Adventure Blog - Boy Scout Troop 141, Tucson, Arizona

2017-06-08 Philmont High Adventure 2017 Expedition

posted May 25, 2017, 7:16 PM by Scott Forgues

OUTING NAME: Philmont High Adventure 2017 Expedition

DESTINATION: Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM

DATE AND TIME OF DEPARTURE: Thursday, June 8, 2017, 5:00 AM

ESTIMATED DATE AND TIME OF RETURN: Wednesday, June 21, 2017, approximately 6:00 PM

MEETING POINT FOR DEPARTURE: Troop Shed

COST: PAID

POINT OF CONTACT (Adult): Bill Juhasz 520-399-5998

ADULT GRUBMASTER: Philmont Provided

TRAILER PULLER: N/A

OUTING SPL (Scout): Sam Winston

EMERGENCY CONTACT NOT GOING ON TRIP: Melissa Rivera (940-232-2091),Rivera3x3@hotmail.com (This person is knowledgeable about the plans for the trip and can be helpful in case you need to contact an attendee that is on the trip)t

EMERGENCY CONTACT Number: 575-376-2281, Philmont: Expedition number 609E / Trek#11

APPROXIMATE DIRECTIONS: We will caravan to Houghton to I-10 E to I-25 to Taos, NM. Overnight in Taos, NM. Arrive at Philmont Scout Ranch at about 10AM on June 9, 2017.

ACTIVITIES: 60 mile Backpack trip with a Climbing Emphasis.

2017.05.13-14 NEW SCOUT CAMPOUT, Camp Lawton

posted May 10, 2017, 4:52 PM by Scott Forgues

OUTING NAME: New Scout Campout

DESTINATION: Camp Lawton, Mt. Lemmon, AZ

DATE AND TIME OF DEPARTURE: Saturday May 13, 2017 7:30 AM (Meet at Troop Shed)

ESTIMATED DATE AND TIME OF RETURN: Sunday May 14, 2017 Noon

MEETING POINT FOR DEPARTURE: Troop Shed

COST: $15 per person to cover 3 meals

POINT OF CONTACT (Adult): Lakmal Vitanachchi lakmalkv@hotmail.com 520-906-8361

ADULT GRUBMASTER: Lakmal Vitanachchi

TRAILER PULLER:

OUTING SPL (Scout): Grant F. (Saturday), Jaxon R. (Sunday)

EMERGENCY CONTACT NOT GOING ON TRIP: Barb Joyce 520-247-1964 (This person is knowledgeable about the plans for the trip and can be helpful in case you need to contact an attendee that is on the trip)

APPROXIMATE DIRECTIONS: Catalina Hwy up Mt. Lemmon, Entrance to camp is off Organizational Ridge Rd near the visitor center about 90% up the mountain. Navajo Campsite.

ACTIVITIES: This is a 1 night campout and will include advancement opportunities for Scout through 2nd Class scouts. Be sure to bring scout book for advancement.

| Attachments: Camp Lawton Map.jpg New Scout Campout.docx New Scout Campout.pdf

(TEMPLATE) 2017-03-04 OUTING INFORMATION

posted Apr 6, 2017, 10:18 AM by Scott Forgues [ updated Apr 6, 2017, 10:19 AM ]

*****Copy the format from this template to post information about an outing so that others may have access to important information in case of an emergency *****

OUTING NAME: Happy Valley Campout

DESTINATION: Happy Valley near Turkey Creek Trailhead, East side of Rincons, Pima County, AZ

DATE AND TIME OF DEPARTURE: Friday XXXXX xx, xxxx 5:30 PM

ESTIMATED DATE AND TIME OF RETURN: Sunday XXXXX xx, xxxx 1:00 PM

MEETING POINT FOR DEPARTURE: Troop Shed

COST: $25 per person to cover 4 meals and gas

POINT OF CONTACT (Adult): John Dough jdough@yahoo.com 520-555-1212

ADULT GRUBMASTER: Jane Dough

TRAILER PULLER: Bubba Colletti

OUTING SPL (Scout): James X.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NOT GOING ON TRIP: Mary Ann Colletti 520-555-2121 (This person is knowledgeable about the plans for the trip and can be helpful in case you need to contact an attendee that is on the trip)

