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, October 14th at 4:30 pm from Saint Bernadette Catholic Church
Return: Sunday, October 16th between 2:00pm-4:00pm
Cost: $40 for Gas. Reimburse your Patrol Grubmaster
Adults: Please sign up for driving here: Troop 818: Driver Signup you are Quantity 1 and list all seat belts available not counting you (signupgenius.com)
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.
Meal Planning:
- Friday Dinner = on the road, most likely in Flagstaff, bring money or a brown bag for 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
Gear: “Car Camping Style” — (things to remember):
- Tent (Scouts will be sharing tents with a tent buddy)
- Sleeping Bag
- Daypack for hiking
- Hiking shoes
- Water – there is no water at the campsite. Patrol will need enough to cook, clean, and drink for the entire trip.
- 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 two groups:
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. We will return to our campsite, Saturday evening between 6 pm and 8 pm.
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).
