September, 29 – 30, 2012
JT giving a briefing before the hike. Temperature was well over 100 degrees.
Earlier this year, our Scout Master asked me to head up the backpacking program for Troop 4. I gladly accepted. I knew that I would be encouraging a BSA-approved program, one which I know T4 is ready for, but perhaps doesn’t realize…
Over the past two years, I have championed the concept of “lightweight” backpacking. I am technically “ultralight” with a base weight of less than ten pounds but realize that perhaps the best way to teach lightweight concepts is to teach by example and let them learn on their own. If a boy (or adult) insists on bringing heavy, stainless steel mess kits, Nalgene water bottles, and six-pound tents on forecasted sunny weekends, I let them. They usually change their mind after we do our weigh-in moments before we hit the trail. I carry a digital fishing scale and chart each boy’s base weight. The boys with packs weighing in at 25 pounds, I encourage them to pick up a 12-pound pack and decide if they really want to haul all their luxury items. Most ditch the extra blanket, folding chair, pillow, half-gallon energy drink and second jacket.
Never will I allow any boy to leave for even an over-night without adequate gear and protection from the elements for that trip. Safety comes first.
During my Backpacking 101 talk a couple weeks ago, I encouraged the boys and their parents to go lightweight with a maximum base weight of 20 pounds or less. With the exception of one fairly expensive purchase: a sleeping bag under 3 pounds with a rating of 200. The balance of my suggestions were items they can either find in the recycle bins, thrift shop and or most Target, Wal-Mart and other discount stores. There was no pushback from parents and students; most all agreed that my suggestions and ideas made sense for them.
Amber and I spent Thursday evening packing the food which consisted of dinner, breakfast and trail mix—pretty simple. Saturday morning we loaded the 4Runner with the tents, stoves and crew gear and met at the corning of Roosevelt and Altadena. The boys started showing up with their parents and packs in tow. We began weighing the packs and doing a shakedown. James was a tremendous help pointing out items that can be left behind. Once all the packs were “cleaned,” the average base weight of the packs was 14.5 pounds each!
The heaviest was 26 (an ASM) and the lightest was a tie between Amber and one boy at 9 pounds. Part of the low weight was that many of the boys decided to cowboy camp and leave the tents at the car. Amber and I also helped the boys save weight by reducing the amount of fuel in each bottle to one cup vs. four cups.
We learned last week that one cup of white gas is enough to boil four gallons of water. Each of the red MSR bottles holds four cups of gas which is enough to boil 16 gallons of water. With an average hot water consumption of four cups per day per-person that’s enough fuel for 64 days of fuel per person!
By 10:45am we were crossing Altadena Drive and lining up at the trail head to head down into the canyon.
Boys taking a much needed hydration break. Ground temperature must have been over 120°
Although the distance from the trail head to camp was within 3 miles, it took our group about three hours to complete the hike. Breaks were frequent, the sun was hot but everyone had great attitudes.
Using the PCT Method of bear bagging, some scouts improvised using knots rather than a rock sack to toss a rock over a branch, Dual purpose!
Once we arrived at camp, we found our site, which I reserved a week earlier with the ranger. The boys laid out their ground clothes and then worked on hanging bear bags and setting up stoves for that evening dinner.
Scouts demonstrating and using backpacking stove skills
About half of us took a long nap in the shade. Even at 6:00PM, my thermometer still read over 90°.
Waking up another warm day. Good call on cowboy camping!
That night the lowest temp registered at 76°. Morning cleanup was simple due to not having to pack up tents. Once we finished breakfast, we headed down the hill in record time–before it got too hot!