APPROXIMATE DIRECTIONS: We will caravan to Houghton to I-10 E to Mescal Road Exit in Cochise County. Turn left to follow Mescal Rd to Happy Valley Rd. Drive about 16 miles to the sign for the Turkey Creek Trail and turn left. Go through gate to camp in open area on right a few hundred feet from gate. Map is here: https://goo.gl/maps/hyhBgANGN5k

ACTIVITIES: We will have orienteering activities during the morning as well as a hike in the afternoon. Be sure to bring scout book for advancement.

2016-03-20 Sabino Basin / Hutch's Pool Backpacking

posted Mar 20, 2016, 4:31 PM by James Cramton [ updated Apr 6, 2017, 10:21 AM by Scott Forgues ]

A group of 11 backpackers--7 scouts and 4 adults--spent 48 hours of their fall break backpacking from Sabino Canyon to Sabino Basin and Hutch's Pool. This introductory backpacking trip was a great opportunity for young scouts to get used to the gear and techniques and the fun to be had backpacking on a low key, short backpacking trip. The trip saw a range of weather, from 98 degree heat on the half mile of switchbacks at the top of the Sabino Canyon tram road, to chilly mornings and light rain. But all told, it was a good first backpacking trip for the group of mostly new scouts, in our back yard wilderness. On the trip, we worked on fundamental scouting skills:

Preparing for Leave No Trace wilderness travel
Packing and traveling with all your gear in a backpack
Planning and preparing lightweight and nutritious foods on a backpacking stove
Navigating with and without a map and compass
Enjoying and observing nature, and having fun along the way

On switchbacks above the top of the tram road

On switchbacks above the top of the Sabino Canyon Tram Road., the group quickly went through our 4 liters of reserve water keeping the symptoms of heat exhaustion in check.

Troop 141 hiking above the top of the tram road

Troop 141 hiking the Sabino Canyon Trail; once over the switchbacks, the route was manageable.

The rugged terrain East of the pass from Sabino Canyon offers a remarkable contrast to our familiar views in Sabino Canyon.

We saw abundant wildlife in our travels, including a rattlesnake, a black necked garter snake, scorpions, praying mantis, a newly emerged butterfly, beautiful orb weaver spiders, a tarantula, numerous birds, and this spectacular centipede!

After 2 hours of hiking 2.5 miles, we reached our destination: Sabino Basin, at the confluence of the East and West forks of Sabino Creek. We saw nobody else on the trail all day Wednesday. And this wilderness starts right across the street from some of the scouts' school.

What better dessert on the first night in the wilderness than 3 pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream? A pleasant surprise complements of toting some extra weight in dry ice. Unless you plan to carry it next time, don't get used to this treatment!

"Gnat Bluff Camp" in Sabino Basin after the first night--beautifully clear skies and low wind made for good sleeping! This camp is at the top of the bluff Northeast of the 3 way trail junction between the East Fork and West Fork trails and the Sabino Canyon Trail. There is a well developed fire pit and fairly comfortable and flat ground for our group of 12.

A beautiful creek full of comfortable boulders runs through Sabino Basin just 2 minutes from camp; it was a great place to sit and filter drinking water.

Along the way on our day hike to Hutch's Pool are some pre-Columbian grinding stones.

Ultimately, the swimming at our day hike destination--Hutch's Pool--was too cold for much time in the water, but several scouts and leaders braved the waters briefly.

Orb weaver spider in its web in Sabino Basin

Hidden throughout the route were hidden gems of nature just waiting to be discovered.