OFFICIAL PHILMONT SHAKEDOWN GUIDE, PART 1

Transcription

1 OFFICIAL PHILMONT SHAKEDOWN GUIDE, PART 1 Revised September 1, 2017 Refer t the Philmnt website and fr updates t this guide and the mst up-t-date infrmatin regarding yur trek preparatin. This guide is intended t be an all-encmpassing tl fr crews t utilize in rder t prepare fr an upcming Philmnt trek. It is highly recmmended that crews participate in at least tw shakedwn hikes prir t their trek. T help facilitate this, we have split this guide int tw separate dcuments t allw the crew t fcus n different tpics n each hike. In Part 1, we will cver crew leadership psitins, gear and fd selectin, cnditining tips, and backcuntry camping practices used at Philmnt. CREW POSITIONS Crew Leader Respnsible fr rganizing the crew, assigning duties, making decisins, and recgnizing the capabilities f each crew member. He/she leads by example and practices servant leadership t allw the crew t have an enjyable and successful trek. The Crew Leader shuld have leadership capabilities that are respected by everyne and shuld be selected prir t the first shakedwn hike. Successful Crew Leaders exhibit the fllwing traits: psitive attitude, attentiveness t all crew members needs, and the ability t identify and reslve cnflicts befre they develp int larger issues. Chaplain s Aide Respnsible fr leading the crew in fllwing the 12 th pint f the Scut Law. They help the crew earn the Duty t Gd Award and lead daily devtinals frm the Eagles Saring High Bklet as well as facilitating Rses, Thrns, and Buds each night. The Chaplain s Aide shuld be selected by the crew prir t the first shakedwn hike. On the shakedwn hikes, it is a great time t start Rses, Thrns, and Buds with the crew. During Rses, Thrns, and Buds each crew member will say their rse (smething they liked abut the day), thrn (smething they disliked abut the day), and bud (what they are lking frward t tmrrw r in the near future). Each crew member shuld be allwed t talk uninterrupted t allw this exercise t facilitate crew bnding. Wilderness Pledge Guia Respnsible fr helping the crew understand and fllw the principles f the Philmnt Wilderness Pledge and Leave N Trace. They help the crew earn the Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award with the help f the Ranger. They als help enfrce Philmnt s bear prcedures. The Philmnt Wilderness Pledge reads as fllws: The seven principles f Leave N Trace are: Thrugh gd Scut camping, I pledge t preserve the beauty and splendr f the Philmnt wilderness. I cmmit myself t: 1. An absence f litter and graffiti 2. Respect fr wildlife 3. Cnservatin and prper use f water 4. Respect fr trails and trail signs 5. Prper use f campsites 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 2. Travel and Camp n Durable Surfaces 3. Dispse f Waste Prperly 4. Leave What Yu Find 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts 6. Respect Wildlife 7. Be Cnsiderate f Other Visitrs The Wilderness Pledge Guia shuld be selected by the crew prir t the first shakedwn hike and shuld help the crew fllw these tw wilderness ethics bth at hme and at Philmnt. Lead Advisr The Lead Advisr is the principal Advisr respnsible fr crdinating a successful Philmnt experience fr each member f the crew. All adults supprt the Lead Advisr in accmplishing the duties f the

2 Advisr. Advisrs main rle is t cach, mentr, and supprt the Crew Leader, Chaplain s Aide, and Wilderness Pledge Guia. By ding this, the yuth leaders will gain leadership experience thrughut the trek and will be able t help all members f the crew develp int a strng team. The secnd primary rle f the Advisrs is t ensure the safety and well-being f each crew member: First aid treatment; Administratin f required medicatins; Prper water purificatin; Any time a stve is in use; Guidance and supprt f the crew thrugh emergency situatins. Advisrs als help fster psitive crew dynamics, help settle disputes between members f the crew, assist with administering prper discipline if required, and ensure that the crew perates fllwing all yuth prtectin guidelines. GEAR SELECTION Yur Ranger will cver a gear shakedwn with yu in Base Camp befre yu depart fr the backcuntry. The purpse f the gear shakedwn is t ensure everyne has the apprpriate gear and clthing befre leaving fr the wilderness and t make sure unnecessary items are stred in Base Camp t save weight and bulk. Here is a list f the items mst cmmnly asked abut while preparing fr a trek: Backpack Internal frame packs are highly functinal and mst cmmnly used. The pack needs t have a padded hip belt. Anything between a liter carrying capacity will fit persnal gear, crew gear, fd, and water. T prperly pack an internal frame backpack, place the heavy gear alng the spine and clse t the hiker s back t keep the center f gravity frward and lw. Lighter gear shuld be packed at the tp f the backpack and n the uter edges f the main cmpartment. Sleeping bags usually fit at the bttm f the pack. Avid having lse/dangling gear, as it is mre likely t get caught in vegetatin and requires yu t exert mre energy t ffset its swaying mtin. Backpacks are available fr rent frm Outfitting Services in Base Camp fr $30 (this includes a pack cver as well). This is a great ptin fr yuth wh yu knw will utgrw a pack in a year r tw. A vide titled Hw t Pack a Backpack can be fund n YuTube at: A vide titled Hw t Fit a Backpack can be fund n YuTube at: Bts Mid t high tp bts are highly recmmended fr ankle supprt n rcky, uneven trails. Bts shuld be well brken in befre a Philmnt trek. Waterprf bts are recmmended: keeping yur feet dry is ne f the biggest keys t a successful trek. A vide titled Chsing Yur Hiking Bts can be fund n YuTube at: Stream Crssing Shes Due t recent changes in annual weather patterns, streams at Philmnt are running at their highest levels in 15 years. It is impssible t keep yur feet dry in many stream crssings. It is highly recmmended t bring camp shes that can duble as stream crssing shes t prevent having t use hiking bts t crss knee-deep water. Old tennis shes wrk great fr camp/stream crssing shes because they are lightweight, clsed ted, can pack up small, and dn t cst anything since yu already have them and can easily recycle them at the end f the trek. After crssing a stream, tie the stream crssing shes t the utside f yur pack t let them dry ff. They will be dry by the time yu get t camp and it will be nice t let yur feet flex and air ut while wearing these shes. Tents Philmnt requires clsed-walled tents t prevent rdents, snakes, scrpins, and spiders frm entering yur sleeping facility. Tw-persn tents are required, as it is ften difficult t find a spt t set up a larger tent in

