actually, I did take a camera, I did not use it though, I was having such a blast that I forgot to even bring it out. Luckily, some other's had a camera with them.
We practiced our skills of using map and compass through dense woods, bushwhacking though some pretty dense briers and underbrush which would of been crazy impenetrable had everything been green and leafy. It was of course not a strait shot, as there were flooded marshes and streams in our way and at one point in time as we were fighting our way through the briers only to find we had to back track because of flooding the 5 year old kid said "It's a DISASTER!" (She is hilarious for a kid that age, fearless and just always has everyone rolling with laughter). Over all, it was a pretty easy bushwhack other then the briers. Most of the group was completely new to the idea so I tired to get some of them to practice with the maps and compass to lead but I ended up doing most of the leading as they just weren't too sure of themselves. Our trip leader did not join us for this part, he waited on the other end for us so that we would work together as a team to get through this "challenge" and we did work together well. we met up with him at our biggest obstacle of the day considering a couple in the group have never crossed a river without a bridge before and had it been warm and summer we would of likely just swam it. There was no way around this obstacle other then to just do it. the group did well, some were scared and unsure and one lady froze up halfway across but did make it eventually as we as a team came up with solutions to help including finding and breaking from the trees a long grape vine. We wedged it on one side of the log and secured it on the other and with that as a "rope" she was able to continue the rest of the way.
So it was a fun time, everyone learned something I think.
Here are a few pics some of the group took:
Starting point:
hahaha that's me:
First one over, she's like a champion tree climber, no fear.
my way across lol
Oh did I mention we were have 20-30 mph wind too? so even though it should of been a warm day it was quite cold and we all got into our extra layers of clothes before heading out.
Got my compass and an itty bitty pocket knife to keep the crazies away. OOOPS. I am the crazies.
Guess I have nothing to worry about then. 
