High Adventure Training May 10, 2008 Trails Near and Far, Park’s Rules & Permits and High Adventure Awards Dan Marks

1. High Adventure Training May 10, 2008 Trails Near and Far, Park’s Rules & Permits and High Adventure Awards Dan Marks, HAT Specialist

2. Where Do I Go? Where do I go to hike locally? Where do I go for an extended trip?

3. Best Local Trails…Right In Our Own Back Yard Sweetwater River Trail Pine Creek Trail California Riding and Hiking Trail Pacific Crest Trail Mormon Battalion Trail

4. Desert Wilderness Adventures Grand Canyon Trails Camelback (Old California Riding and Hiking Trail) Pacific Crest Trail Anza Borrego State Park Joshua Tree National Monument

5. Mountain Wilderness Adventures: Where To Go In Southern California San Gorgonio Wilderness San Jacinto Wilderness - San Jacinto National Monument Cucamonga Wilderness Santa Rosa National Monument Mt. Palomar – Mt. Laguna National Recreation Areas

6. Mountain Wilderness Adventures: Other Mountain Treks White Mountain Wilderness – Ancient Bristlecone Forest Sierra Nevada Mountains – 10 HAT Described Segments Ventana Wilderness (Big Sur, California) Mazatzal Wilderness (Central Arizona) San Francisco Peaks (Flagstaff)

7. WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

8. Putting Together A Training Program • Plan a yearly backpacking program during your TLC or PLC • Introduce new Scouts to backpacking • Maintain a continuous backpacking program within your Troop: • Ages 11-13: Scouts are learning • Ages 14-16: Backpack-experienced Scouts • Ages 16 + : High Adventure – Challenges!

9. Transportation Requirements • Experienced drivers are needed to support your backpacking program • Consideration of transportation needs for loop trips and point-to-point trips • Vehicle mix in your Troop inventory: • 4WD Trucks • 4WD and 2WD SUV’s • 2WD Passenger Vans and Minivans

10. Scouts Learning Backpacking • Merit Badges • First Aid • Hiking • Camping • Cooking • Rock Climbing • Unit Backpack Training • Local Trails: • Sweetwater River • Cuyamaca Rancho State Park • Mission Trails • Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

11. Introducing Backpacking • Hike locally, with an overnight stay • Unit Backpack training is a must! • Borrow equipment for smaller boys…keep an eye out for narrow hips and think about lighter loads. • Think about awards or “been there” trinkets for every outing • Allow use of tennis shoes vs. hiking boots

12. Introducing Backpacking • Places we like to hike…5 miles or less • Rose Canyon • San Clemente Canyon • Mission Trails • Lake Poway • Mission Bay • Torrey Pines • Mt. Palomar • Mataguay – San Felipe Valley

13. Backpack - Experienced • Camelback 30 and 60 mile treks • Pacific Crest Trail • Sierra Treks • San Jacinto Wilderness • San Gorgonio Wilderness • San Gabriel – Cucamonga Wilderness • Grand Canyon • Joshua Tree

14. Training Trails for Experienced Backpackers • County localities – 10 to 15 miles • Palomar District, Cleveland National Forest • Descanso District Riding and Hiking Trails • Pacific Crest Trail – Cleveland National Forest • Noble Canyon National Recreation Trail – Descanso District Cleveland National Forest • Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Hiking Trails • California Riding and Hiking Trail – Joshua Tree National Monument • Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

15. Training Trails for Sierra Treks • Scouts and Adults must train together • Define what your training plan will be and stick to it. • Pack check, pack light, and plan ahead! • Plan a 2 day 30 mile hike and think about dropping Scouts and Adults based upon their performance on the trail.

