1. 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

2. 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

3. 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!

4. HOW FAR TO HIKE General Rules: Start Slow ~ 8-10 miles 1 st 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

5. 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: 1 st Class & 1 st Aid MB (earn right to be there)

6. 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)

7. TOUR PLANS Out of Council and/or High Adventure ~ “Required” ○ Adult Certifications “Required” = Youth Protection & Weather Hazards “Recommended” = Basic & Wilderness 1 st 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

8. 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 www.troop75ohio.org ○ “Resources” & “3. Back Packing & Hiking” ○ “Camp Recipes” & “Back Packing Recipes”

11. 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

12. 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!”

13. 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 1 st ○ Shower Bag, Water, Bear Bag, Dinner, Shelter Parts

14. 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 “1 st Tasks”, Downwind of Camp, ID Food http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKPmwfHxRsc&feature=related

15. 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!

17. 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

18. 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!

19. 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)

20. 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!

21. 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