Imagine standing at a trailhead with a small group of friends. It's early morning, and the air is filled with the scent of pine and honeysuckle. In a nearby tree, a squirrel is chittering away. An eagle circles high overhead, soaring gracefully on unseen air currents. At the trailhead, a weathered trail sign reads simply, "Adventure Ahead!"

That's it. No description, no distance, just the promise of some untold adventure. You can't tell just where the trail leads, but that doesn't really matter, because you know the journey is the reward.

And so, without a word, you and your friends smile, pick up your backpacks, and take your first steps into adventure, into excitement, and into the future. (Text taken from Scouts BSA Handbook, 14th Edition)