift Wrapping fund raising event at Sears and Burbank churches. They lead them on four different days:
Harvest 1: December 2, 2006
Mr. Seaver led us on a very productive mistletoe harvest in the Angeles National Forest. We arrived at First United Methodist Church at 7:00 a.m., and left in three cars at around 7:30 a.m. Our usual campground "Chilao" was unavailable due to construction. So we drove to mile marker 53 on the Angeles Crest Highway and parked off the road at about 8:30 a.m., at an elevation of 5,500 ft. It was sunny and cold, about 44 degrees.
We climbed over very steep hills and cliffs where most of the mistletoe was too yellow and not fit for picking. At one point a scout was stuck on a steep hillside on loose gravel and crumbling rocks. Jonathan, Matt, Mr. Sturrock and Mr. Merica used their knowledge of ropes, knots, and rock climbing to tie a rope around him and carefully lower him to the ground.
The team worked hard, and did manage to find some green mistletoe and fill a total of 4 large plastic bags.
When we went to leave Mr. Merica and Mr. Sturrock got stuck in traffic because of a car accident, and then we turned around and took another route through Big Tujunga to get back to Saint Francis Xavier and arrived at 3:30 p.m.
Scouts: Adam GW, Colin, Ethan, Jonathan, Matthew K, Sean, Tommy
Adults: Brian Seaver (Trek Leader), Jack Merica, Walt Sturrock
Packaging: December 2, 2006
At 2:00 p.m. we met at St. Francis Xavier to begin packaging the mistletoe into the plastic bags. At around 2:30 p.m. the scouts in Mr. Merica's car and Mr. Sturrocks' car arrived.
The freshly picked mistletoe was cut into the appropriate size pieces, and the dry yellow-ish parts were discarded. We placed the mistletoe in clear bags, folded the bags, put a bow on the top and stapled them. We filled several boxes with mistletoe, consisting of several hundred bags.
We began cleaning up around 3:50 p.m., and left at 4:00 p.m..
Scouts: Adam G, Colin, Eddie, Jeramie, Kameron, Matt R, Rafael, Sean, Tyler
Adults: Brian Seaver, Kim Kaufman, Lilia Deligio, Meralie Edminsten, Nancy Mercado, Sandie Seaver
Harvest 2: December 14, 2006
Mr. Merica knowing that we where running low on mistletoe at SEARS went to Big Tujunga Canyon and the Angeles Crest forest. He began by stopping off at the ranger station in Little Tujunga Canyon. The ranger kindly informed him where to find mistletoe quickly. He made stops at Fall Creek Trail, where he gathered a large bag full from an oak that was right next to the road. Monte Cristo Campground was next with mistletoe being collected from the sycamore tree next to the disabled access campsite. The last stop he made was on Upper Tujunga Canyon Rd. Where he got another big large plastic bag full. At 2:30p.m. After cleaning and sorting out the good mistletoe, one large plastic bag was delivered to SEARS that evening for bagging.
Harvest 3: December 16, 2006
We met at the First United Methodist Church at 7:00 a.m.. We left by 7:30 a.m., and arrived at marker 53? on the Angeles Crest Highway about an hour later. It was very cold with lots of ice and snow on the ground. At lunchtime Matthew K found a long piece of wood and tried sledding on the snow. He wasn't very successful. After lunch it became very cold and it started to drizzle. Not long after, it started to snow and sleet. We had about an inch of ice and snow on our cars, so we decided to call it quits before it got any colder. We arrived back at F.U.M.C. about 1:30 p.m. with 2.5 bags of Mistletoe, and seven very wet scouts.
Scouts: Colin, Matthew R., Matthew K., Rafael, Kevin, Jeremy, and Jay.
Adults: Mr. and Mrs. Seaver.
Harvest 4: December 21, 2006
We left Ryan's house at 8:00 a.m.. It was a very nice day with lots of snow on the mountain. We couldn't get past the Chilao campsite, because the road was closed due to snow. We found a large turn out about 5 minutes before Chilao, and found a large crop of Mistletoe. We filled up 2 bags and had to return back to Burbank, because Ryan had to gift wrap. We arrived around 11 a.m.
Scouts: Ryan
Adults: Sandie (Leader) and Samantha
Reported by Sean, Troop Historian, 1/1/07
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