16. Sierra Trek Training Trails • Descanso to Paso Picacho and return • Paso Picacho to Banner Store and return • Junction of S2 and S3 to Indian Flats and return • Mountain Conditioning: • Devil’s Slide To San Jacinto Peak • Jenks Lake Trailhead to San Gorgonio Peak, or • Vivian Creek Trailhead to San Gorgonio Peak • Optional: • Lytle Creek to San Antonio Peak

17. Training for the Grand Canyon • Camelback 30 mile medal – Joshua Tree • Anza-Borrego State Park • Borrego – Palm Canyon Nature Trail • Split Mountain/Fish Creek • Coyote Canyon • Sheep Canyon • Mormon Battalion Trail

18. High Adventure – Challenges! • Philmont • Nine Peaks Honor Award • Grand Canyon Primitive Trails • Alaska – Denali State Park • High Sierra Trek Award • Jim Hawkins Mountaineering Medal • Snow Camping – Rock Creek • Mountain Men – Wilderness Skills

19. High Adventure Training Trails • Mt. San Jacinto • Devils Slide to Round Valley to Peak • Deer Springs to Little Round Valley to Peak • Fuller Ridge to Little Round Valley to Peak • Mt. San Gorgonio • Poopout Hill to High Meadow Springs/Dry Lake View • Vivian Creek to High Creek Crossing • Poopout Hill via the Sky High Trail • Mt. San Bernadino • Camp Angelus to Limber Pine Springs

20. Nine Peaks Honor Award • Offered by the Inland Empire Council • Requires a two day, 6 mile shakedown hike to pre-qualify, including 6 miles above 9,000 feet. • Requires Scouts to have attained at least 1st Class Rank with the Hiking Merit Badge to qualify for the award • Nine peaks above 9,000 feet climbed in four days and three nights.

21. What Documents Are Needed Before I Go? • Trek Aid 100 • Trek Plan or Backpacking/Hiking Plan • BSA Local Tour Permit or National Tour Permit • Parent Permission Form and/or Activity Consent Form • Emergency Contact List • Class I or Class II Medical Forms for Youth • Class III Medical Forms for Adults • In Camp Medication Form • Burn Permit & National Forest Adventure Pass • Wilderness Permit or other Regional Permit

22. Resources: • HAT Trek Aids • Books • Afoot and Afield in San Diego County • San Bernadino Mountain Trails • Pacific Crest Trail Guides • Government: Park Information • Commercial Literature: A16 Footprints • AAA Books and Travel Maps • Internet Blogs – Sierra Club & Others

23. More Resources • San Bernadino Mountain Trails, 100 Hikes in Southern California, John W. Robinson • HAT San Gorgonio & San Jacinto, (Trek Aid #104) • Hiking & Backpacking, San Jacinto Wilderness • Some Wilderness Hikes (Ranger Station Leaflett) • Trails to Take, Welcome to San Jacinto • Nine Peaks Honor Award booklet

24. Permits • Mt. San Jacinto State Wilderness – no charge for not showing up • Mt. San Gorgonio Wilderness – no charge for not showing up • Inyo/Sierra National Forest Wilderness Permit • Quota system in effect for most accessible trailheads from May 31 to September. • Reservations accepted six months in advance. 40% are held back for walk-ins (No fee charge)

25. Inyo Sierra Permits • $5.00 non refundable fee per person for confirmed Wilderness Permits. • Mt. Whitney stamps are $15.00 per person • There is a requirement for alternate trips listed on the form. • Permits are available on a first come-first served basis on the date of entry. Keep your party to six or fewer • The highest demand is on Fridays and Saturdays. • Always check local conditions: weather, bears, fires, etc. • Make copies of your permit and give a copy to each member of your unit to carry. • Mailing address: Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit Office 873 North Main Street Bishop, CA 93514

26. Local Tour Permits • Provide BSA insurance protection for Scout Leaders • List the expected number of Scouts and adults on the trip • File them for local city trips also

27. Now That The Trek Is Done… • High Adventure Award Form • Fill it in completely on the Front Side, including Water Trek # or HALT # • On the Back Side, be sure to list all of the people who went on your trek, not just those who qualify for the High Adventure Award • Other Things To Do • Let the Rangers know what you found • Let your Troop/Crew know what you did • Share the knowledge…share the lessons • Start planning for your next High Adventure!

28. See You Out There!