Mickey Anders
Rt. 2 Box 119-D
Crossett, Arkansas 71635
FO4-2341

July 1965

Saturday

Dear Folks,
 Hi!  I just called y'all.  I feel strange up here among all these Yankees.  Boy they sure talk funny, but they say I also have an accent.  Ha!
 The first plane I got on sure had a pretty stewardess.  The pilot said we would cruise at 7,000 feet.  Wow!  That is sure high.  I thought that plane was a monster, then I got to Memphis and got on a bigger monster, then I got to Chicago and boarded an even bigger JET Monster.
 At Memphis I walked to the terminal - "boy was that a big place", I thought.  Next stop St. Louis. Man, what a GIANT-of-a-town...and the airport would make three of the Memphis airport... Next stop Chicago... Wow.  Second largest city in the nation and I believe it. And the airport is one mile wide (just the buildings).  The Minneapolis Airport was about the size of Memphis Airport.
 Well, they met us when we stepped off the airplane and I got here A-Okay.
 We had dinner served from Memphis to St. Louis. We had steak (with barbecue sauce, barbecue baked potatoes, green beans, and salad.)  (Boy did that salad have some weird leaves and things in it), and a muffin with icing with pecans in it and milk.  From Chicago to Minnesota, I had a glass of gingerale.
 Man the jet sure was smooth. That first plane was real rough when we went through some clouds but I could hardly feel it when we took off on that jet.  It was just exactly like I imagined.  Flying above all those clouds is just like a picture
 Boy, reading that article in TRUE sure scares me.  It said the first day they ran for two hours through mud, rivers, and woods.  This is a quote."If their mothers could see the," a visiting Minneapolis newspaperman muttered, "none of them would be here."  We will have to stay afloat for one hour.  We will get to go to Canada.  Way up in Canada on canoes.  I'll send the magazine.
 Love y'all,
Mickey Anders

Sunday

 Letter to Mom and Dad:
Howdy y'all,
 Today (Sunday) we got up at 7:00.  Went to the Hotel Normandy Restaurant and ate breakfast.  Miss Witheral came and got us at 8:00.  We left for Duluth.  Arrived at Duluth about 11:30. Got on a chartered bus (one of three) and started out for here (on Birch Lake).  We stopped about 1:00 at a roadside park thing.  It was just a wall.  We ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and baloney sandwiches; plums, potato chips, cookies and milk.  It was a picnic lunch.
 After arriving we found our leaders.  One was a Yankee biology teacher and the other is a good-ole southern Texan, both real nice men.  I told the Yankee biology teacher, Mr. Parks, about my sprained ankle and he said I'd better not go on the "Quiet Walk."  They have a Doctor here so I'll go see him and have him take this tape off and put new tape on.
 Well, they are coming back from the "quiet walk" dead tired and wet.  Wish I could have went.
 Just ate supper.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and SOUP, APPLE SAUCE, milk and donuts.
 Went to the doc. He said to go ahead and run on it.  We will only run about two miles tomorrow morning. SO.
 Can't think of much to say; so I'll go!
 Love,
 Mickey
 Address
 Minnesota Outward Bound
 Box 450
 Ely, Minnesota
 

Monday - 1st day (at the camp)

Mom,
 Today it is raining but it makes no difference.  A boy fell from the rope obstacle and broke an arm.  Last year a boy drowned.  So that should encourage you.
 I'll describe the rope obstacle.
 First, there is a vertical rope that you have to climb, get on a peeled log and walk on another rope while holding on to a smaller one above it; down an inclined rope by sliding on top, without touching the ground you go around the tree and there is another tree about three feet away and you put your feet on one your back on the other and go on up, walk across about six cables, that are like small ladders about 6" wide, by swinging from one to the other then down a rope ladder, across a rope, ... Oh, it's too difficult to explain.  We got to go canoeing today. I learned how to paddle a canoe.
 Love,
 Mic
 

Tuesday - 2nd day

Dear Mom,
 This morning we went canoeing, and I got special instructions from Art Thomason, a man about 60 but who really knows what he is doing.  I learned to guide the canoe a little better.  All of this was after our 1 1/4 mile run and dip.  And after breakfast.  Each morning before breakfast we have duty inspection.  Half of our brigade have to clean up the tent and the other half have to do a special duty.  Yesterday our half had to police the wash house are (Pick-up paper).  After canoeing we went to map reading and then to first aid.  Next we had the daily conditioning.  Bob Pieh (pronounced pay), a man about 50 and the director of the school, led us in all kinds of wild exercises.  I find these old men keep up with us kids very well.  Usually they stay ahead of us.
 Then we went to dinner.  Mashed potatoes, green peas, wieners, bread, peanut butter and jelly, and milk.  After lunch... drown-proofing.  I mastered it pretty good.  Tomorrow we have got to drown-proof for 30 minutes.  I dread that.  I don't know if I can make it but I've got to.
 We had to clear off part of a forest this afternoon. Time for supper so I gotta go.
 For supper: Pork chops, mashed potatoes, corn, peanut butter, jelly, bread, milk and straight donuts with coconut icing on top.  Coming back from Hill House dining room) I saw a little black-tailed deer.  He sure was tame.  I walked out toward him and never moved.  I got about 20 yards from him.
 One boy in my hut had never seen a toad.  We found one today and he was sure amazed.  I laughed at him.
 There are no snakes and no poison ivy so I can walk around here anywhere and not be worried about it all.
 Love,
 Mickey