3 frested campsites. Muntain Safety Research (MSR) partnered with Philmnt in 2012 and develped the Thunder Ridge tent specifically fr use at Philmnt. The MSR Thunder Ridge is a tw-persn, three-seasn tent and is available fr crews t use free f charge while n their Philmnt trek. Each MSR Thunder Ridge tent is washed using Nikwax Tech Wash upn returning t Base Camp t ensure all Philmnt-issued tents are clean and waterprf. Grund clths (nt prvided) are required fr use with the MSR Thunder Ridge tents and the dimensins f the tent are 88 x 54. Lightweight materials such as Tyvek wrk great as grund clths and are affrdable if purchased in bulk fr the crew. Sleeping Bags Philmnt recmmends a 20 F temperature rating n sleeping bags. Synthetic bags are easier t care fr than dwn bags, but a synthetic bag will nt cmpress as small and will weigh mre than a dwn equivalent. If a dwn bag is used at Philmnt, it is recmmended that the persn using it is very experienced in its care since dwn lses all insulatin value when wet. Sleeping pads are als highly encuraged fr added warmth. Pts Philmnt requires all crews t have at least tw pts. Bth pts must be at least eight-quarts in size. The purpse f having the secnd pt is fr the dishwashing prcess which requires ne pt fr washing and ne pt fr rinsing. All utensils will be sanitized in the early stages f the fllwing meal s preparatin prcess. The full dishwashing prcess (wash, rinse, and sanitize) is very imprtant in the backcuntry in rder t prevent sickness n the trail. Eight-quart pts are available fr crews t use frm Outfitting Services in Base Camp free f charge. Stves White gas stves are mst cmmnly used at Philmnt. Mdels such as the MSR WhisperLite, MSR DragnFly, and the Optimus Nva are great stves fr a Philmnt backpacking trek. White gas stves are preferred by mst crews because they are mre efficient at higher elevatins and clder temperatures and the fuel bttles are refillable, making them mre envirnmentally friendly than canister stves. Canister stves such as the MSR WhisperLite Universal and Optimus Vega are acceptable stves fr a Philmnt trek due t their design f separating the canister frm the stve, making it much mre stable and safer than a typical canister stve that screws n directly abve the fuel canister. Althugh they shuld nt be used fr cking meals, canister stves such as the MSR PcketRcket, Optimus Crux, and Jetbils wrk great fr small items like biling water fr cffee. (It is imprtant t never use a windscreen with ne f these stves due t the fact that the heat surce and fuel are bth in the same enclsed space, making it highly cmbustible.) Backcuntry cmmissary camps can refill white gas and have canister fuel available fr purchase. It is recmmended that a crew has apprximately 6 z. f white gas carrying capacity per persn. Open flame stves withut a shutff valve like BiLite stves r alchl stves are nt allwed at Philmnt fr safety reasns and wildfire risk.

