Troop 818 will be traveling to the Grand Canyon National Park to explore and enjoy one of the greatest locations in Arizona and possibly the United States.
Departure: Friday, April 17th 5:00pm from Saint Bernadette Catholic Church
Return: Sunday, March 19th between 2:00pm-4:00pm EXCEPT: Scouts on the High Adventure Crew doing the Hermit’s Trail Outing will return Monday, March 20th between 5pm and 7pm
Cost: $25 for Gas Fee (Note: Hermit Trail Hikers will need to pay their share of the Van cost and permit fees) + $?? Reimburse your Patrol Grubmaster
Camping: The Scouts will be camping approximately 20 miles East of the South Rim Visitors Center in State Park Area (close to where the Arizona Trail enters the Grand Canyon National Park). Camping will be in a dispersed camping area and will be “car camping style”. The Scout Patrols will have their Patrol Boxes (cooking gear) and will sleep in tents with their patrol members.
The Scout Patrols will organize their tent buddies and meal plan. The newer Scouts will be aided by their Patrol Guide.
Meal Planning:
- Friday Dinner = on the road, most likely in Flagstaff, bring money or a brown bag dinner
- Saturday Breakfast = Patrol’s Organize
- Saturday Lunch = Scout’s plan individual trail lunch
- Saturday Dinner = Patrol’s Organize (Scouts on Greatest Day Hike will eat but not be there at preparation, so plan respectfully)
- Sunday Breakfast = Patrol’s Organize
- Sunday Lunch = on the road, most likely in Flagstaff, bring money or a brown bag lunch
- Adult Leaders (please sign up for Adult Meal Planning at: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/70A0B4FA4AF238-adult ) – this is for the Adult meals only not the Scouts
Gear: “Car Camping Style” — (things to remember):
- Tent (Scouts will be sharing tents with a tent buddy)
- Sleeping Bag
- Daypack for hiking
- Hiking shoes
- Warm clothes (watch the weather, it is chilly at the Grand Canyon)
- Water Container (preferably Nalgene)
- Mess Kit (no paper or plastic plates, forks, etc)
- Sleeping pad, if you want one
Activities/Plan:
On Saturday morning, the Scouts will be dividing into three groups:
Hermit Trail Outing – This is a small group of Scouts participating in a backpacking excursion down Hermit Trail and staying at reserved campsites in the Grand Canyon National Park for Saturday and Sunday night and hiking out Monday late morning or early afternoon. This group has been training for this excursion and have made their planning and preparation separate from the Troop. They are being led by Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Miller and Keith Mycek. It is important to note that Scouts in this group will depart the Troop campsite early Saturday morning and will not return to the Troop for the rest of the outing. So do not depend on them for Patrol planning or gear sharing. They are returning on Monday with Assistant Scoutmaster Tom Rodriguez as their group van driver.
Greatest Day Hike – This is a day hike named by Backpacker Magazine as the “Greatest Day Hike in Arizona”, the group will get dropped off at the Kaibab Trailhead after breakfast and will hike down to the Tonto Trail, across to Indian Garden and then hike out of the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. Water is not available until Indian Garden and this hike is challenging and requires a Scout to be adequately prepared both physically and with equipment. This hike is not recommended for newer Scouts and requires Scoutmaster approval to join. Scoutmaster Chris Smith and several other Assistant Scoutmasters will lead this activity. We will return to our campsite, Saturday evening between 8pm and 9pm.
Grand Canyon Hike – This is a general hike in the Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim Visitors Center. The Scouts along with the Adult Leaders will determine an all-inclusive – all abilities day hike that showcases the splendor of the Grand Canyon. Sample ideas may be to hike down the Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5 mile or 3 mile house or to hike along the Arizona Trail or many of the scenic hikes in the Park. Scouts should plan to have appropriate hiking gear, daypacks and water containers (not plastic water bottles).