Wednesday - 3rd day

Dear Mom,
 I just got through reading your letter.  Although it took four days to get here, I truly enjoyed it!
 Today I stayed up in the water without touching anything for all 30 minutes.  I could have stayed up a lot longer but it was so cold.
 Then we went out in canoes in our normal clothes and turned it over and practiced getting it straight again by using another canoe.  Then we turned it over again and paddled into shore with our hands and neck deep in water.  Then we had to swim 150 yards with our clothes on.  COLD!
 Then we had to do nine initiative tests:
1) balance two guys on a 2X6 across a log tied up about 7 feet high.  We did it in 2 1/2 minutes.
2) make a map of a crossroads. We did it.
3) 10 men get blindfolded and one doesn't.  The one man cant' touch a tent.  He instructs the blind men to put up the ten.  Didn't do it!  Nobody else did either!
4) Get a box of medicine and 11 men up a wall of ice.  We got the medicine and four men up.
5) using a 2X10X12 and a 4X4 and a 1" rope to get a sponge and the sponge was on a small boat about 16 feet out.  Here's a diagram:
 One guy got wet, and we didn't get it.
6) Using a 2X6X12 board, get 12 men on an about 3' by 4' rock in the middle of a stream at the same time by getting on one rock then to the other.  We did it barely.
7) Get 11 men over a 7 feet electric fence (that really isn't electric). We got three.
8) Using a 1 foot limb, 5 feet limb, about 30 feet 3/8" rope, and 30 feet 1" rope; cross a 20 feet river (that really isn't a river).  We did it correctly.  One of two brigades that did.
9) Carry a bucket of nitro-glycerin (that's really water) from a log that is inclined up to about 20 feet over a rope straight across between two trees about 30 feet up, and down to the ground by swinging on a rope suspended in the middle.  Don't spill any nitro-glycerin and get all 11 men over.
 We got 8 men over then started the nitro - A real crazy guy in my tent started over with it and about half-way it hit him but good.  The cold water hitting him just shocked him so much he dropped his mouth and swung back and forth. It was so funny everyone in the brigade fell down on the ground laughing.  Every night he starts talking and I almost die laughing.  Everything he says is funny, just the way he says it.
 Last night and tonight we have had discussions on leaders and leadership.  Pretty boring but alright.  One question was, "Why did we come?"  Most was just to see if they could do it.  One guy said he came because his mother made him.  Others just because the like this kind of thing.
 Please save all my letters, I'm using them as a journal.
 I'll use them for a speech if I have to give one!

Thursday - 4th day

Hi All,
 Today we ran 1 3/4 miles, took a dip, ran a rapids, practiced turning going up a rapids.  Swam a while.
 Five brigades took a TREK.  They hiked through real dense woods to a small lake about five miles away.  This afternoon we were supposed to go too.  But this morning one boy got lost.  He stopped to tie his shoe or something and his brigade left him.  We went out and scattered around and walked toward the lake hollering.  It was really so dense we could hardly walk.  We went through that mess for six hours.  We just got in and no one has found him yet.  We'll go looking again tomorrow.
 We got in an argument a while ago, and we decided we don't know if it is Thursday or Friday.
 Love,
 Mic
 PS. Got to get a lot of rest.  I'm really dead tired!

Friday - 5th day

 Today we got up at 5:30.  Didn't have to run or anything.  We all went to breakfast and they told us all the searching plans.  Then we lined up all nine brigades and the one in the middle was the brigade they boy was lost from.  They tried to follow their same path.  With four brigades scattering all 12 men five yards apart, we headed for Crockett Lake.  It rained last night pretty had so all the woods were wet.  All these woods are brush-country so everything is about head-high and very thick.  Since it rained last night the brush was wet and as we went through the woods the water came off on us and we got soaked.  Besides that, there was a lot of creeks that you couldn't see for the moss, and you would fall through where it looks solid.
 When we got to Crockett Lake we sat on a rock and ate a snack.  A plane has been flying back and forth every since yesterday.  By the way, yesterday afternoon Bob Pieh had an air horn on Crockett Lake blowing every 30 seconds.  Me and five other guys got lost from our brigade somehow and went to the lake by the horn, then stayed about 15 minutes and Bob Pieh said for us to come back.
 We started out but after 10 minutes the other guys caught us.  So all went well.
 Anyway while we were at Crockett Lake today the plan flew over a few times then dropped a gallon bucket with a long rope (5') attached.  One guy swam out and got it.  (It was just like in the movies!)  It said that they had spotted him yesterday at another lake nearby and so had the Air Force. Half of the staff (about 10) went toward the lake.  After about 30 minutes we came on back with another brigade.  Five brigades left for home when the staff left for the lake.  Two brigades came back 30 minutes after we did but staff wasn't back yet.  We got back about 12.
 It is now about 3:30.  Clym, our brigade leader (1 of 2), just came by and said the plane spotted him on a creek headed for a lake.  The plane is taking some guys and canoes and landing in the lake and paddling up the creek to get him.
 It is raining now so we have a chance to rest and sleep.
 Love,
 Mickey