4 A vide titled Chsing The Right Stve Fr Philmnt can be fund n Philmnt s YuTube channel at: Patrl Cking Methd As mentined abve, crews are required t use tw pts in the backcuntry. The eight-quart pt is used fr biling water and re-hydrating fd while the secnd pt is fr dishwashing. Turkey bags r ther bags used as a barrier between the cking pt and the fd are nt allwed at Philmnt due t the amunt f extra trash created, which in turn requires extra use f gasline fr backcuntry trash pickups. The purpse f the patrl cking methd is t give Scuts the pprtunity t lead the cking and cleaning prcesses during a meal in the backcuntry by practicing servant leadership. By utilizing the crew duty rster, a Scut will be the assistant ck/dishwasher ne night then the lead ck/dishwasher the fllwing night. A vide titled Philmnt Backcuntry Cking Methd can be fund n Philmnt s YuTube channel at: Bear Rpes & Bear Bags Philmnt requires crews t use tw nyln bear rpes measuring 100 in length and ¼ in diameter t hang all smellables (A smellable is anything that might attract a bear. Fr a mre detailed list, see the Setting Up Camp sectin). Bear rpes and bear bags are available fr crews t check ut frm Outfitting Services in Base Camp free f charge. Crews are allwed t bring their wn bear rpes and bags but the rpes must be the same dimensins as Philmnt s (100 x ¼ ) and the bags must be able t be tied r clipped t the rpe. Pulley systems are nt allwed fr use at Philmnt due t their tendency t get jammed, their weight, and their lack f having tw tie-ff pints. Tw tie-ff pints are required s that if a bear cuts ne line, the bags will still be suspended by the secnd line. A vide titled Hw t Hang a Bear Bag can be fund n Philmnt s YuTube channel at: Water Purificatin Katadyn Micrpur tablets are issued t purify untreated water at Philmnt. These tablets are lightweight, pack dwn t almst nthing, and are prvided fr free. They kill prtza, bacteria, and viruses whereas filters are nly effective against prtza and bacteria. Yu may bring water filters if yu wuld like but it is nt necessary due t the Micrpur tablets yu will receive in Base Camp. A vide titled What Yu Need T Safely Treat Water In The Backcuntry can be fund n YuTube at: MENU The Philmnt trail menu is easy t replicate and yur crew can practice cking n yur shakedwns with the same kind f fd yu will be eating n yur trek. Althugh the 2017 trail fd menu may differ, here are examples f a few trail meals Philmnt used in 2017: BREAKFAST Instant atmeal Pp Tarts Granla bar Turkey sausage links Ht cca mix LUNCH Club crackers Cheese wedges Beef and cheese sticks Hney Stinger chews Crn nuts Gatrade DINNER Jambalaya pasta Beef stick Fruit and nut trail mix Pecan sandies

5 The cmplete 2018 trail meal menu is available nline at: Lk t the icns n the right side f the webpage fr links t the ingredients list trail meals are available fr purchase fr $5.00 a bag. Each bag feeds tw peple trail meals can be purchased nline at: B69&_z=z PHYSICAL PREPAREDNESS It is crucial t successful individual and crew experiences that hikers are in strng physical cnditin fr their Philmnt trek. In rder t get int physical shape that is apprpriate fr a Philmnt trek, crew members need t start exercising at least eight mnths in advance. The mst imprtant aspects t fcus n are aerbic/cardivascular and lwer bdy strength. Here are sme activity suggestins fr getting in shape: G t yur lcal high schl ftball stadium and run/walk up the bleachers fr an hur-lng sessin twice a week. Turn it int a crew experience and have every crew member jin, ensuring that everyne is in great shape. Once this activity becmes easy fr yu, bring yur fully laded backpack with yu t get an idea f hw yur pack will feel, allwing yu t tinker with yur pack and figure ut which settings wrk best. G cycling twice a week. The distance is up t yu: the leg wrkut cmbined with the cardivascular aspect makes cycling a great preparatin activity fr backpacking. Keep track f yur exercises by recrding a lgbk and pst the activities yu did ver the past week n a crewwide bard at each trp meeting. This will let thers knw hw dedicated yu are t yur trek and yur crew and it will keep everyne accuntable fr getting int shape. In additin t physical activity, eating right will g a lng way in helping yu get in shape fr Philmnt. A balanced diet is essential t healthy living and as Scuts we have all pledged t keep urselves physically strng. It is crucial that all crew members yuth and advisrs be in excellent physical cnditin fr their trek: the crew will be able t get t camp faster and have mre time fr prgram pprtunities such as rck climbing, shting, hrseback riding, etc. while als having mre energy in general. The hard wrk put int exercising nw will pay ff tenfld by the time f yur trek. DUTY ROSTER As mentined previusly, the duty rster is a great tl that allws Scuts t learn new skills and teach thse skills t anther crew member the fllwing day. It als allws Scuts t rtate thrugh psitins s that a single jb des nt becme mntnus ver the curse f a 12-day perid. The psitins that shuld be included n a duty rster are: cking, cleaning, bear bags, water/fire, and navigatr. When set up apprpriately, a crew member will g frm being the assistant f a task ne day t the leader f that task the fllwing day then back t being an assistant f a new task, with the cycle cntinuing thrughut the trek. Fr smaller sized crews, yuth crew members might have t d multiple tasks each day and adult advisrs shuld expect t assist with duties (but never as a leader f a task, nly as the assistant). Here is an example f an effective duty rster:

