Transcript PREPARING FOR BACKPACKING

www.troop75ohio.org
Dave McGee, SM, Troop 75
(440) 823-1885 (cell)
[email protected]
Bill Sheehy, ASM, Troop 75
(440) 413-4263 (cell)
[email protected]
WHERE TO HIKE
 Weekend Hikes
○ Allegheny NF: Tracey’s Ridge & Minister Creek
○ Emerald Necklace: Cuyahoga MetroParks (Never Again!)
○ Manatoc: Good Trails & Nearby Cuyahoga NP Buckeye Trail & Tow Path
 National & State Parks
○ Fee’s, Restrictions, Crowding, Winnebagos, Red Tape & Fine Happy Rangers
(Not Hiker or Scout Friendly, particularly in the East!)
 National Forests
○ None of the above NP Problems
○ But Primitive Facility & Hunting Issues
 Week Long Hikes
○ AT: Mount Rogers NRA, VA; Grayson Highlands SP, VA; Harpers Ferry WV &
So PA (avoid No PA, Smokies & Shenandoah) So of Smokies to GA Awesome!
○ Grand Canyon – worth NP Woes!; Rocky Mtn NP; Tetons & Wind Range WY
WHEN TO HIKE
 Early Summer or Early Fall - Check Area Season!
○ Avoid worst of bugs, rain & drought
○ Note March/April = Early Summer in Grand Canyon
○ Note Sept/Oct = Winter in Rockies & Presidential
 Avoid Spring Break – Crowds of College Kids
○ Spring Break + NP = Double Whammy!
HOW FAR TO HIKE
 General Rules: Start Slow ~ 8-10 miles 1st Day
○ Build Up ~ 12-17 mile Day max
 Adjust for Weather, Terrain, ROCKS, Injury
○ 3.5 miles in an ice storm vs. 24 easy miles
 Not Death March Of Bataan
 “Hike Your Own Hike” & “Buddy System”
○ Lead & Sweep Adult & Not Single File! KNOWN STOPS
○ Different Strides & Speeds ~ Wear Each Other Down!
 “Do you know what will keep you from finishing? ...Too far …
too fast … too heavy … too soon!” Mantra of “The patriarch,
‘Loon’ (“2,000 miler” & operator of the Walasi-Yi Center, Neels
Gap, Ga) p 24, On the Beaten Path, Robert Rubin
AGE & SKILL ISSUES
 Adults – Physical Planning & Conditioning is Paramount
○ Weight Loss First
○ Physical Conditioning Next
○ “Pack Interventions”
○ Shake Down Hikes of Body, Food, Pack, Boots & Feet - Last
 Youth – Gear Planning & Conditioning is Paramount
○ Multiple “Pack Interventions” First, Middle & Last
○ Shake Down Hikes of Body, Pack, Food, Boots & Feet - Last
○ AGE – 14 is National Standard for “High Adventure” / 13 is T-75
○ RANK & MB – T-75: 1st Class & 1st Aid MB (earn right to be there)
SHAKEDOWNS
 Purpose ~ Physical, Gear, Pack & Food Conditioning
 Pack Weights ~ 27-32 lbs. ideal & 37-42 lbs. max
 Teach Skills ~ Cooking, Hanging Packs, Shelters
 Pack Interventions ~ Ready to go & not over weight?
 Places to Go ~ Looking for Drained Dirt Trails & Grades
○ Cuyahoga NP Buckeye Trail: Pine Lane Trail Head SR303 to
Top of Hill just past Blue Hen Falls & Back (10 miles)
○ Girdled Rd Park: Girdled Rd to Radcliffe Rd & Back (6 miles)
TOUR PLANS
 Out of Council and/or High Adventure ~ “Required”
○ Adult Certifications
 “Required” = Youth Protection & Weather Hazards
 “Recommended” = Basic & Wilderness 1st Aid & Trek Safely
 Seven Points of Trek Safely
○ Qualified Supervision
○ Keep Fit
○ Plan Ahead
○ Gear Up
○ Communicate
○ Monitor Conditions
○ Discipline
 Itinerary ~ for all participants, parents & home contact (phone tree)
○ Maps & Trail Guides ~ for all Hikers
○ Tour Plan & Health Forms ~ for Tour Leader
FOOD
 Store Bought Meals & MRE’s
○ Expensive, Heavy, Bulky & Lots of Trash
 Dehydrating, Teaming Up, Eliminating Trash
○ Utilizes Many Scout Skills, Ethics & Goals
 Strategies & Recipes (Cook Books ~ Lousy)
○ www.troop75ohio.org
○ “Resources” & “3. Back Packing & Hiking”
○ “Camp Recipes” & “Back Packing Recipes”
TROOP / COMMON GEAR
 WATER FILTERS ~ Bags & Tanks
 SHELTER ~Tents vs. Tarps & Hybrids
 STOVES & POT SETS ~ Nesting, Utensils & Sack
 SHOWER BAG!
 FUEL
 TROWEL & TP ~ Know who has them!
 BEAR BAG ~ Know who has them!
 REPAIR KITS ~ Know who has them!
 STATEGIES TO DIVIDE UP COMMON/TROOP GEAR
WATER
 Filter Choices: Volume & Core (paper v. ceramic v. electronic)
○ Katadyn Guide ~ good volume, however, weakness is shaft threaded end
 Filter Strategies
 Three Man Method: pump / suspend dirty end / cycle clean end
 Pre-Filter, Suspending or Water Bag to Avoid Silt Clogging
 Platy Water Tank (Holds 6 L & Weighs 4.4 oz)
 Spare Filter in Re-Supply & Tooth Brush / Clorox on Trail to Clean
 Drain (may crack if freeze) & “Clean” & “Dirty” Sub-Baggies
 Water Sources: ID before trip! (Trail Guides & Journal Blogs)
○ Springs Best, Moving Clear Water Next, Note Who & What Upstream
○ Note Seasonal Issues & Cache Water if Need Be
○ Daily Strategy – Where & When to Get Water for Hike & Camp
 Monitor Hike Water Reserve & Consumption ~ “Technicolor Pee!”
SHELTER
 Tents vs. Tarps & Hybrids (Hammocks for Adults)
○ NO Public Shelters/Huts for Scouts
○ NO Solo Shelter for Scouts
○ Tarp Issues ~ Kitchen/Dining (Bear!) & No Level Site
○ Divide ~ For Weight, Volume & Emergency Shelter!
 Plan “First Things to Do” & WHO Likely to be in 1st
○ Shower Bag, Water, Bear Bag, Dinner, Shelter Parts
SAFETY & HYGIENE