Saturday - 6th day

Dear Mom,
Hi All!
 This morning we didn't have to run because we walked so much yesterday and the day before. The kid got home safe and sound yesterday afternoon.
 Rocky Teller, a famous woodsman, talked to us this morning.  He really knows his stuff.  He was used during World War II to train spies on survival.   He told about some guys wanted to steal a chicken but he said to go to the garden and dig up carrots or potatoes and replant the tops and they won't think nothing about it.  He is really smart.  He told all the edible berries and said to mix dandelions with meat.  He said to get a fishing fly and put in on a pole and move it around in front of a frog and he will bite it like a fish.
 We are about to go to First Aid, then Mr. Teller will take two brigades (one of them is mine) out and show us a lot of things.  It is about 10:40 now.  I am sure I will learn a lot from him.  Gotta go.  I'll take notes on what Rocky Teller says.
 Tomorrow, some of the brigades go on a shake-down expedition.  That is where they go out for one day and night to get used to camping for the "long expedition!"
 Well, it's noon now.  Mr. Teller showed us how to skin a rabbit. He said we can eat meat, heart, liver, and kidneys.  He showed us how to make a rabbit snare.  I finished of the first roll of film and took two of another roll.  I took the two of Mr. Teller and the rabbit.
 Got to swim a mile tomorrow.  They postponed it the other times.
 Love,
 Mick
 P.S. Found out at supper that we get to go on shakedown expedition tomorrow. That is one day long!

Sunday - 7th day

Monday - 8th day

Tuesday - 9th day

Hi all,
 I am on survival training.  We have got to stay out 24 hours!  Me and another boy, He is John Sullivan from Boston.  Rocky Teller and another man just came by.  They inspect and grade the fireplace and shelter.  He said ours was excellent.  It is Tuesday and I've gotten one letter but I really don't mind because we keep so busy.  When we were put out here, we started fixing our shelter.  We made it like a lean-to and put moss and leaves on top and fixed the sides up, too.  It is almost water-proof and it is very warm.  We only have a small hole to get in. I stuffed this paper in my picket.
 We fixed our fireplace between two big rocks.  Then I went to look for crayfish to eat or for bait.  We were given line, four fishhooks, wire for a snare, a handful of rice, and a gallon bucket. We looked around and found blueberries all over.  We picked about half-a-gallon of blueberries and now we're all set.  John is reading a book, and I am writing.  We started about 10 and it is 4:30 now.  Rocky told us what time it is.
 Yesterday and the day before we went on the shake-down expedition.  We started out going up the Kawishiwi River.  I carried an 85 lb. canoe over a 163 rod portage.  A rod is 16 feet.
 We paddled all day Sunday and got at Stone Lake about 8:30 it was almost dark and we put up tents without any light except flashlights.
 We ate a light dinner Sunday (sandwiches). Then for supper we had some dehydrated beef stew, dehydrated pea soup, lemonade.  I saw a lot of loons in Stone Lake.  That is Minnesota's state bird.  They make a laughing sound.  When we saw them on the water they would go under and come up 50 yards away and fly off.  We got up Monday, ate oatmeal with raisons in it and drank tea.  Since I've been up here I've learned to like hot tea with milk and sugar in it.  I got that from the Boston boy. Have some tea-bags when I get home.  When we got up Monday we took a swim without any clothes.  No one was around. So!
 We started back and we carried canoes and 75 lb. packs through a swamp.  We walked down a creek about 3 feet wide and I fell down and got the pack wet a little.  We pushed our canoe up a rapids on the way up and walked down a swamp and swam with our shoes on (that was all).  So I was wet both days. When we got home to the landing.  One boy (Boston) fell out of his canoe and turned over another.  That was very funny.
 Boy, we sure ate like pigs when we got back. It was 8 when we got back but they kept the food hot for us.
 Well, I want to write some other people so bye.  (I brought 4 sheets of paper.)
 Love and miss y'all.
 P.S.  All the guys up here get a kick out of my saying y'all and acerns instead of you guys and acorns!
 We just had supper.
 We got the fire started with one match.  Sat in front of it and ate 1/2 gallon blueberries.  They gave us some rice and a gallon can.  We filled the can 13 full of water, dumped in the rice and let it boil.  We had some salad, we put it in.  We had enough rice to finish filling us up.  We found some Labrador tea leaves and had them close to the fire to dry.  We have them in some water now.
 We are both full and are enjoying it very much.
 When picking the blueberries, we picked  some green ones and threw them at each other so we could tell the guys we had so many blueberries we had a fight with them.
 Gotta go,
 Mic