6 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Cking Cleaning Lead Eric Clin Caleb Matt Jasn Katie Assistant Clin Caleb Matt Jasn Katie Kyle Lead Caleb Matt Jasn Katie Kyle Jhn Assistant Matt Jasn Katie Kyle Jhn Baden Bear Bags Lead Jasn Katie Kyle Jhn Baden Eric Assistant Katie Kyle Jhn Baden Eric Clin Water/Fire Lead Kyle Jhn Baden Eric Clin Caleb Assistant Jhn Baden Eric Clin Caleb Matt Navigatr Baden Eric Clin Caleb Matt Jasn The duty rster shuld be written by the Crew Leader befre the trek ccurs. Here is a general guideline fr each f the fur psitins: Cking Respnsible fr setting up the cking area, biling water, sterilizing dishes, and re-hydrating and serving the fd. Cleaning Respnsible fr biling water fr dishwashing, washing and rinsing dishes and utensils, stacking dishes by the sump, and emptying dirty wash water int the sump using the fd strainer and yum-yum bags (yum-yum bags hld the dirty scrubby pad piece and leftver fd particles frm the cleaning prcess). The crew members respnsible fr cleaning als ensure the fd strainer, scraper, yum-yum bags, and trash are hung in the ps bag at night. Bear Bags Respnsible fr dividing bear bags frm ps bags (bear bags will stay hung until the fllwing mrning; ps bags hld the night s dinner, persnal tiletries, medicatins, the first aid kit, etc. and are accessible fr dinner and in case f an emergency), thrwing bear rpe ver the bear cable, histing the bags, and tying the rpes ff t trees. The tw crew members respnsible fr bear bags shuld get the rest f the crew t help with the lifting and lwering f the bags due t weight and safety cncerns. Water/Fire Respnsible fr finding the clsest water surce, purifying, and bringing water back t camp. At sme camps it will be a spring, well, r stream, all f which need t be purified. At ther camps the water will already be purified and accessible frm spigts. Water crew members shuld ask the rest f the crew t give them any f their empty bttles r bladders that need t be refilled. The crew members in charge f water retrieval can usually enlist the help f the advisrs t help carry the water back t camp. Additinally, the crew members respnsible fr water retrieval will als be respnsible fr the building, lighting, supervisin, and extinguishing f a campfire if there is n fire ban and yur crew chses t build ne. Details fr hw t build a fire at Philmnt can be fund in the Setting Up Camp sectin f this guide. Navigatr Sets pace and hikes at the frnt f the crew, carrying a map and cmpass. At any trail junctins, rients the map and cnfers with the rest f the crew n which way t g.

7 BACKCOUNTRY SKILLS Navigatin Befre yu begin hiking, always remember t check yur map. T d this effectively, yu must first rient yur map. Orienting the map invlves using a cmpass t align the map with true nrth. T find true nrth, yu must accunt fr declinatin (the angle difference between true and magnetic nrth). Declinatin changes depending n where yu are n the glbe; here is a map shwing the degrees f declinatin fr the lwer 48 states: The declinatin at Philmnt is right arund 10 east which means we set ur cmpass at 350. Once the dial is set t 350, align a straight edge f the cmpass with a grid line n the map s that the cmpass, nt the cmpass needle, is aligned with nrth n the map s cmpass rse (Figure 1). Then rtate the map (with the cmpass lying n it) s that the cmpass needle is pinting tward the N n yur cmpass dial (Figure 2; knwn as red in the shed ). Nw the map is riented, and yu can accurately decide which trail t take t yur destinatin. Figure 1 Figure 2 A vide titled Hw T Use A Map & Cmpass can be fund n Philmnt s YuTube channel at: Starting the Hike The navigatr shuld set a hiking pace that is cmfrtable fr each crew member. Gd cmmunicatin between the back and frnt f the crew will help keep the crew hiking at a cmfrtable pace withut getting separated. Crew members shuld be spaced ut apprximately every 8-10 ft. but a crew shuld never split up. Befre a crew begins hiking, the navigatr shuld ask the questin: Is anybdy nt ready? The reasn we phrase the questin this way rather than, Is everybdy ready? is because with the latter questin all yu wuld hear wuld be 11 vices saying yes and the ne n wuld be drwned ut. Hiking Etiquette Yu will cme acrss many crews ver the curse f yur trek; knwing hw t prperly interact with them will help make yur trek much mre enjyable. Additinally, prper hiking etiquette within yur crew will help mitigate unnecessary tensin and stress between crew members.

