Hike at Pico Blanco Labor Day Weekend!

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Merryl Summers
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1 Hike at Pico Blanco Labor Day Weekend! The Pico Blanco Hymn Here among the trees majestic Pleasures you will find On the trails of Pico Blanco With your friends and mine Trail the Eagle ever onward This shall be our cry Be Prepared this our motto Serving all mankind Labor Day Weekend is a great opportunity to celebrate the end of summer by hiking and backpacking. Pico Blanco Scout Reservation is located near the Ventana Wilderness and has direct access to trails for Scouts of all ability levels. These trails lead to redwood canyons, waterfalls, peaks over 4000 feet tall with ocean vistas, pristine swimming holes, albino redwood trees, and natural wonders that can only be seen in this special place. Your pack, troop, or crew can do a short afternoon hike and enjoy other program opportunities, use Pico as a base camp and take several hikes throughout the weekend, or spend the whole weekend backpacking. We highly recommend that you register for the hikes ahead of time so that the Camp can provide sufficient staffing. Please be sure pack the proper equipment for your hike and arrive at the meeting place on time. Our Pathfinder staff are all Eagle Scouts with extensive backpacking experience in the Santa Lucia and Sierra Nevada Mountains. Many have advanced medical training including Wilderness First Responder and EMT. We will be offering the following hikes over Labor Day Weekend: Day Hikes Pat Spring Distance: 15 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Boy Scout/Venturer (Age 14 and up) Departs: 7 AM Saturday, Hayward Lodge Deck This is a classic Ventana Wilderness hike: lots of climbing but amazing views. We will drive up to Bottcher s Gap and hike over Skinner Ridge, up Devil s Peak, and along a ridge to the Big Pines Saddle where tall pines like those seen in the Sierra Nevada grow. In this saddle lies a pure mountain spring. This hike will be strenuous but offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, the Little Sur Watershed, and Mont Pico Blanco. We will return early evening. Please note that those participating in this challenging hike should attend the pre-hike meeting at 9PM on Friday night in the Hayward Lodge to discuss logistics.

2 Jackson Camp Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Boy Scout+ (Age 10 and up) Departs: 10 AM Saturday, Hayward Lodge Deck Hike through the redwoods to a pleasant flat in the Diablo Canyon of the Little Sur River. Upstream from the camp stands a rare albino redwood. We ll take the Little Sur Trail to the camp and follow the river back. Water shoes are recommended. Little Sur Distance: 4 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Bear+ Departs: 1:30 PM Saturday, Hayward Lodge Deck An afternoon hike downstream to Little Sur Camp, a beautiful riverside campsite along the Little Sur River. We ll follow the camp road and a spur trail to the camp and Scouts, who wish to, may hike back to Camp via the river for a wet and wild experience. Pico Public Distance: 8 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Boy Scout+ (Age 10 and up) Departs: 10AM Sunday, Hayward Lodge Deck Hike over Launtz Ridge to the South Fork of the Little Sur River. Pico Public is a campsite in a large meadow with a deep, waterfall fed pool known as The Blue Hole that is perfect for a refreshing swim. This hike will take most of the day, so please pack a lunch to eat at Pico Public. Pioneer Camp Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip Difficulty: All Ages Departs: 10AM Sunday, Hayward Lodge Deck This short hike is a perfect first hike for a Cub Scout. We ll hike over to Pioneer Camp, another part of Pico Blanco Scout Reservation, possible play some games in the large, flat site, and head back to camp in time for lunch. Fish Camp Distance: 3 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Webelos+ Departs: 1:30 PM Sunday, Hayward Lodge Deck Slightly shorter than the Jackson Camp hike, this is an excellent first hike into the Ventana Wilderness. We ll take and afternoon hike above the river and descend to a beautiful, spacious campsite along the river for a chance to swim and enjoy nature. Nature Hikes Explore Camp through the eyes of a Nature Director Distance: Depends on group preference Difficulty: All Ages Departs: 1:30 PM Saturday, Nature Lodge If a tree falls in the Ventana Wilderness and nobody is around, will our Nature Director know what genus and species it was? You bet! Did you know that Camp Pico Blanco is home to an endangered fish species, ring tailed cats, albino redwoods, and several different ecosystems? Our Nature Director will introduce you to the flora and fauna of camp, opening your eyes to what truly makes Pico Blanco a special place. In addition, he will show you projects the camp is undertaking to help protect our environment. Afterwards, the Nature Lodge will be open for exhibits and questions.