Wednesday - 10th day

Hip, Hip, Hooray!  I am very cold.  Shivering all over too!  I just swam a whole mile. Wow!  I started with my clothes on too.  I swam 13 mile with them, then took them off and made a life preserver out of my pants.  Floated on it about a minute.  The next lap I used a drown-proofing travel stroke which they taught us.  When I took my shoes off I couldn't get the knots untied and I almost dropped them.  I had my pants on my toes and had to breathe so I thought I was going to drop them too.
 I was saying all kinds of encouraging things to myself so I would keep going.  I said,"I'll show 'em what Arkansas can do." a million times I guess.  Took 2 pictures but it was cloudy.  Gotta go to ropes course.
 Love,
 Mic
 

Thursday - 11th day

 Mile swim.  Proud it is over.
 It is Thursday now and I just go through with First Aid.  We are having a small break and I just spent half of it talking to a man from England.  He was teacher in the Outward Bound over there.  I had a very enjoyable talk with him
 Last night we listened to a tape of a psychologist's analysis of the prisoners coming back from Korea.  They were all brain-washed.  Then we discussed cohesion in our brigade and when should you become involved.  We had a good discussion.  Afterwards I talked to the staff man there with us.  He lead the discussion.  He will be a senior in college next year.  He is from Ohio.  We talked about the school and what I thought of it.  He asked me what I was going to major in in college.  I said math, science or speech.  He said I had a very good voice and could express myself very clearly.
 I sure am glad I finished that mile.  Yesterday we ran two miles and swam one.
 I hope you can read my writing Okay.  I am writing on a table in the dining room  i can't usually do it.  I usually write in my bed without anything solid to write on.  I received two letters from you and one from Roddy the same day.  I appreciate it.  Tomorrow I've got a canoe marathon  God to portage four canoes 1/2 mile, paddle two miles, and end with 1/2 mile portage.  Then the rest of the day off.  Saturday we leave on long-expedition so I won't be writing any  Write me just the same, so I'll read them on the way home.
 Love,
 Mickey

Friday - 12th day

Canoe marathon
My canoe came in 3rd place.
had afternoon off to pack and rest.

Hello People,
 I just finished the canoe marathon.  We had to run a mile up a road and back.  We got a ticket at the mile mark.  Actually it was a little over the mile.  So I ran about 2 1/4 miles as hard as I could go.  I came in second in our brigade.  When we got back we grabbed canoes and portaged about 300 years to Birch Lake on the waterfront of the school.  We jumped in and followed this course:
 My canoe came in third place.  I am beat.  It took 65 minutes to run two miles grab canoes and paddle through the obstacle course and 2 1/2 miles.
 I am too tired to write anymore.  It is time for lunch (1 o'clock).  The marathon was at 10.

 I just ate supper. Today I left my notebook and ink pen in Hill House and someone stole it!  I bought some paper and have borrowed a pen.
 It is Friday and we are leaving at 5 o'clock in the morning so I've got to get some rest.  Last night I wrote 7 letters in 1 1/2 hours.  I was sure tired.  I received 3 letters today.  Wow!  I've got 4 from you, 1 from Roddy, Mickey McCone, and Deannie!  I received 1 from you, Mickey and Deannie today.
 I don't know if I told you or not so I'll tell you now.  Yesterday we had some "woods tools problems."  We were given two 3/8" nylon ropes and told to tie them between two trees about 40 feet apart.  We were told to put six men on at one time.  Since I am among the lightest I was one of six.  I was the third man on.  When the sixth man stepped on POP!  We fell about 30 feet to the ground.  I landed on another boy's head and bruised my rib.  I had a hold on the rope and got a pretty bad rope burn, but it's Okay now.  We fell at the same place where the boy in our brigade fell and broke his wrist.  Just FOOL LUCK we got away unhurt.  Then we had to build a platform 8 feet up in the air and put y men on it, for our second problem.   I was one of six again.  It stood well though.  I took a picture of it.
 

Saturday  13th day

Up at 5. Cleaned up the tent and had inspection at 5:15.  5:30 - breakfast.  10 after 7 we were leaving camp for the long expedition.  Traveled all day.  Got here 7:30.  We are at Insula Lake.  We traveled about 23 miles.  Stopped for lunch at 1:30.   Saw a bald-eagle today!  Reached Insula lake and set up camp.  I am on clean up crew.  So I've got to clean up dishes.  It is 10 at night.  Waiting for water to boil now.  We have 3 crews:  food, fire, clean-up.  Each day we change crews.  Saw a heron too.  Am writing by firelight.  Abe Lincoln style.  Rained during the night.

Sunday - 14th day

Rained last night.  Got up.  Took a dip.  Clear skies before bed and when got up. That's the way it usually is up here.
 I was navigator today.  We go about 25 or 30 miles a day.
 We made a portage through a swamp about 1/2 mile.
 We made a portage and turned a bend.  A moose was eating lily pads on the other side of some small bushes.  We watched him about 15 minutes.  I took 4 pictures of him.  My first moose.  Wow  On food crew today.  Bran Flakes for breakfast.  Honey, cheese, baloney, 4 slices of bread for dinner.  Dehydrated pea soup, and vegetable beef stew, lemonade, fig-bars for supper.  Saw a bald eagle in a tree.
 