8 Pace Yur crew shuld chse a pace that keeps the crew tgether and allws the crew t hike fr extended amunts f time withut needing t stp and take a break. If ne crew member is significantly slwer than the rest f the crew, have them hike near the frnt f the crew s that they can easily cmmunicate with the navigatr/pace setter. Spacing It is cmmn fr crew members t hike t clse tgether at Philmnt and as a result, crew members are nt able t see the views and wildlife all arund them. It is recmmended that crew members are spaced ut abut 8-10 ft. t allw them t lk arund and enjy the views as well as stp in time if the persn in frnt f them were t suddenly stp n the trail. The reasn why yu d nt want yur crew t be t spaced ut is that part f the crew may g the wrng way at a trail junctin, causing a search and rescue peratin because the grup was nt hiking tgether as a slidary crew. Breaks Crews shuld take breaks when needed and anyne in the crew shuld feel cmfrtable calling fr a break. There are tw kinds f breaks: a five-minute r less break and a 20-minute r mre break. The reasn fr the tw different breaks is the lactic acid buildup that will ccur in yur muscles after resting fr mre than five minutes. Lactic acid will leave yur muscles feeling sluggish and yu will exert much mre energy if yu hike during lactic acid buildup. After 20 minutes, the lactic acid will dissipate, and yur muscles will be able t mve unrestricted. Additinally, make sure t never step n the critical edge f the trail, especially when taking breaks. The critical edge is the utside (r dwnhill) edge f the trail and stepping n it will weaken it and lead t the ersin f the trail. Passing a Crew If yu encunter anther crew heading in the same directin yu are hiking, take a five-minute break. If yu apprach them again, take anther five-minute break. If yu apprach them a third time, ask if yu may pass. If yu d pass the ther crew, d nt stp fr at least 45 minutes t prevent the tw crews frm leapfrgging ne anther. Anther Crew Passes Yu As stated earlier, a crew hiking behind yu will prbably ask if they can pass yu. If they d, let them hike in frnt since yu may nt have seen them the ther tw times they apprached yu. Once passed, taking a five-minute break is a gd idea just t give the tw crews spacing. Right f Way When tw crews meet n a hill and are hiking ppsite directins, the crew hiking uphill has the right f way and the crew hiking dwnhill shuld step ff the trail allwing the ther crew t pass. The reasn fr this is that it is harder t get yur mmentum ging uphill than dwnhill. Pack Animals Cavalcade crews r crews with a burr always have the right f way. Listen t the directins f the Hrseman r Wrangler fr which side f the trail t mve t. Stream Crssings Crss streams and bridges ne persn at a time. Unbuckle yur hip belt and sternum strap s that if yu fall in, yu can quickly escape yur pack and avid drwning. The navigatr shuld cntinue abut 30 ft. up the trail and wait fr the rest f the crew. When the last persn crsses the stream, they shuld call ut All acrss then the navigatr will ask the questin: Is anybdy nt ready? befre hiking n. Trekking Ples If yu decide t use trekking ples n yur trek, make sure t use rubber tips t save ur trails frm ersin. Trekking ples can reduce the impact n yur knees by up t 25% while backpacking but we have fund that trails erde much quicker when the sharp tip f the ples are expsed. Setting Up Camp When yu arrive at yur day s destinatin, yu will need t start setting up camp befre anything else. The general rule f thumb is t take care f crew gear befre persnal gear. The rder f campsite setup is as fllws: Identify the Bear-muda Triangle Fire Ring Sump Bear Cables

9 Smellables always stay inside the Bear-muda Triangle Smellables include, but are nt limited t the fllwing: Fd Trash Water bttles that have ever had anything ther than water in them Unwashed dishes Squishy bwls Medicine Feminine hygiene prducts Tbacc Sap and shamp Extra batteries Film frm dispsable cameras Dedrant (shuld nt have r use n trail) Ft pwder Tthpaste/tthbrush First aid kit Chap stick Sunscreen Insect repellant Fd strainer, yum-yum bag, and cndiments bag Clthes that have fd r drink spilled n them Vmit Rll f duct tape Create 3 piles f gear arund the fire ring Fd Crew gear dining fly, stves, pts, bear rpes, bear bags, tilet paper, etc. Persnal smellables tiletries, medicatins, etc. Decide what will g in the bear bags and what will g in the ps bag Typically, all fd ther than the night s dinner will g in the bear bags alng with anything else that will nt be needed until mrning. The ps bag typically has the night s dinner, the cleaning supply bag, persnal smellables, the first aid kit, and smellable water bttles (a water bttle that has ever had anything ther than water in it). Hang Bear Bags Always check that there are at least tw tie-ff pints behind yu befre thrwing the rpe. Never attach a rck, carabiner, water bttle, r anything f weight t the rpe prir t thrwing ver. The reasns fr this are: 1) the weight culd wrap arund the cable and the rpe will get stuck; 2) the weight culd swing back arund and hit smene; and 3) the carabiner culd clip nt the cable. The rpe shuld have a lp exactly in the middle. Fld the rpe back s that yu are thrwing a 50 ft. duble-line. Thrw the end with the lp and make sure t hld the tail ends. Once the bear rpe is ver the cable, attach a weight-bearing carabiner t the lp yu threw ver the cable.

