EASTHAMPTON — In the Boy Scout world, there is the story of Eagle Mountain.
A young Scout starts at a trailhead and heads up the mountain’s rugged path. At some points, he hikes fast. At others, he takes his time. Sometimes he stops to catch his breath. His friends begin to turn around, one by one, along the way. They don’t make it. But the young Scout persists up the mountain, making it to the summit.
The boy, by then a young man, looks out to many more mountains — representing the challenges in life which face us.
But on the day he finishes that climb, he looks out and simply enjoys the view.
On Sunday, that was Logan Hunt, an 18-year-old Scout from Easthampton’s Troop 205. His troop minted him an Eagle Scout, a culmination of years of work.
Only 5 percent of Boy Scouts ever work their way to Eagle Scout, according to the National Eagle Scout Association. Hunt was the only one from his Cub Scout den to earn the honor.
“It’s satisfying,” Hunt said of his accomplishment, “but, I don’t know how to describe it, it’s kind of sad in a way, that some people just lost the drive for it.”
To earn Eagle, Hunt had to earn 21 merit badges (he recorded 28), advance through various ranks, and finally lead his fellow scouts in an Eagle Scout project, something that would provide a lasting benefit to the community.
In Hunt’s case, he sought out donations to install two buoys equipped with an alarm system at Nashawannuck Pond in Easthampton. If there is a distressed swimmer, removing a buoy from its stand will send a message to emergency crews.
The emergency alarm is also designed to prevent theft.
“I would really like to thank Peaceful Pools and Spas, the Oxbow Marina and the Easthampton Parks and Rec department,” he said. “If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have been able to do my Eagle Scout project.”
Hunt joins his older brother Tyler as an Eagle Scout. His father, David, was also a Boy Scout.
At the end of the court of honor Sunday, state Sen. Don Humason presented Hunt with a citation from the Massachusetts State Senate.
Humason said society needs Scouts “to step up — to try to do what you can for your community, for your state, for your country.”
“It was a hard course,” Humason said, “at a time when you could’ve been doing other things.”
Hunt’s parents, David and Kimberly, were also recognized at the court of honor.
Hunt’s next mountain?
He will be attending Florida Atlantic University in the fall, where he is planning to study business and finance.