hk high knoll trail - bsa-brmc.org knoll clg 2018.pdf · camp leaders’ guide 2018 high knoll...

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Camp Leaders’ Guide 2018 High Knoll Trail Page 1 High Kno ll Trail H K All Camps and Programs have been Nationally Accredited through the BSA NCAP Accreditation Program TREK PROGRAM High Knoll Trail Leaders’ Guide (We urge you to share this information with everyone hiking with your crew) If your group is in search of a fun, outdoor adventure, then dust off your boots and tackle the High Knoll Trail, the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation’s high adventure backpacking program. After a shakedown and informational session conducted by one of the rangers, your crew will be released to hike upon our network of over 100 miles of trails crisscrossing the Scout Reservation. Though some crews shoot for the 50 miler award, typical groups hike around seven miles each day before ending up at one of our backcountry camps. These staffed outpost camps offer modern high adventure programs as well as some “blast from the past” programs that have been popular since we started in 1975. You will have fun, on and off the trail, but do keep in mind that these activities require physical fitness because of their vigorous nature. The goal of the program is to provide the best possible backpacking experience with a daily adventure and quality teambuild- ing experiences. Starting Out Getting Started Who can participate? High Knoll is open to all Scouts who will be 12 1/2 and First Class by June. 1. What kind of leadership Every crew must have two leaders or crew advisors who are do we need? registered in Scouting. One of the adults must be at least 21 years old while the other can be 18. Co-ed crews must have both male & female adult leaders. One of the crew members must have CPR/First Aid Certification. We highly recommend that leader taking a wilderness first aid course. What if we can’t find Due to staffing constraints, we do not have the ability to provide leadership two adults? for your crew; however, register as a partial crew and we will pair you with another partial crew. (Many groups find leaders among their troop alumni.) Who leads the crew? Except where health and safety are involved, all crew leadership stems from the elected crew leader. This youth leader’s responsibilities should begin now with pre- trip planning. How many people are High Knoll is designed as a low impact camping program. Thus, in a crew? the ideal crew should have 10 youth and 2 adults. We often accept larger and smaller groups, but please check with the Council Service Center for confirmation. What if my troop doesn’t Individual youth (provisional campers) should submit their $100 want to go? registration fee and application by February 1st. Our registrar will place provisional campers within a crew. Are there any medical forms All participants must have a signed copy of the National BSA Medical Form. needed? How’s the Hiking? During the 5 days spent backpacking, a crew will cover from 35 to 50 miles over steep, rocky, mountainous terrain. The trails are a combination of narrow footpaths and abandoned logging roads. Although the trails are blazed with white paint, crews will need to be able to navigate by map and compass. The program is physi- cally demanding, so get into shape. A 50 miler is possible if a crew is very experi- enced and fit, otherwise you might spend your entire week hiking and will miss out on the program features. Maps may be purchased in advance from Blue Ridge Scoutfitters: www.blueridgescoutfitters.org

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Page 1: HK High Knoll Trail - bsa-brmc.org Knoll CLG 2018.pdf · Camp Leaders’ Guide 2018 High Knoll Trail Page 1 HK High Knoll Trail All Camps and Programs have been Nationally Accredited

Camp Leaders’ Guide 2018 High Knoll Trail Page 1

High Knoll TrailHK

All Camps and Programs have been Nationally Accredited through the BSA

NCAP Accreditation Program

TREK PROGRAM

High Knoll Trail Leaders’ Guide(We urge you to share this information with everyone hiking with your crew)

If your group is in search of a fun, outdoor adventure, then dust off your boots and tackle the High Knoll Trail, the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation’s high adventure backpacking program. After a shakedown and informational session conducted by one of the rangers, your crew will be released to hike upon our network of over 100 miles of trails crisscrossing the Scout Reservation. Though some crews shoot for the 50 miler award, typical groups hike around seven miles each day before ending up at one of our backcountry camps. These staffed outpost camps offer modern high adventure programs as well as some “blast from the past” programs that have been popular since we started in 1975. You will have fun, on and off the trail, but do keep in mind that these activities require physical fitness because of their vigorous nature. The goal of the program is to provide the best possible backpacking experience with a daily adventure and quality teambuild-ing experiences.

Starting Out

Getting Started

Who can participate? High Knoll is open to all Scouts who will be 12 1/2 and First Class by June. 1.

What kind of leadership Every crew must have two leaders or crew advisors who aredo we need? registered in Scouting. One of the adults must be at least 21 years old while the

other can be 18. Co-ed crews must have both male & female adult leaders. One of the crew members must have CPR/First Aid Certification. We highly recommend that leader taking a wilderness first aid course.

