SANDPOINT — A month later and the excitement over taking second place at this year’s Klondike Derby hasn’t faded a bit for Troop 308 scouts.

“Our local boys surpassed their wildest dreams and came in second place for the Mountain Lakes District,” said the troop’s Gail Bryan. “The first place winner was a troop comprised of almost all Eagle Scouts so these young boys were particularly proud.”

There were over 600 scouts in attendance, including Sandpoint’s Troop 308, which is chartered by St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The troop, which recently welcomed a new Scoutmaster and a group of mostly younger, “greener” Scouts.

The Klondike Derby is a fierce competition among the region’s scouts and includes overnight camping in the snow at Camp Cowles in Diamond Lake, Wash. This year, the derby started Friday, Jan. 17, and wrapped up on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 19.

“Troop 308 boys were in tents during the recent non-stop snow storm with a couple of them braving it out in hammocks with bottles of hot water tucked in their sleeping bags to stay warm,” said Bryan.

Throughout the competition, Scouts had to pull their own sled loaded with all of the necessary gear to compete in everything from fire starting, lashing, and orienteering to shotgun, archery, and first aid. The Scouts were even judged on their prepared lunch, which had to be hot, healthy, and made while they were in the field.

“With such a young inexperienced Troop, hopes were high for fun but not necessarily for winning,” Bryan said.

Because of recent changes in BSA, districts within councils were merged this year for the 2020 Klondike Derby, it was held with both the Mountain Lakes District and Three Rivers District, formerly four separate districts covering the North Idaho Panhandle going from the Canadian border south to below Coeur d’Alene, including Kellogg and St. Maries and extending into Eastern Washington to include Colville, Deer Park, Nine Mile Falls, Metaline Falls and parts of Spokane, north of the river.

The Troop 308 team this year consisted of 15-year old senior patrol leader and Sandpoint High School student, Jake Oliver, leading the charge over eight other boys ranging from 11 years old to 15 years old with an average age of about 13.

Oliver had nothing but praise for Troop 308’s scouts.

“They did a really good job pulling together and worked as a team,” he said. “They were united as a team for the last half and it made them really shine.”

Working together as a team during the Klondike Derby was a lot of fun and it’s what the competition is all about, said scout Harrison Gedde, 14.

“My favorite part was coming back after that long day, hanging around the fire with the troop and celebrating our victory,” he said.

Fellow scout Shayden O’Dell Elltiott, 12, agreed.

“It takes teamwork and not always skill because if you don’t have the team but you have all of the skills, you can still bring everyone down and fail,” he added.

The annual derby is a great way for scouts — and adults — to have a fun experience, Troop 308 Assistant Scoutmaster Kenneth Gedde said.

“As an adult, if you want to have an experience with your kid that is out of your comfort zone, this is a great way to do it,” he added.

Gail Bryan said the scouts had such a great time at the Klondike Derby that they’re “ready and fired up for some more snow camping in February.”

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.