Monday - 15th day

 Didn't reach daily destination yesterday.  Samagenagrie Lake (or something like that.)  So we tried to leave early.  At Pan Lake we couldn't find the portage.  We looked about an hour and finally found it, but we were an hour behind schedule.  When we got by a portage I looked up on a hill by the water and saw what looked like a big black hog, then it looked at me and I saw it was a small bear!  My first bear to ever see wild.  It ran away while I was frantically trying to get my camera out of the plastic bag  I have around it to protect it from water.  So I didn't get a picture.
 While we were stopped for that portage, I sure started missing home.  I missed home more then than ever.
 We had a lot of portages this morning but this afternoon we had very few.
 I took a picture of a small waterfall today.  I also took a picture of Saragana Lake, from the UNITED STATES into CANADA.  I am in Canada now.  Our leaders stopped at a ranger station and showed our papers.  We didn't get to go near the hut.
 Our daily destination was Silver Falls and we lost an hour and was behind anyway.  We made up for lost time on Saragana Lake because it was real big.  It was a windy day and it was almost like an ocean.  We reached Silver Falls about dusk.
 We were started out to travel all night without stopping but a wind came up and we were dressed very lightly so we stopped for supper about 10.  It is 20 til 12 and we will get up about 8 so I'd better stop and go to sleep.
 

Tuesday - 16th day

 Got up real late.  Didn't have but about 16 or 17 miles to Mack Lake.  Got off to a good start.  Up Ross Lake we had to make the Winter Portages across to a pot-hole and away from it to Home Lake.  It looked short on the map but when we got on it, it was straight up a mountain.  It was 1/4 mile straight across, but about 1/2 or more up, down and around.  I managed to crawl up it with a heavy pack on my back, but it was very hard.  I have never been so tired in all my life.  About 3 we got over that portage.  We paddled across the pothole and found the blazemarks.  Started carrying the packs.  Went about a mile and decided it was the wrong way.  I barely could get a pack through such a dense forest.  It went over a mountain and through a swamp.  After the first portage then this, I was really beat.  We decided it was a surveyors line.  About 7:30 we got back to the pothole.  It was almost dark.  We ate flapjacks, and carrots.  I'll get the recipe for the flapjacks. They are A-OK.  We decided to make the portage on into Home Lake.  It was almost dark so we had to take it extremely slow.  It turned out to be a mile long.  We all went back to get canoes and paddles and life preservers.  We had to go by flashlight and most of the boy's flashlights were very dim, so it was even slower.  I gave my flashlight to a boy with a canoe so I stumbled along behind a boy who had a dim one.  (It ran all the way down by the time the night was over.)  I carried life-preservers and paddles.  I was so tired I could hardly make it.  It was 3 a.m. by the time we got over the portage and in our canoes.  We traveled until we found a campsite.  We could see the Northern Lights.  They sure were pretty.  Built a fire, had some pea soup and slept about 2 hours on the rocks around the fire.  At 5 we made 2 more 1/4 mile up and down and around portages.  Reached Mack Lake barely alive at 10 this morning.
 

Wednesday - 17th day

Reached Mack Lake this morning after traveling all night.  Rested from 10 - 2. Put up tents.  Resting again.  Ate a big supper.  Got full for the first time since on expedition.  Stood around the fire and talked and sang with John Sullivan, the boy from Boston.  He is truly a great guy.
 Had some flapjacks, biscuits and Graham crackers and jelly.  Put a tarp on the ground and everyone slept til 2.  Woke up because flies were so bad.  When I woke up every one else was asleep and a squirrel was eating some scraps we dropped from the canoe dinner-table.  My camera was on the other side of him.  It sure would have made a good picture.
 I was supposed to go on survival this morning but we are waiting til tomorrow, so we can get rested up good.  We traveled all day Tuesday, Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.  I sure was beat.  Am in my tent now.  Looking forward to survival so I can get really rested.  I'll probably write a lot the next few days while on survival.
 I saw a duck fly for the first time today.  We were paddling in a pot-hole and I saw the duck.  We paddled toward it and it took off like it was going to fly but couldn't quite make it out of the water.  It did that for about 150 yards then finally got out and skimmed along the top of the water about 50 yards.
 Everyone wishes all  the time.  Especially last night.  They say they wish they were at a certain restaurant eating a certain thing.  Others told what they were going to do when they got out of here.  I have some plans myself!!!!
 