What if we can’t find Due to staffing constraints, we do not have the ability to provide leadershiptwo adults? for your crew; however, register as a partial crew and we will pair you with another

partial crew. (Many groups find leaders among their troop alumni.)

Who leads the crew? Except where health and safety are involved, all crew leadership stems from the elected crew leader. This youth leader’s responsibilities should begin now with pre-trip planning.

How many people are High Knoll is designed as a low impact camping program. Thus,in a crew? the ideal crew should have 10 youth and 2 adults. We often accept larger and

smaller groups, but please check with the Council Service Center for confirmation.

What if my troop doesn’t Individual youth (provisional campers) should submit their $100want to go? registration fee and application by February 1st. Our registrar will place

provisional campers within a crew.

Are there any medical forms All participants must have a signed copy of the National BSA Medical Form.needed?

How’s the Hiking? During the 5 days spent backpacking, a crew will cover from 35 to 50 miles over steep, rocky, mountainous terrain. The trails are a combination of narrow footpaths and abandoned logging roads. Although the trails are blazed with white paint, crews will need to be able to navigate by map and compass. The program is physi-cally demanding, so get into shape. A 50 miler is possible if a crew is very experi-enced and fit, otherwise you might spend your entire week hiking and will miss out on the program features. Maps may be purchased in advance from Blue Ridge Scoutfitters: www.blueridgescoutfitters.org

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Camp Leaders’ Guide 2018 High Knoll Trail Page 2

High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Your Week at High KnollA Typical High Knoll WeekHigh Knoll crews should report to Camp Ottari between 1& 2 p.m. on Sunday. If your troop is traveling to Camp Powhatan, arrange for your High Knoll crew to be dropped off at Camp Ottari first. Upon arrival the crew will meet their ranger, plan their itinerary with our map makers, perform medical re-checks, verify attendance and fees. Rafters will take their swim checks at Camp Ottari. Plan on hiking your gear into the camp as vehicles will need to be parked in our High Knoll parking lot at the camp gate where they will stay for the week. Extra gear, such as extra clean clothes and your Class A uniform, should be stored inside your vehicles because there is limited storage available in our buildings. Crews will spend all of their nights (Sunday through Friday) in their own tents.

Daily ScheduleSunday afternoon: After registration, your ranger will conduct a training session and pack shakedown that will prepare you for the trail. Our staff will prepare dinner for the hikers; bring your personal eating utensils. We will practice cleanup techniques as a group. After dinner there will be an opening campfire that will introduce all of the staff to the crew in a way only High Knoll can perform.

Monday-Thursday:Sunrise: Wake up, cook breakfast. There will be hot coffee in each outpost.7:30 a.m. Break camp. Hit the trail in the cool of the day. Lunchtime: Be in your program outpost. Take program in afternoon.Dusk: Campfire and evening snack prepared by the staff.

Friday:Follow the above schedule and complete the Friday outpost program. Afterwards, hike back into Camp Ottari for the rest of the evening program.Before 5:00 p.m. Check in at the Ottari Welcome Center as soon as you arrive back at Camp. You can drop your packs at the High Knoll Commissary and please, take a shower before dinner.6:00 p.m. Supper Cook out down by lake. The staff cooks for you so kick back and have a good time reminiscing about the week.Dusk: The staff will present a closing campfire and award the High Knoll patches. If your crew needs an Order of the Ar-row tapout, our campfire program will end with enough time for you to attend the Order of the Arrow tap out ceremony presented by Camp Ottari.

Saturday:7:00 a.m. Enjoy a light continental breakfast in the Camp Ottari Dining Hall. No later than 9:30 a.m. depart from Camp Ottari and the High Knoll Trail. Drive safely and come back next year! There is a bus shuttle back to Powhatan, if needed.

Remember to Bring:

• CurrentBSANationalMedicalForm• Personalinsurancecardattachedtomedicalform• ProofofTroopInsurance(outofcouncil)• Pleaseprintandbring2copiesofthecompletedHK

Roster• CPR/FirstAidCard

Be sure you are using the current BSA medical form by following this link: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/ahmr.aspx

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Camp Leaders’ Guide 2018 High Knoll Trail Page 3

High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Your Week at High KnollWhat Will I Be Doing on the Trail?

