Experienced           Initiate           Return Time         What-A-Burger
               Cooking                   Equipment               Heavy vs Light

In February of each year the troop engages in a backpacking trip at  such places as the Ozark Highlands Trail.  The mile start and finish designators and camping location(s) may change from year to year.

Those who have backpacked with the troop before, will have the option to  go up on Friday evening and camp overnight. This group would leave  the church parking lot at 5:30 p.m.  on Friday, trek north at Pelsor, and  camp overnight at the Fairview Campground. On Saturday morning they   will continue their trek east and will join the younger Scouts at the Moore CCC Camp on Saturday evening.  The older Scouts should plan to eat at home before the Friday departure time.

Those who have not backpacked before, Pedros and any other Scouts,   will depart Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. from the church parking lot. They will drive to Russellville on I-40, then north on Hwy. 7 to the town of Pelsor, then east on Hwy. 16 until they reach the community of Ben Hur.  There  they will turn north on forest service road # 1203A to the place where the   trek will start east to the Moore CCC Camp, the Saturday evening camp site.

We expect to arrive back at the upper parking lot on Sunday around 12:30 p.m..  Time permitting, a stop at the What-A-Burgerrestaurant           in Russellville AR on the way home will be made.  In case of emergency, call either the Sheriff’s Office in Jasper at 870- 446-5124, or the National Forest Service, Buffalo Ranger District office at 870-446-5122.

See the cookingand menu page for suggestions on what to cook.

See the ”What to Take & Not!” web page for what to bring on a backpacking hike.  Warm cloths will be a must since the day time temperatures will be in the 60’s, and night time temperatures will be      in the 40’s or lower.  Boys should not wear denim or cotton clothing    on this trek. If the cotton  becomes wet, it will not keep him warm.  In fact, he will be downright frigid. Wool is the proven best most inexpensive choice of clothing fabric for wear on an outing, as it will keep a Scout warm, wet or dry.  Layering is the best way to dress for cold weather.

The following table is extracted from the May 1998 Backpacker magazine, and it is ment to shed light on back pack loading, i.e., a comparison of light and heavy loading. It is supplemental to that      found in the Boy Scout Handbook.

Scaling back--What Goes! What Stays!

GEAR:   PACK RAT: (lb, oz) LIGHT RAT: (lb, oz) SAVI NG: (lb, oz) THE BIG THREE!       pack   7,0  large size          4,0  mid-size   3,0   sleeping bag 4,0  20 degree 1,13 40 degree 2.3 shelter 4,0  tent 2,9  tarp & bivy 1,7 Weight Loss     6,10 EASY CUTS:       sleeping pad 2,8  self inflater 0,13 close cell foam 1,11 water purification 1,3  filter 0,1 iodine tabs 1,2 camera 1,0 point/shoot 0,3 disposable 0,13 light 0,6 candle lantern 0,1 candle nub 0,5 pack cover 0,6 pack cover 0,1 garbage bag 0,5 Weight Loss     5,8 SMALL STUFF       knife   0,7 multi tool   0,1 micro single         blade 0,6   water holder 0,6 two bottles 0,2 water sack 0,4 flashlight   0,4 headlamp +           batteries   0,2 microlignt +           extra battery   0,2   Weight Loss     0,12 COOKWARE       stove + fuel 1,13 16 oz fuel 1,8  9 oz fuel 0,5 cook kit 2,0  2 pots, mug,   sieve, spong, sml. amt. bio. soap 1,6  1 pot, mug   0,10   Weight Loss     0,15 FOOD       snacks   1,3   1,0  (-) 1 energy            bar 0,3   2 dinners      2,3  can chicken   1,15 freeze-dry                chicken 0,4   Weight Loss     0,7 CLOTHING       extra underwear 0,3 0,0 skip it 0,3 hiking shorts 0,6 0,0 skip it 0,6 fleece 1,10 top + bottom 0,13 top only 0,13 hat, gloves 0,6 0,5  balaclava 0,1 ex. long underwear top 0,6 0,0  skip it 0,6 Cool Max T 0,6 0,0  skip it 0,6 storm gear 2,10 Jacket+Pant 1,8  jacket only 1,2 socks   0,13 2 extra +                   2 liners 0,6  1 extra +                 2 liners           0,7   Weight Loss     3,12 UNCHANGED       2 breakfasts 1,3 1,3   2 lunches 1,0 1,0   long underwear, (t + b) 1,0 1,0   ditty bag, map, cord, compass, sunscreen, lighter, toothbrush 0,10   0,10     paper back novel 0,3 0,3   medical kit 0,6 0,6   toilet paper 0,2 0,2   plastic plate 0,2 0,2   TOTAL POUNDS     42 24 18 Top of Page!

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