 

Thursday - 18th day

 I am on survival.  It is sprinkling rain.
 Last night we had a real big meal.  Spaghetti.  I ate until I was completely full for the first time since we came on the long expedition.  We also had a big breakfast.  We had cream-of-wheat.  I love it.  So please get some when I get home.
 I have my raincoat on and don't want to go to bed so pardon the rain and dirt on the paper.
 We got up about 9 and took a dip.  Ate and came on survival.  I am on a peninsula.  Some of the guys are on islands.  When I got here, I started building my shelter.
 I made it of birch bark.  A tree had been cut down and I peeled it.  It is waterproof I think.  It looks like I'll find out tonight.
 I am going to make a door tomorrow so I can close it up and keep cold air and mosquitoes out.
 I built my fireplace down by the shore and caught a blood leech in the water.  I've got him on a fishing line but my line is hung and I am too lazy to go out (cause it would be cold and wet), and get it loose.  I'll do that in the morning.
 I got some wood and went exploring.  I caught 2 frogs just walking along the bank.  They jumped in among the rocks and I grabbed them with my hand.  I skinned them and got them ready to cook.  I found some Labrador tea and fixed some up.  Tasted OK.  But not real good.  It made the water taste a little different.
 I cooked the frogs for a long time.  I just tasted the water.  It was great!  I'll eat supper in a little while.
 I've got a big blaze going and it is about 9.  Not dark yet.  That is the way it is up here.
 Dick and Clem just paddled by to check on me.
 Dick left 2 canoes on my land when he put me out.  He said I was dependable.  He just said to yell in case of an emergency.  He said the canoes could be used if I had a life preserver on.  But only in an emergency.
 It's kind of cloudy but it is hard to tell if it is going to rain hard or not.  So far it has been a drop now and a drop later.
 I think I'll eat and sit by the fire a while until I get real sleepy.  Then I'll go to bed and be able to sleep good.
 I don't ever think about whether I like it or not up here.  I just sort-of take it for granted.
 I tried my frogs and found I've boiled the meal right off the bones.  That's good but now I'm going to make a spoon before I eat them.  That'll give me something to do!
 Think I'll go until tomorrow!
Caught 2 more frogs and a crayfish.

 My Prayer
 God, I am going to be out here among the things you made for three days.  I will be alone.  It is going to be just you and me. I want to learn many things by this experience.  Please help me do just that.
 Help me to learn how to live off of the land you made for man.  Man has in turn made his own portions by using what you have given him.  Help me to use the things I am given here.
 This sounds ridiculous but I'm sure it doesn't to you but, Thank you for the frog you just gave me!
 God, I thank you again for the wonderful Christian family you let me be a part of.  I see now a little better what my family means to me and what part the family, in general, plays in the life of a boy.
 God, please help me to understand myself.  Help me to keep a stable mind.  Help me to understand and appreciate beauty and truth.  Give me the wisdom to follow thy will.  Show me thy will clearly so that I might be firm in my beliefs and in the belief of myself.
 God, I thank you for fire.  It is one of your greatest creations, I'm sure.  It provides light and heat, which are both essential to the human body.  It is a great thing.  Sometimes it seems more than light and heat.  It seems to be you, God!  I guess I put it right at that, because all of your creations are you!
 God, you are wonderful, great and mighty.
 Be with me always.  Help me to be strong in you.
 Lead guide and direct me.  Help me make your paths my paths.  Give me courage to trod in your footprints.
 God, help those in need tonight.  Help the insecure.  Help them to learn more of you, so they might find assurance, rest, and peace of mind, and heart through you.
 Help the other boys who are alone tonight, like me.  Be with them so no harm comes their way.
 God, I thank you for my friends and the talent you have given me to make friends with.  I thank you for love.  Help me to know true love for all things.
 God, I realize you greatest out here.  You have done so much for man.  You made fire, day, night... all things for his convenience.  You gave him love as a purpose in life.
 Yet, man has done so little for you.  Truly you are love.  because to do so much unselfishly and keep on doing it while we treat you so!  You are truly real, just, and loving.
 I love you, God!
 Amen!
 

Friday - 19th day

 We were given line, sinker, 3 hooks, 4 matches, some salt, first aid salve, bandaid and a sterile gauze, 2 snare wires (which we can't use since it isn't rabbit season, so I used one on my tin can so I could hang it over the fire) and 1 little tin can.  Mine was smaller than any of the others.
 Last night I caught 2 frogs and 2 crayfish after supper.  I believe God sent them because I was praying and asking God to help me learn to live off his land and frog jumped up beside the fire.  It was chance or luck maybe, but I am convinced it was God!
 I slept beautifully last night.  I left my fishing line out and the hook and sinker got broken off.  I have 2 more hooks.  I put one on and wrapped a small piece of snare wire around it for a sinker.  I put the crayfish on and fished a long time.  One of the crayfish got out of the can last night.
 I explored the other side of the peninsula.  Didn't find anything except a lot of Labrador tea.
 Don't have any idea what time it is.  When I got up it was real cloudy and it still is.  So I can't tell where the sun is.
 I am very surprised because there are very few mosquitoes here.  The other day while we took the wrong portage, my pants were covered with dead mosquitoes.  We were resting while Dick and Clem explored ahead and so we had a contest to see who could kill the most mosquitoes with one blow.  The record was six!
 I think I'll take a nap. I hope it isn't dark when I wake up.  I can't tell how soon it will be, because of the clouds.
 Later - It must have been 6 this morning when I got up, because it isn't dark yet and it has been forever since then.  I don't like this weather.  It has been getting dark for the last six hours.  I always said, "Well, it'll get dark in a minute."  It isn't dark yet, so I'm giving up and going to sleep.
 I found a few blueberries.  Must have been 50 real little ones.  I ate the 2 frogs (bones and all).  I got almost full!  I lost the crayfish I had on my fishing line.
 I guess I am half-way through by midnight tonight.  It would be alright but time passes so slow.  I think tomorrow I'll try doing something "just to past the time away."  Maybe I'll redecorate my house.  I am going to take a picture of it when they come get me.  I told them to bring my camera.
 I wish I was home.  I think of home all the time.  When I cook I think of mother and that leads me on to Daddy.  Don't think of Gale much! Ha!
 I made my two fires with one match each time so I'm doing great!
 In the morning, I think I'll write a long letter to everyone I know.  That'll pass some time, too!
 I've got my door fixed so I can close it up.  I'll do that just before I sleep.  I don't want to go to sleep now because I probably will wake up in the middle of the night and won't be able to sleep again.
 This sure is going to be a long three days.
 I am writing in my hut.  I've put out my fire and am fixing to go to sleep.
 

