Troop 72 is planning a 50-mile backpack trek from June 6 to 15, 2008. Pete Lorenzetti (who has been on three treks and Northern Tier) will lead, and we have several other adult volunteers. Many places limit group size to 10 or 12, so we might have two groups going in different directions, with at least two adults each. That also allows trading car keys in the middle!

There will be four shakedown backpacks of 15 miles each; Friday evening through Sunday night. EVERY SCOUT AND ADULT must go on three of these, with #2 being mandatory.
1 - April 11-13, 2008
2 – April 25-27, 2008.
Final roster selection will be made after this backpack, so you MUST go.
3 – May 9-11, 2008
4 – May 30-June 1, 2008
The shakedowns will be as close as possible (at least two in Ohio) to minimize travel cost. The 50-miler itself will be in either Shenandoah National Park (Virginia), West Virginia, or a New York section of the Appalachian Trail. If the hiking goes well, Saturday, June 14th will include a visit to a Civil War battlefield or other place of interest. June 6 and 15 will be full travel days.

There will be a show-and-tell of backpacking equipment at Gander Mountain (just off I-70 in Huber Heights) at 7:00 on Tuesday November 20, starting at 7:00. Those interested will meet at Gander Mountain instead of the church. Bring your parents and suggest Christmas presents!

I’m guesstimating the cost at between $250 and $300 per person, which will include backpacking food for the 50-miler, a couple meals of backpacking food on the shakedowns, hiking/camping fees, and some gas $$$ for the drivers. I will collect some $$$ for each shakedown, to cover these items.

Preliminary Rules:
1- Troop 72 has new backpacking tents, but you will need your own backpack (with hip belt), sleeping bag, stove (shared by 2 people), water purifier, etc. You will want to see this stuff on November 20th.
2-You must be at least First Class by April 25th.
3- For treks in New Mexico, my pack and gear weighed 25 pounds plus 10 pounds of food … plus water. Ours may be heavier with stoves and a water purification system. You must be able to carry the weight. There won’t be much food for the shakedowns, so we may add some dead weight to your pack.
4-Food will be mostly freeze dried, with some store-bought. You will be in a 4-person eating group, with a meal-carrying rotation to empty everybody’s pack equally during the week. Picky eaters could be in deep yogurt, so part of the shakedowns will be to eat the food.
5-There are no flush pots on these trails. You will be carrying a half-roll of TP and a gardening trowel to dig holes. Be prepared to handle that((:>)
6-SPL and ASPLs will conduct pack inspections before each shakedown and the 50-miler. No electronics, and no unnecessary weight. No food other than what the 50-miler quartermaster (that’s me) provides. (You will bring some of your own meals on the shakedowns.)
7-You must go on the April 25-27 shakedown. If the adults decide that you aren’t up 50 miles of up-and-down, you will be cut from the roster. (This is new territory for me … my New Mexico troop always backpacked, so we knew who could handle it, and so did the Scouts.)
8-All this will get you a 50-miler patch and Backpacking Merit Badge … plus an experience you will remember for the rest of your life!

BobPop Lorenzetti

50-Mile Trek (and Shakedown) Gear

Troop 72, 50-Miler                          Pete & Bob Lorenzetti
Needed 
Backpack with hip belt & waterproof cover
Ground cloth
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Rain gear (poncho or rain suit)
Hooded sweatshirt/jacket
Hiking boots
Light-weight sneakers or sandals
Underwear
Socks 6-8 pairs
T-shirts & Shorts
1 pair long pants
Wash cloth or SMALL towel
Knit watch cap
Toothpaste/toothbrush
Comb & metal signaling mirror
Garden trowel & Toilet paper (part roll)
Biodegradable soap (small tube)
Hat/cap, Sunglasses
Personal first aid kit
Flashlight and extra batteries
Pocket knife
Water bottle/canteen
Large plastic cup & spoon
Covered pot from Scout cook kit
Whistle
Insect repellent
Sun screen /lip balm
2 or 3 spring clothes pins
Bear bag & 3/16” nylon rope
Medicine(s)-Parents must discuss with adult leader.

Optional
Hiking stick or ski poles
Handkerchiefs
Spending Money, $35-$50**
Compass
Camera and film
Cards
Paper/pen/pencil
2’ duct tape – wrap on pencil
Small prayer book
Matches
Watch
Sweat pants
Plastic or aluminum plate


Leave at Home
• Fireworks
• Electronics
• Weapons
• Water Balloons / Launchers
• Sheath knives & Axes
• Pillow
• Water gun

Troop Will Provide
• Backpacking tent
• Lightweight stove & fuel
• Water purification
• Maps


** For food stops while traveling. For shakedowns, $20 -$25 is plenty.