10 Tie the bear bags t alternating sides f the lp by using lark s head knts. 1. Make a lp. 2. Put yur hand thrugh the lp. 3. Grab the tw pieces f rpe and pull thrugh the lp.

11 4. Make sure the entire tp f the bag is thrugh the knt. 5. Mve the knts as clse t the carabiner as pssible. Pull the secnd bear rpe (nw referred t as the ps line) halfway thrugh the carabiner. When all the bear bags are tied t the rpe, have 6-8 Scuts pull n the free end f the rpe t raise the bags. It is imprtant that n ne stands underneath the bear bags at any time in case they fall. When the tps f the bags are apprximately 4 lwer than the line, separate the tw rpes and tie ff t tw separate trees. Use sticks between the bark f the tree and the rpe t prevent girdling (permanent damage that kills the tree). Wrap the rpe arund the sticks and trunk f the tree at least three times and tuck the excess rpe int the wrapped rpe. The reasning fr tying ff t separate trees is because if a bear kncks dwn r cuts ne f the lines, there is still a secnd rpe suspending the bags as a backup. If yu will nt be cking dinner within the next 30 minutes, hang the ps bag. Tie-ff the ps bag near the center lp f the ps line by using a lark s head knt. Pull the ps line t raise the ps bag t the bear bags and tie the tw ends f the ps line t tw unused trees. (If there are n unused trees, yu may tie the ps line t the same trees the bear line is tied t. Make sure t leave at least a ft f separatin between the ps and

12 bear lines.) Wrap the rpe arund the sticks and trunk f the trees just like with the bear rpe and tuck the excess rpe away. The bear bags shuld be mre than a persn s wingspan away frm the clsest tree (at least 6 ft.) and high enugh that the tallest persn in the crew cannt tuch them while jumping (abut 10 ft.). These spacing requirements are intact s that a bear cannt climb the tree r stand n their hind legs and reach the bags. Set Up the Dining Fly Must g inside the Bear-muda Triangle, near the fire ring. Whenever yu are setting up the dining fly r a tent, keep in mind the fur W s: Wind set up s that a crner is facing int the wind fr stability Water avid setting up ver drainages that wuld fld when it rains Wildlife avid setting up ver game trails, ant hills, gpher hles, etc. Widw Makers avid setting up under dead trees r limbs that culd fall n yu Using a 25 x 1/8 rpe and tw small sticks, attach the dining fly t the rpe using lark s head knts and tie-ff t tw ples using a clve hitch. (Hiking ples can be substituted in place f the aluminum ples.) Use a taut line hitch t stake the rpe int the grund. Stake the fur crners. Stake the tw sides t if yu have extra stakes. The dining fly is a great place t eat if it is raining. N pen flames shuld be under the dining fly at any time. Stves, fuel bttles, and tilet paper shuld be stred under the dining fly at night. Packs shuld nt be piled up under the dining fly because if ne persn left a smellable in their pack, every pack wuld be destryed. It is better fr everyne t put their pack cver n and lean their pack against a tree in the fire ring area. Additinally, packs are never clean and shuld be kept in the Bear-muda triangle at all times, nt near tents. The dining fly may be tied t trees. This allws the dining fly t be tied in either the standard A- frame style (shwn abve) r a lean-t style. It als enables yu t determine which style wrks

13 best fr the envirnmental element yu are trying t eliminate (ex. A-frame fr rain, hail, and wind; Lean-t fr sun and shade). The dining fly must still be setup within the Bear-muda Triangle. When securing t trees, sticks must be placed between the rpe and tree t prevent damage t the tree (as with bear bags). If tying t trees, lines need t be tied at either 3 ft. and lwer r 7 ft. and higher tying between these heights may lead t injury. Wrap the rpe arund the tree at least ne full rtatin then tie a taut line hitch t make the fly adjustable and sturdy enugh t remain secured in high winds. Set Up Tents Tents must be at least 50 ft. away frm any part f the Bear-muda Triangle. Remember t check the fur W s befre setting up yur tent. Tents shuld be placed in a tight cluster abut 5-7 ft. apart and nt in any gemetric shapes like circles, squares, r lines. The reasn fr this is because an animal may feel trapped if it walks inside the circle and may becme aggressive. Als, if the tents are set-up in a line, there is the pssibility that a deer wuld try jumping ver a tent withut seeing the tents behind it, kncking them dwn and injuring peple inside. There shuld be n islated tents as the majrity f bear attacks invlving tents happen t an islated tent. Sme peple have inquired abut using hammcks n their trek, but they are nt allwed at Philmnt due t damage n trees (girdling), the safety cncern f smene walking int it at night, wildlife ding damage t it, and weather cncerns. The nly items allwed inside a tent are a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, sleep clthes, flashlight, bk, eyeglasses (n cntacts), rain jacket, fleece, bts, scks, camp shes, and emergency medicatin such as EpiPens, inhalers, and diabetic medicatin. (All emergency medicatin shuld be wrapped in a sck and placed inside the right bt.) A vide titled Hw T Setup A Campsite can be fund n Philmnt s YuTube channel at: Begin Preparing fr Dinner Dinner preparatin shuld be in r near the fire ring. Gather all apprpriate dinners fr the evening meal. Set ut an unused bear bag n the grund as the kitchen cuntertp. Emphasize that crew members shuld minimize the amunt f walking they d near the kitchen area and the cks shuld be the nly peple inside the kitchen area. The purpse f this is t limit the amunt f dirt that is kicked int the fd. Als, mre mvement arund the kitchen increases the chance f the pt getting kncked ver. The cks shuld be wearing clsed ted shes in case the pt with biling water spills ver. The cks shuld start biling abut fur quarts f water depending n the meal. The cks shuld pen all the dinner meal bags and rganize the individual fd packets n their kitchen cuntertp. Bwls, spns, and all utensils that will be used fr the meal shuld be placed n the kitchen cuntertp. Once the water reaches a rlling bil, all dishes must be sanitized fr at least 30 secnds in rder t prevent illness n the trail. (By sanitizing immediately befre a meal rather than the

