Dave McGee, SM, Troop 75(440) 823-1885 (cell)dave@themcgees.net

Bill Sheehy, ASM, Troop 75(440) 413-4263 (cell)wtspe@sbcglobal.net

www.troop75ohio.org

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 ISSUESAdults – 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)

SHAKEDOWNSPurpose ~ 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

FOODStore 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”

backpackingfoodbasics.pdf

spaghettiandmeatsauce.pdf

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 accessWater SourceShelter from Weather, Flash Flood, Lightning, etc.

WATERFiltering Required (Pills & Boiling Pros & Cons)“Clean” & “Dirty”Staying Hydrated

BEAR BAGSMethods: “PCT” & Two Tree” Strategies: One of “1st Tasks”, Downwind of Camp, ID Foodhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKPmwfHxRsc&feature=related

SAFETY & HYGIENE SHOWER!

Ticks & Lime Disease ~ “C” on Penny & Time to TransmitHygiene & 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 FoodMini Hand Sanitizer

GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING & Real World HikingPlacement / Etiquette / Use ~ Shower BagClose 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!

1st aid handout blisters.pdf

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 GroupCamping Foot Print Skills Can Vary # AllowedHammocks 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, T-

Shirts & 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 ETIQUETTETOP 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