ALONG THE KLONDIKE TRAIL

ANTICIPATION: Nick West ofLa Grande Troop 514s Cougar patrol, coaxes flames to burn through plastic twine at fire-building competition. (The Observer/PHIL BULLOCK).

Boy Scouts from Northeast Oregon demonstrated myriad outdoor skills amid non-stop snowfall and constant wind at the annual Klondike Derby at Mud Lake Saturday.

The event, staged near Anthony Lakes ski area, began Friday evening when scouts slept in snow caves that they had constructed earlier. The mercury dipped overnight to 22 degrees.

The derby kicked off at 9 a.m. Saturday with scouts testing their fire-building, compass work, first aid, BB gun-shooting, and crevasse-crossing skills at various stations.

About 80 scouts from La Grande, Baker City, Halfway, Richland, Wallowa and North Powder participated.

Each skill station was operated by Eagle Scouts or adult volunteers who scored the performance of each patrol.

The overall winner of the derby is presented with the annual Snowshoe Award. The Polar Bears/Buffalo patrol from La Grande Troop 514 earned it this year.

Second place went to the Beavers patrol of La Grande Troop 511.

The Wolverines of Baker City Troop 444 earned the third place overall award.