14 night befre, yu are able t save n fuel and water by having tw uses: sanitizing and rehydrating.) Pur the dehydrated meal int the empty eight-quart pt. Turn the stve ff and carefully pur the ht water int the eight-quart pt with the fd. Use yur best judgment n hw much water t add. Yu can always add mre water later but nce it is added, it cannt be easily remved. Stir the fd thrughly with a large spn t ensure all the fd is getting rehydrated. Place the lid n the pt and let sit fr minutes r fllw the directins n the fd bag. Say grace. Stir the fd ne last time and serve. Eat Dinner Make sure t be careful while eating: any clthing that has fd spilled n it needs t be hung in the bear bags at night. Encurage yur crew t eat all f the fd as this will make the cleanup prcess much easier. Cnslidate the trash int ne empty meal bag and cllect the ther empty meal bags, shiny fd wrappers (Terracycle), and paperbard fr recycling. Clean Up Once the fd is all gne, use the leftver ht water (n lnger biling and nw warm) t pur int the dirty fd pt, nw referred t as the wash pt. Add 3-4 drps f Campsuds bidegradable sap int the wash pt and cut a small 1.5 x 2 piece frm a scrubby pad. Pur ne quart f water int the pt that was used t bil the water riginally. This pt is nw referred t as the rinse pt. Gather all dishes and utensils used in the dinner and begin scrubbing them in the wash pt starting with the cleanest items first, rinsing them in the rinse pt, and stacking them up by the sump t dry fr the night. Once all the dishes are cleaned, scrub the wash pt f all the fd particles and bring the wash pt, rinse pt, fd strainer, scraper, and tw yum-yum (Ziplc ) bags ver t the sump. A vide titled Hw T Wash Dishes can be fund n Philmnt s YuTube Channel at: Sump Pur the wash water thrugh the fd strainer and int the sump. Use the scraper t remve all fd particles frm the fd strainer and place the fd particles int ne yum-yum bag. Pur the rinse water int the wash pt and swirl arund t rinse ut any remaining sap r fd.

