Written by Chian Fon Jay & Lucas Ling, Edited by Dylan Soh
From 9 - 10 November 2024, the troop embarked on a night hike from Catholic High School to Ulu Sembawang Sunrise Point. From hiking along urban and natural areas, to cheering each other on through fatigue and rain, this would prove to be an unforgettable experience for many scouts, as it would be their first ever night hike. We invite 2 scouts, Chian Fon Jay and Lucas Ling, to reflect on this special experience.
Fon Jay (SPL)
At around 8 pm on the evening of the night hike, we formed a 马蹄 on the number ‘4’ on the track. Firstly, we checked all the necessary equipment and had a safety briefing, ensuring all the expectations were set for the night hike. At around 9 pm, we set off from school, excited for what was to come. It was the first ever night hike that most of the scouts have been on, thus we did not know what to expect. Despite this, we hiked through the night, keeping spirits high with songs and cheers. Finally, at around 6.30 am, we reached Ulu Sembawang Sunrise Point. We had really put in our 101% for this hike, and we got rewarded with a majestic sunrise. This was a truly unforgettable and invaluable experience for me, and I am sure that the troop shares the same sentiments. It was the first time we had hiked through the night and possibly for some of us, stayed up for the whole night. This not only let all of us develop values such as perseverance, but also bonded us together as a troop.
Lucas (Pigeon PL)
Initially, the hike was quite manageable as we were in a well populated area with paved roads and bright street lamps. However, as we proceeded, we encountered numerous challenges including having to cross roads as a large group, navigating around dark areas and, of course, the scouts' own fatigue. Throughout the hike, we constantly reported our attendance to ensure that everyone was safe and accounted for. We also chanted cheers and sang songs in order to keep our morale high throughout. At about 2 am, we finally made it through Lower Peirce to the final rest stop where we ate prata and chatted, bringing the bonds of the troop closer than ever. However, at the entrance of the Ulu Sembawang Park Connector, in an unfortunate turn of events, it started to rain heavily. Despite this, we pressed on through the storm, encouraging each other till the very end. At last, we reached the viewing point, where the rain cleared miraculously to reveal the morning sun. Although it was slightly cloudy, the sunrise was still beautiful, representing the fruits of our hard labour. To me, the most special part of the hike was on the road leading up to Lower Peirce reservoir. It was so secluded and quiet it felt almost surreal. We also did many loud cheers there in a grand display of troop spirit. I will never forget the unity and resilience that we showed, supporting each other and enthusiastically marching through the night. It was a unique experience, completely unlike any hike I had been through, and one that will be etched in my memory for a long time.
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