WHERE TO CAMP
 1 mile from road/public access
 Water Source
 Shelter from Weather, Flash Flood, Lightning, etc.

WATER
 Filtering Required (Pills & Boiling Pros & Cons)
 “Clean” & “Dirty”
 Staying Hydrated

BEAR BAGS
 Methods: “PCT” & Two Tree”
 Strategies: One of “1st Tasks”, Downwind of Camp, ID Food
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKPmwfHxRsc&feature=related
SAFETY & HYGIENE

SHOWER!
 Ticks & Lime Disease ~ “C” on Penny & Time to Transmit
 Hygiene & Well Being In General
 “incredibly, they made a ritual of showering every day … it
was like sharing a daily arts and crafts class with Martha
Stewart”, On the Beaten Path, Robert Rubin, p. 149
 Crocs in Camp: Safety in Camp & Healthy Feet on Trail!

FOODS & HANDS
 “Cooks” & “Personal” Responsibilities Handling Food
 Mini Hand Sanitizer

GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING & Real World Hiking
 Placement / Etiquette / Use ~ Shower Bag
 Close Formation Hiking vs. “Hike Your Own Hike” &
Lead/Sweep Adult Method
 “Adult” Leader Camp Site & Other Hikers
 Rashes, Looking Each Other Over, Baby Powder & Feet!
LEAVE NO TRACE
Camp Stove vs. Fires
 Pack it Out & Trowels!

 Minimize Trash BEFORE Leaving for Hike!
Stay on the Trail
 Bathing & Washing

 “Step Away From the Water Source”

Number in Your Group
 Camping Foot Print Skills Can Vary # Allowed
 Hammocks for Adults

Trash Bags ~ Leave Trail Cleaner than Found It
EASE IN OR TAG ALONG

READ ~ Books, Blogs, Maps & Trail Guides

SHAKE DOWNS ~ Learning Experience!

TRIAL EVENTS ~ Weekend & Pilot Hikes

EASE INTO ~ Moderate Venue & Season
 Closer to Home & Link Up with Own Troop Fixed Camp

LINK UP ~ with a More Experienced Unit

Kitchen Table Mileage Plan ~ Not Real World!
OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS

Baby Powder In and Bounce, Bags &
Deodorizing Foot Powder Out! (Leukotape P)

Change of Clothes, Toiletry Kits, Bags &
Shower Location Lined Up at Take Out!

Celebratory Post Hike Diner & COH
Recognition (50 Miler, Stave Emblems, TShirts & More)
SPL & SCOUT METHOD
 SPL & PATROL Method ~ This is a “Scout Event”!!!
○ Adult Leaders work with SPL & He works with Scouts
○ They are there to take care of each other (and adults!)
 Scout Events - are Shared Experiences
○ No iPods, Phones, One Man Tents & Hammocks
○ Not even on the Car Ride To & From Event!
 One more reason to zone out & break into car while on trail
 Camera OK - NO Cell Phone Cameras!
○ Unless you were, indeed, born yesterday
 Adults – One Should Have Cell Phone
○ Personal Electronic OK but keep it on down low!
TRAIL ETIQUETTE
 TOP TEN PET PEEVES THAT GIVE SCOUTING A BAD RAP
1.
HOG & MONOPOLIZE FIXED SHELTERS
2.
NOISY & ROWDY & LIGHTS IN CAMP
3.
HIKING IN CLUMPS & ABREAST ON THE TRAIL
4.
HOG & MONOPOLIZE PICNIC TABLES & OTHER TRAIL ASSETS
5.
FAILING TO STEP OFF TRAIL TO YIELD TO OTHER HIKERS
6.
FAILING TO SPEAK UP POLITELY TO OTHER HIKERS
7.
FAILING TO SHARE WITH, & CARE FOR, OTHER HIKERS
8.
FAILING TO GET TO FEET, GREET, HELP & DO FOR HIKERS
9.
BEING ILL PREPARED OR OBVIOUSLY INCOMPETENT
10. NOT LEAVING EVERYTHING BETTER THAN FOUND IT