During your week on High Knoll, your crew will be able to participate in five outpost programs. Please return the selec-tion form as soon as possible (April 1st at the latest). Please note that if a program area has more demand than we can meet, we will give preference to the first crews who have completed their full fee payments and have returned the itinerary sheet. To participate in the whitewater rafting, you must pre-pay early this spring. High Knoll is a small operation, and each outpost is staffed to handle approximately 20 hikers during a program day. We custom-plan each crew’s itiner-ary, and you will hike across the reservation each day to one of your chosen outposts, where we can fit you into that day’s schedule. Upon your arrival in camp on Sunday (between 1 and 2 p.m.), we’ll share your outpost schedule with you and then plot the trails that you will need to follow.

The following are typical outposts offered at High Knoll; however, due to yearly changes in both staff talent and in avail-ability, these outpost programs may change.

Huff Farm: Rest your feet and ride a horse along the ridge of Macks Mountain. Our staff teaches the crews how to saddle a horse and then set off for an exciting trail ride. For supper, avoid a dehydrated meal and enjoy dutch oven chili. Get your boots or belt branded with the signature HK logo at the evening campfire. Long pants are required for horseback riding!

Point Camp: Climb up and rappel down our natural rock face overlooking Big Laurel Creek. Our staff teaches the proper techniques and movements needed to climb and rappel. During wet weather, there is also an indoor climbing facility that has an extensive bouldering area and two 30 foot vertical walls that provide all degrees of difficulty.

Rendezvous: At our 19th century trapper’s camp, load and shoot a .50 caliber muzzle loading rifle. Throw tomahawks and learn about wilderness living skills such as trapping. This living history program will be a real Mountain Man experi-ence.

Whitewater Rafting: Come and raft the famous class 5 whitewater of the New River Gorge located in Fayetteville, West Virginia. The New River Adventure Program staff provides all of the transportation, equipment and guides necessary for a day-long trip. All participants must qualify as “swimmers.” Typically, crews meet the bus around 7:30 a.m. and return to the Reservation around 8 p.m. It takes about 2.5 hours to travel to the river. Space is limited so please sign up now. Note: there is an extra fee for rafting. Bring sunscreen, water shoes and swim suit.

Mountain Boarding: For those of you who enjoy high adrenaline mixed with some speed, mountain boarding combines the downhill thrill of snowboarding with an all-terrain skateboard. This new sport features a strap-on skate board with oversize tires that is fun to ride on our backwoods trail. Our experienced staff will train you in the techniques and provide the gear.

Top Shooter: Compete against your fellow crew members and the other trail hikers in your ability to throw or shoot a variety of items: knives, paintballs, air soft guns, blowguns, sling shots or anything else we can imagine.

Rugged Itinerary - 50 Miler - Choose the level of difficultyThough all of the itineraries will have steep trails and challenging days, we can schedule the trek to be easier or more dif-ficult. As our rangers create schedules for the week, we often run into situations where a crew will need to have a longer than normal day’s hike. We assign these longer miles to the rugged itinerary crews. If we know that a crew is young and inexperienced, we plan for shorter hikes. Upon their arrival on Sunday, we sit down with the crews and map out the ac-tual trails they will hike. Crews looking for a more physical challenge can then request and receive the more challenging trails. Crews looking for 50 Miler Award credit can review their scheduled itinerary, calculate the miles and then pick days for taking additional short hikes, to add up to 50 miles during the week.

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Camp Leaders’ Guide 2018 High Knoll Trail Page 4

High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Your Week at High Knoll

The High Knoll MenuA typical menu is listed below. Keep in mind that this is generic and may vary. We issue the trail food to your crew on Sunday afternoon. There will be a mid-week food drop, so you will carry about 2 ½ days of food with you on the trail. If you require any special dietary needs or have any dietary restrictions, let us know prior to March 1. We order some specialty food for vegetarians and for those with peanut allergies, but we need early knowledge to have enough on hand. Please send a note to the camp registrar indicating the number of hikers who have dietary needs and are requesting this service.

Sample Menu:

BreakfastsThe staff will provide coffee at each outpost.· Flavored instant oatmeal, cereal bars or toaster treats, and hot chocolate.· Granola cereal & milk (a rich, heavy oatmeal from Backpackers Pantry).· Natural Cereal, powdered milk, granola bar and hot chocolate.LunchesWe assemble our own lunch meals to distribute to the crew.· Peanut butter and jelly with graham crackers and a powdered drink mix.· Cheese spread, Wasa bread, trail bars and a powdered drink mix.· Beef jerky, corn nuts, fruit bars and a powdered drink mix.· Cheese spread, tortillas, fruit bars and a powdered drink mix

DinnersTrail Dinners from Backpackers Pantry· Louisiana red beans & rice· Beef Stroganoff· Chicken & Rice· Lasagna· Beef stewThose staying overnight at Huff Farm will have a dutch oven chili meal.