3 Skinner Ridge Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Bear+ Departs: 1:30 PM Sunday, Nature Lodge This hike provides a cross section of the different ecosystems in camp. Beginning at the Little Sur River, this hike climbs out of the redwoods onto a chaparral and oak covered ridge with spectacular views of Mt. Pico Blanco, The Window, and Ventana Double Cone. A topo map will be brought along and Scouts will be able to see how the map illustrates the geography around them. This hike qualifies Scouts to earn the Pico Blanco segment of the Monterey Bay Trekkers program. Star Trek Distance: TBA Difficulty: All Ages Departs: 8:00 PM Sunday, Nature Lodge Our Nature staff will take you to a clearing and provide an astronomy show in the best planetarium available, the night sky above you. Telescopes will be available but, if you have one, we encourage you to bring it along. Younger Scouts will be able to return to their campsite earlier while older Scouts can stay later for more advanced astronomy study. Backpacking Trips Information about backpack trips All Backpacking Trips will have a prehike meeting in the Hayward Lodge at 9 PM on Friday night. Scouts going on backpack trips will spend Friday night and any nights in camp (if a 1 night trip) in Campsite 7 (Geronimo). Your unit is responsible for all gear, food (including food for 1 staff member), and at least one qualified adult. NOTE: 2013 has been an extremely dry year on the Central Coast. Stoves and fires will not be permitted anywhere in the Los Padres National Forest backcountry. Bring only food that doesn t require cooking. Fish Camp Distance: 3 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Boy Scouts (Age 11 and up) Departs: Noon Saturday, Hayward Lodge Deck Return: Sunday noon This is the perfect first time backpack trip for your New Scout Patrol. Hike up the Little Sur River to a large, pleasant flat beneath the redwoods with a swimming hole. Staff will provide training in basic backpacking skills in camp before the hike, while hiking, and at Fish Camp. Fox Camp/Circular Pools Distance: 10 miles roundtrip Difficulty: Boy Scouts (Age 11 and up) Departs: 10AM Saturday, Hayward Lodge Deck Return: Sunday afternoon This hike takes you up the Little Sur River to Fox Camp at the confluence of Jackson Creek and the North Fork of the Little Sur. We will set up camp at Fox Camp and then day hike upstream to the Circular Pools, a series of deep granite pools with waterfalls as tall as 15 feet. Water shoes recommended.

4 Mt. Pico Distance: 6 miles round trip Difficulty: Boy Scouts and Venturers ages 14 and up Departs: 2:30 PM Sunday, Medical Lodge Return: Monday Morning Mt. Pico Blanco, the sea-wave of marble, the namesake of our camp, rises 3709 above the Pacific Ocean. From the top, you will enjoy one of the most awesome sunsets you have ever seen before spending the night at the summit. Do not be fooled by the distance of this hike; it is very steep and much of it is off trail. Pack light for this trek and bring cold food and at least 3 liters of water. Tents are not recommended; we encourage groundsheets. Due to the challenging and remote nature of this trek, all hikers must be cleared by the medic.

5 Memorial Day 2013 Hike Registration Pico Blanco Scout Reservation PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FORM PER HIKE Unit Type: Unit Number: Council: Hometown: Unit Leader: Unit Leader Phone: Unit Leader Patrol/Senior Patrol Leader Name: Please circle the hike this registration form is for: DAY HIKES: PAT SPRING JACKSON CAMP LITTLE SUR PICO PUBLIC PIONEER CAMP FISH CAMP NATURE HIKES: EXPLORE CAMP TROUGH THE EYES OF A NATURE DIRECTOR SKINNER RIDGE STAR TREK BACKPACK TRIPS: FISH CAMP FOX CAMP/CIRCULAR POOLS MT. PICO ROSTER (Provide additional pages is necessary) Name Age Rank/Adult

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