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November Campout
November 22, 2019 @ 5:30 pm - November 24, 2019 @ 1:00 pm
$22Key Dates To Remember:
- November 11, 2019: Last Day to Sign-up. No exceptions please. Also, please note if you have extra, or need a backpack provided by another troop member
- Nov 18, 2019 please have your backpacks ready to go and provide only the items below.
- You can bring your pack to the meeting if you want one of the ASMs to check it out for you.
- We will do a quick shakedown before leaving on the 22nd, and do not want the whole troop waiting on Friday night for you to run home to pick up something you forgot.
- Nov 22, 2019 5:30 PM, Johns Creek United Methodist Church parking lot near the trailers.
- All scouts and adults going on the trip are *required* to be present at 5:30 for a quick shakedown with packed backpack and ready to go on campout as soon as we are complete
- We have the final count of Scouts cooking in this backpacking trip either as regular cooking patrol grub master, or as part of their Cooking Merit Badge activity
- Cooking Scouts will bring the meal packages for scouts to pack in their backpacks.
- Nov 22, 2019 Departure after shakedown at Johns Creek United Methodist Church trailer area.
- Class A Uniform *required* when traveling
- All scouts and adults should have eaten dinner and ready to go since there will be no stopping along the route for food – Departure NLT 6:30pm on road, ~1 hour 50 minutes’ drive to park from our church
- All scouts dressed in Class A, but can change to Class B and leave their Class A Uniforms in the car after reaching the camp site.
Key Information – Backpacking Trip
- Rain Gear – Must bring item. You will *not* be allowed to go on the trip until you can show you have proper rain gear.
- Waterproof jacket or heavy poncho and water-resistant pants. Even if the forecast is 0% rain, bring rain gear.
- Only hiking boots will be allowed for the trail.
- Watch for newsletter or e-mail communications during week of 11/18/2018 week for backpacking trip forecast.
- Always check the weather – wearing layers are always the way to go.
- If you have an extra backpack or you need one, and have not already noted on the sign-up sheet, please contact Mr Trickel via email ttrickel@gmail.com as soon as possible.
Backpack Packing Information
Follow Troop 143 Backpacking Check List as shown below:
- Backpack
- Pack cover – If you don’t have one, a large tie-closed type will work – keep packs dry. Worst case, large trash bags will do as well.
- Sleeping Bag – 30 degrees rated or better – lightweight for backpacking preferably and stuff sack. Since we will park near the camp site and the weather could be very cold, you may bring a large, fluffy, heavy bag if you do not have a 30-degree small profile bag. This guidance does not apply for other backpacking trips in warmer weather.
- Sleeping Pad – Lightweight for backpacking ▪ Waterproof Bags o Such as Ziploc bags or stuff sacks to hold clothes/items inside your pack
- Hiking Boots o Brand new hiking boots will cause blisters. So, should be broken in already to prevent blisters from long hikes
- Two pair of Socks o Wool socks are best but not required. Dry socks prevent blisters and feel better at bedtime.
- Lightweight Jacket – Micro fiber fleece jacket in case of cold nights (not heavy, cotton sweatshirt)
- Hiking Clothes
- They should be synthetic where possible. Think of clothing in layers, not as separate outfits. Two shirts and two pants the maximum to pack.
- Switchback scout pants are perfect for one layer. One change of underwear.
- Sleeping Clothes
- T-shirt, Wool Cap, Dry Socks, Light Gloves, Shorts (pack in zip lock to keep dry) ▪ 2+ Liters of Water Bottle – Nalgene’s and/or Camelback.
- No disposable water containers.
- Cup or bowl, spork or spoon (entire mess kit not necessary – heavy)
- Headlamp and extra batteries ▪ Pocketknife – lightweight and sharp
- Compass
- Toiletries: Toothbrush and paste. Toilet Paper. Small hand wash solution.
- Knit Cap to keep your heads to keep warm at night.
Do NOT bring:
- Lots of changes of clothes, multiple coats, chairs, your own food, large mess kits, open toed shoes, non-hiking or normal pillows, sweats or other cotton hiking clothes, heavy books, giant fluffy sleeping bag, fans, electronics, normal (non-hiking) towels.
- Phones or any electronics except maybe 1 camera for the group o Any snacks or drinks not part of the campout supplied items
- Tennis shoes – Must wear hiking boots
Key Rules to Backpacking:
- Take the bare minimum and keep it lightweight – every ounce must be carried every mile. If it’s not essential, don’t bring it.
- Never eat or carry any food or smellable into tent.
- Label everything with name and phone
- No Cotton clothing packed in backpacks.
- All gear must be water resistant & polyester to retain body heat.
Hiking and Camping Area Information
- Troop 143 has reserved platform campsites with picnic tables next to each other at Chattahoochee Bend State Park.
- These camp sites have a clean water source nearby (Faucets near the parking lot), but we will also practice proper water filtering methods using troop gears (such as water pumps) pulling water from our coolers. We will NOT use the Chattahoochee River as our water source.
- We will hike along the Chattahoochee River on a 4.5 mile trail leaving after breakfast, then returning along the same trail, eating lunch at one of the points of interest along the trail.
- We have planned for two separate hiking groups – shorter and longer route. All hiking groups will meet back at the campsites Saturday afternoon for wilderness survival station training, and will stay together in the campsites after returning from the hikes.
- Shorter route (~ 3 to 5 miles out and to back camp site) for 1st year and younger scouts. The longer route (~ 8 to 10 miles) for older scouts. We have also planned for scouts who planned to go Philmont so that this can be a prep trip for them to get better understand planning, packing, and trail navigation.
- For scouts that go on shorter route, after reaching campsite, their SPL or Camping Leads will provide additional instruction on setting up a backpack camp, fire starting, and proper water filtering procedures.
- Since weather for November backpacking can be unpredictable, this campsite is very near the packing lot and vehicles in the event the scouts need to bring larger sleeping bags than would normally be taken on a backpack trip.
Sunday Arrival – Between Noon and 1:00 PM arrival at Johns Creek United Methodist