15 Pur the rinse water ut f the wash pt thrugh the fd strainer and int the sump. Clean away any fd particles frm the fd strainer and sump screen by using the scraper. Place the fd particles and used scrubby pad in the yum-yum bag and treat as trash by hanging them up in the ps bag at night. Place the fd strainer and scraper int the unused yum-yum bag and hang them up in the ps bag at night. Hang Ops Bag Let crew members brush their teeth, remve cntacts, take medicatin, etc. Have every crew member duble check their pckets, pack, and the campsite in general fr any smellables. The Wilderness Pledge Guia shuld reinfrce bear prcedures every night n trail. Pack up all trash, fd, ditty bags, first aid kit, and smellable water bttles int the ps bag. Ideally, smellable water bttles shuld be empty s that the ps bag is nt as heavy t lift. In rder t save space, yu shuld clip yur smellable bttles nt the ps rpe, utside f the bags. Tie the ps bag t the ps line, raise the bag, and tie-ff t tw unused trees using sticks arund the trunk. Campfire Make sure campfires are allwed where yu are camping. Due t Philmnt s arid landscape and high winds, a fire ban is cmmn during the summer mnths. Sticks shuld be n lnger than yur frearm and n wider arund than yur wrist. Keep the fire small, n higher than 18. Keep a pt f water nearby and never leave the campfire unattended. Burn all wd t ash and pur water ver the fire and stir with a stick when the fire is ut t ensure the fire is ut cld. Yu shuld feel cmfrtable putting yur hand in the ash since it is cld. Breaking Camp The Crew Leader shuld be respnsible fr waking the crew. A nrmal time t wake up is anywhere between 5:30 and 6:00am. Peple shuld pack up their persnal gear first (sleeping bags, tents, etc.) then get the bear bags dwn and finish packing their packs. Lead by the Wilderness Pledge Guia, make sure t fluff yur duff by returning the appearance f yur tent site t what it was befre yur tent was placed. T rejuvenate the grass, pine needles, etc. that was under yur tent, use yur hands r feet t gently rearrange the material int a psitin that is mre natural than the imprinted rectangle left by yur tent. Frm a line with yur crew t plice the area, picking up all trash and making sure n gear is left behind. Pack ut cld ashes frm campfire ring by using an empty meal bag. Ashes shuld be dispersed 30 minutes utside f camp and 100 ft. ff the trail. Sme crews prefer t eat breakfast while hiking r 30 minutes dwn the trail as an extra incentive t get ut f camp early. CONDUCTING A SHAKEDOWN HIKE As mentined earlier, crews are highly recmmended t participate in at least tw shakedwn hikes befre their Philmnt trek. These shakedwns will vary frm crew t crew depending n where yu are frm but three-day/twnight trips cvering between miles ver as much elevatin change as pssible is recmmended fr a crew. On these shakedwn hikes, it is pssible fr Scuts t receive credit twards a few merit badges with a little extra preparatin. The Camping, Cking, Hiking, and Backpacking merit badges all have requirements that can be cmpleted thrugh these shakedwn hikes while preparing fr a Philmnt trek. The requirements that can be earned frm the Camping merit badge are: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9b; frm Cking: 5, 6, and 7; frm Hiking: 2, 3, 4, and cunt twards the hikes fr 5, 6, and 7; and frm Backpacking: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

16 In the early stages f yur crew s preparatin fr Philmnt, it is recmmended that every member f yur crew signs a crew member cntract. This cntract shuld be written by the crew and tailred t the crew s specific needs. Examples f tpics used in crew member cntracts are: exercise at least three times a week fr n less than an hur each sessin, pay depsits n time, participate in tw shakedwn hikes, etc. It is fund that crews wh sign ne f these cntracts are usually mre prepared and have a mre successful trek because f it. After the tw shakedwn hikes, a third crew activity f cmpleting seven hurs f cnservatin wrk is recmmended t build additinal cmradery amngst the crew as well as get yu the additinal seven hurs needed fr the 50 Miler Award. The 50 Miler Award requires 10 hurs f cnservatin wrk in additin t a 50-mile trek and yur expeditin at Philmnt will get yu three hurs already. This extra time spent bnding with yur crew is a great way t all get n the same page as well as get a rarely earned award ut f it t. Althugh the campsites yur crew will stay at during yur shakedwn hikes prbably will nt have sumps r bear cables, yu can begin t practice Philmnt s alternative lw-impact methd. Here are the directins fr making and using lwimpact sumps and bear bags: LOW-IMPACT SUMP Take a galln size Ziplc bag (trail meal bags wrk great t) and pke abut 20 small hles in the bttm. Fill ¼ f the bag with pine needles. Pur the rinse water int the wash pt Pur the water frm the wash pt, thrugh the fd strainer, thrugh the bag, and int the secnd pt. Then pur the water thrugh the fd strainer, bag, and int the ther pt a secnd time and repeat until n mre fd particles drip int the pt. Distribute the water in a rainbw-like fashin 200 ft. frm camp and water surces. Rinse the pts. Pack ut the bag with pine needles as trash. LOW-IMPACT BEAR BAGS Requires three 100 x ¼ bear rpes, bear bags, a carabiner, and eight trees. Fld a bear rpe back n itself t create a duble-lined 50 rpe and thrw ver the branch f a tree. Pull the rpe halfway ver the branch. Fld a secnd bear rpe and thrw ver anther tree branch abut 20 feet away. Pull the secnd bear rpe halfway ver the branch. Cnnect the tw bear rpes by using a weight bearing carabiner thrugh the center lps. Feed the third bear rpe halfway thrugh the carabiner. Tie bear bags t alternating sides f the carabiner. Pull the first tw rpes and wrap the tw ends f each line t separate trees while using sticks just like with nrmal bear lines. Tie ps bags near the center lp f the third bear rpe.

17 Pull up the third bear rpe and wrap each end arund unused trees. Use sticks between the rpe and the bark just like with nrmal bear rpes. In Part 2 f the guide, we will cver mre detailed Leave N Trace examples, Philmnt-specific first aid, weather, hygiene, the stages f grup dynamics, additinal cnditining tips, and a general utline fr the rder f events f the arrival day at Philmnt. Refer t the Philmnt website and fr updates t this guide and the mst up-t-date infrmatin regarding yur trek preparatin.