Saturday - 20th day

 I figure: At noon it will be 2/3 of the way over.  It isn't bad at all except for the weather.  It is still cloudy and can't tell where the sun is or what time it is.  I guess it is 5 or 6 in the morning because it is still cold like it is at night.
 Last night I slept great.  Went to sleep sometime yesterday afternoon because it wasn't dark yet.  I must have woke up a dozen times this morning and forced myself back to sleep.
 I decided to build a fire and keep it going all day.  I got my birch bark and squaw wood ready and tried to strike my match.  It just wouldn't' strike.  Soon the white part was off.  I said, "You cheatin' son-of-a-gun!" And struck a few licks with the red part and all of a sudden it lighted (Didn't know how to spell "lit".)
 I've got a pretty good little blaze going now.
 It seems like it is winter and Daddy and Gale and me are working and we've got a fire so we can warm up occasionally.  Just wrote 4 letters and started clearing a path up to my hut.
 Last night I had a lot of dreams.  I dreamed I took a chartered bus to a football game.  I walked over to a restaurant and ordered Hamburger, French Fries, and a malt.  They gave me steak, French Fries and 3 small Cokes.  I took it.  But Gale was there and he wanted half of my steak and I wouldn't give it to him.  We got into a fuss, and I finally gave it to him.
 I wish it were true about right now, because I am pretty hungry.
 I am writing real slow so I can pass the time away.
  I believe I'll write letters this morning and do housekeeping (put more leaves on my bed) this afternoon!
 I was just sitting here burning squaw wood, I had cleared from my path and Dick and Clem came by to check on me.  I waved and they waved back.  I started thinking.  Tomorrow it'll be over and I'll be on my way home to base camp, then home to home at Crossett!  I really don't want it to be over because you look forward to a good thing so long and then it's here and gone before you know it!  I figure this trip will be gone before I know it too.
 Later - I was sitting here by the fire and started thinking about God again.  I thought about heaven.  My range of knowledge is too small for such a wonderful thing.  I was thinking about what I was learning and how my life would change.  And it will.  I learned more of God.  I now have a closer relationship and a better understanding of God and his power.
 Suddenly the black rain clouds cleared off.  Now it is all white clouds and they are a bit higher.  I guess I too am a bit higher.  I think that by the time these 3 days and this course is over I'll be about 6 feet taller.
 The clouds clearing off made me think of Jesus Christ.  It makes me almost cry inside.  The three days of darkness and then He AROSE.  The clouds cleared and the sun shone through again.  It seemed the same even though the sun hasn't shone through yet!
 I am surprised at how much I think of God.  I think of Him constantly.  I realize his presence.  I am also surprised at how clear my thoughts are.  When I finished "My Prayer" I was surprised at how well I summed up my feelings.
 It looks like it's not going to clear up all the way after all.  A few more black clouds are under the white ones still.  But I know it is God's power and His Own Will that can clear the sky.  Just like everything else.  How can anyone not believe in God?  He is so real, especially now!
 This is truly a great experience in my life because I am so close to God.  I feel his presence every moment.  It is Great!
 Later - I just thought of naming my peninsula "Andersaw."  It is a state in the nation called God.  By state, I could mean like Arkansas or it could be a "state of mind" or a "state of being!"  I guess that is "food for thought."
 After thinking a while longer - I just realized that my three days (that before seemed to be an eternity) are now almost gone.   I am beginning to enjoy it again.  I guess it is because I can find comfort in thinking of God.  yesterday I thought very little except of myself.  Thinking of God is much better.  Soon it'll be dark (at least I think it will!).  Then I'll sleep and get up.  Come back down here to the waters edge and think and write until they come pick me up. It is very simple, it seems now.  It seemed so complex, long and mixed up before.
 My legs feel numb.  From not much exercise and no food, I guess!
 Later - I just saw the sun.  It is about 2 o'clock.  It was pretty for the first time to see it in 3 days.
 Later - I just realized that time is passing so slowly now.  But when it is over it will seem like it flew by.  That is because I am just sitting, thinking, doing nothing except throwing wood on the fire.
 Later still - Sun is out. Oh, how beautiful it is. This means I will get to se the Northern Lights again.  I had prayed that if it was his will to let me see  them again, so I would receive a greater blessing from my trip.  God answers prayer!  It must be 6 or 7.  The sun is still up pretty good.  I wish I had a gun.  I could sure mop up on the squirrels.  They come real close, but not close enough for a knife.  Since the sun came out I am in a much better mood.  It sort of symbolized light.  The light is the thought that it is almost over so enjoy it.  I plan to do just that.  I hope tomorrow night I get to take a picture of the Northern Lights for y'all back home.
 Along with the sun came the mosquitoes. There are a few already.  I guess they'll be bad tonight.  I'll probably stay up late though so it won't matter.
 