Each program outpost will have an evening campfire program which will feature a snack of some kind, such as: apple or peach cobbler, brownies, cake , “sawdust stew,” etc.

You should bring your own trail snacks (gorp, etc.)

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High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Equipment Recommendations

Clothing� (1) Pair shorts� (2) T-shirts� (1) Fleece or wool vest or jacket� (1) Pair long pants–light weight (required for horse

back riding, mountain boarding & logging days)� (1) Belt� (2) Pair of underwear� (2) Pair of boot socks� (5) Pairs of lightweight liner socks� (1) Pair of well broken-in boots with new laces� (1) Pair of light shoes to wear around camp� (1) Rain jacket or poncho (large enough for you and

your backpack)� (1) Swimsuit and water shoes if you are going rafting� (1) Hat with brim� (1) Class A uniform for travel to camp; it is optional

for the Friday night campfire. You will not need your uniform on the trail.

Eating Utensils� (1) Plastic bowl or large cup (sierra cup)� (1) Drinking cup� (1) Spoon� (2) One-quart water bottles or some form of

hydration system such as a platypus

Personal Items� (1) Sleeping bag in waterproof sack or heavy plastic� (1) Sleeping pad–closed cell or waterproof� (1) Waterproof ground cloth to be packed sepa- rately from the sleeping bag� (1) Waterproof pack cover� (1) Small towel and washcloth� (1) Roll of white toilet paper (in Ziploc bag)� (1) Toothbrush and toothpaste� (1) Personal first aid kit (foot powder, band aids,

moleskin–keep it very simple)� (1) Pocketknife� (1) Small flashlight with extra battery and bulb� (1) Waterproof watch� (1) Compass� (1) Whistle

High Knoll Equipment List

Provided by Troop� Backpacking tents or tarp. If you bring a ham- mock, please make sure it is tree-friendly.� (2) Backpacking Stoves & Fuel� Water purification filters/pumps or pills� Spices for cooking (hot sauce)� Snacks (trail mix, power bars, etc.)� Waterproof matches� Bear bag and 75 feet of 1/8 inch nylon rope� First aid kit� Insect repellent� Sunscreen� Soap–biodegradable liquid soap� Spare rope/cordage� Sewing kit & equipment repair kit� Trowel for cathole latrines on the trail� 1 pair hot tongs� Tarp for cooking area

Equipment Provided by Camp� Soap & sanitizing tablets for dishwashing� Serving spoon� Scrub pad � Trail Food

Found in Manned Outposts� Pots for cooking or boiling water � Garbage bags� Pans for dishwashing � Bow saw

Some Useful Advice

A boy’s pack should weigh 25% of his body weight.

The weather for High Knoll tends to be warm and humid with daytime temperatures in the high 80s and night time temperatures falling into the 50s.

If you wish to use a GPS: The Powhatan Parking Lot is North 36º 57’40”. West 80º 40’. Ottari Lake is North 36º 59’ 30”. West 80º 34’ 30”. These locations are not pinpoint accurate, but they should easily put you within the boundaries of each of the camps.

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Camp Leaders’ Guide 2018 High Knoll Trail Page 6

High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Dates for attending High Knoll: ____________________ Number Youth: _________ Number Leaders: _________

Unit #: _____ Council: _____________________________________ Email: _________________________________

Crew Advisor: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________Street City State Zip

Daytime Phone: __________________________ Evening Phone: ___________________________________________

Check one: � Typical Itinerary � Rugged Itinerary � 50 Miler (recommended only for experienced crews)

White Water Rafting ReservationFrom Tuesday until Thursday we provide rafting on the New River in West Virginia as part of the New Adventure Program or as an elective for High Knoll Trail experience and to others. Prior reservations before camp week are required for plan-ning purposes. Participants, youth and adults, must pass the BSA Swimmer’s Test in order to participate in white water rafting.

Crews leave after breakfast from Camp Ottari and take about 2.5 hours travel time to reach the river. The raft trip lasts about 3.5 hours and you return to Camp Ottari or Powhatan, arriving around 8:00 p.m.

The cost is $65.

Deposit for Whitewater Rafting

# of Scouts: _____ @ $65 = _____ + # of Adults _____ @ $65 = _____ = Total Enclosed: ________

Raft fees are due on April 1st

Payment may be made by VISA, Master Card, American Express or Discover

Account #: ________________________________________________ Security Code: ___________Exp. Date _________

Name as it appears on card: _________________________________________ Authorization to charge: $_____________

Signature: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Formsmaybefaxedto:(540)265-0659

or mailed to:BRMC, Boy Scouts of America

P.O.Box7606Roanoke,VA24019-0606

or emailed to: [email protected]

ReturnbyApril1stto:BlueRidgeMountainsCouncil,P.O.Box7606,Roanoke,VA24019-0606

Selection Form (Due by April 1st!)