Sunday - 21st day

 I woke up because I was cold so I got up and built my 4th fire and sat and watched the sun come up.  BEAUTIFUL.  But just after it got up good more clouds came.  I hope it doesn't turn out like the other 3 days have.  While waking up this morning I heard a squirrel playing around my hut.  It sounded like he was trying to tear it down so I got up and scared him off.
 Later - I slept some before they came to get me. It seemed like forever before they came.  I stood up to get in the canoe and got real dizzy.  I was so weak I could hardly paddle the canoe.  We got here at campsite and ate a light lunch but I got pretty full.  I guess my stomach has shrunk.  We had bullion cubes, honey, and some bread Dick cooked this morning.  It was great to have real food in my stomach.  After lunch, we took a bath.  The water was cold but it felt good to be clean again.  Tonight we are supposed to have potatoes and gravy.  I think we will have fish too.

Fish supper.  Boy was that great.

 John's Song
Patrick McGanty, a Irish man-of-note,
Fell into a fortune so he bought himself a goat,
Be Dah, now says Pat, of milk I'll have me fill.
But when he got the nanny home, he found it was a Bill.
Now all of the ladies who live in Kilaloo,
They all wear bussels like their mother used to do,
They each wear a  bolster beneath their petty coat;
And leave the rest to Providence, and Patty McGentry's goat.
Mary McCarty, the know about to tie,
She took up all her underthings and hung - em out to dry.
Along came the goat and saw the bits-o-white,
And chewed up her folder-alls upon her wedding night.
Turning up the light she shouted out to Pat, Although I'm your bride, I'm not worth looking at.
I had two of everything like I told you when I wrote.
Now I've none of nothing all for Patty MCGenty's goat.

Monday - 22nd day

 Left real early. Very few portages today so we covered a lot of water.
 Last night I didn't sleep at all.  I laid there with my eyes closed and thought about a camping trip for the Sunday School class.  And I thought about the pancakes we were going to have when I got up. They were great too!  When I get home and everyone is working, I am going to make a million and have gallons of hot syrup and eat till I pop.
 When we started out this morning, everyone was fresh and happy.  It started to raining so we put on raincoats and ponchos over the packs and everyone started singing in the rain.  That sure was a lot of fun.  We were navigators, but I didn't even look at the map until the boy who had it, John Sullivan, got us lost.  We were supposed to sign in at a check point and we didn't know what to look for in a "check point."  After about 30 minutes we found a life preserver and a diary in it.  One brigade has been through before us.
 This afternoon we had a 1 1/2 mile portage over a tall hill (it wasn't quite a mountain.)  It sure was tough.  I carried a pack and, since I was first there, went back and got a canoe, and carried it about half way.
 Rained a little just now before getting into the tent.  Had dehydrated Boston Baked beans for supper.  TERRIBLE.  The dehydrated chocolate pudding was great.  We are supposed to have dehydrated eggs in the morning.  Last time they were terrible!! (Turned out GOOD!)
 Came 28 miles.  Rained some this morning. Got lost and went about five miles out of the way and lost an hour but still reached destination.  In first canoe:  me, John Sullivan (Boston) and Chuck Schlatter (Madison, Wisconsin)!

Tuesday - 23rd day

 This morning I got awakened at 5:30.  John was hollering because he looked at his watch wrong and thought it was 7:30.  He said we weren't going to get any breakfast so I broke out my daily candy bar and gave him some.  A few minutes later he figured out the right time.
 We made 14 portages today.  12 of them this morning so you can see we portaged a lot today.  Everyone was dead by noon.  We are at Basswood Lake.  It's a long way from our destination.
 At one portage we saw a deer and paddled right up to it.  We reached about 20 feet from it.  It was a doe.

Wednesday - 24th day

 Got off real early.  Up at 5.  Broke camp by 6:30.  Crossed into U.S. about 7.  saw a lot of people so knew we were getting back to civilization.  Covered almost 40 miles.  3 or 4 portages all day.
 Camped at Clear Lake.

Thursday - 25th day

 Up about 8:30.  Leaving at 12:30 to get to camp about 3.
 Fixed up some corn bread with corn meal, milk, salt and little Crisco!  Real good!

Friday - 26th day

 Up 6:30.  Run 1 1/2 miles, DIP!  Breakfast.  Ate until I almost POPPED.  Beam -did terrible.  Wall - did terrible.  Dinner - ate until I couldn't hardly walk!  Turned in equipment.