Please check beside the outpost you do not wish to participate in:

�WW Rafting �HuffFarm�PointCamp�Rendezvous�MountainBoarding�TopShooter

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High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Physical PreparednessThere are 16 thousand acres on the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation with over 100 miles of trails. You will hike at least 35 miles during the week. Backpacking is strenuous and our trails can be rocky and steep. To enjoy the week, you will need to be in shape. An important habit to develop is stretching before every hike.

What To Do Shakedown hikes are trips that are undertaken prior to a long intense trip: they are intended to give the participants practice and preparation for the experience that they are about to undertake. These shakedown hikes are crucial for pre-paring yourself and your crew for coming to hike the trail. They should start off with easier hikes to train those who are not as experienced. As the hikes continue, they should progressively get more difficult and more technical, placing more responsibility on each of the crew members. This will ensure that each crew member will not only be in the necessary shape to hike for a week, but also to make sure that everyone in the crew has as much fun as possible and are not over-stressed throughout the week. Preferably, crews should do shakedown hikes in mountainous areas to prepare for the mountains on the reservation, but if there are no mountains around your area then there are other options that you can use. Walking on sand and up and down steps are two very effective ways to train the lower body to handle the added weight on more difficult terrain. The biggest point is to get the crew used to carrying weight on their back, and to adapt the legs to climbing and braking. Shakedown hikes are a must for the proper development and physical preparedness needed to spend extended amounts of time on backpacking trips.

Mental Preparedness Shakedown hikes are very important in the development of mental preparedness and confidence to accomplish long treks such as this one. The more time spent in preparation for High Knoll the more confident that the crew will be in having a successful trip and sail through the week with few issues. There will be many points throughout the week, and really throughout the rest of a hiker’s career, that they will have to motivate themselves to continue up a hill or down a trail to get to a destination, even when it’s not the best conditions. This is yet another way that shakedown hikes are incredibly important. It establishes early on whether or not an individual is capable of taking on this task Teamwork is another factor of hiking that incredibly important especially inside the Scout program. By properly working together, the crew will reach the maximum amount of hiking efficiency as possible. This ranges from splitting up who carries what so everyone is carrying the same proportional weight, to splitting up the duties that will need to be taken on throughout the trip. When everyone is working together, the crew should be working as a well oiled machine. When going out on shakedown hikes, even if just for a day, have the crews carry what they would normally carry for a trek as well as preparing for the trip so that they can get used to the process of working together.

Training Map and compass skills are critical for spending a week on the trails at High Knoll. You may bring GPS units, but at some points throughout the week you will be hiking in and out of deep valleys where satellites may not be able to reach your device. GPS units run on batteries whereas a compass does not. Make sure that the crew is properly trained on how to navigate and read a map and compass. Each crew will be provided with two maps of the reservation, one with the trails planned out for the week and the other blank to use for navigation. Please make sure that the crew can demonstrate the proper use of these as our staff will ask them to demonstrate this when the crew arrives during our Ranger Shake-down process. In order for the week to go smoothly, crew duties are going to need to be assigned to balance the responsibilities of what needs to happen while on the trail. A few duties that need to be assigned are but not limited to: assignment of a crew leader, assigning a cooking/cleaning rotation so that someone different is in charge of each of these every day, bear bag hanging/food storage, navigator, etc. Proper and effective communication throughout this process will ensure that all tasks throughout the week are assigned and understood. Make sure during the shakedown hikes that these roles and duties are being practiced so the crew as a whole can be as prepared as possible for the week on the trail.

Be Prepared!

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High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Health and SafetyAt least one member of the crew should be certified in CPR/First Aid. We highly recommend taking a wilderness first aid course. Each crew should have it’s own first-aid kit, to contain the following:

• One 2-inch Roller Bandage• Two 3-inch Roller Bandages• Two rolls of 1-inch adhesive tape• Scissors, Tweezers, Safety Pins• Water Purification Tablets• One Box of Assorted Adhesive Bandages• Matches• Rash/Poison Ivy Remedy

Be Prepared!

• Twelve 3 x 3 inch Sterile Pads• Moleskin• Antacid Tablets• Aspirin and/or Non-aspirin Pain

Reliever• Biohazard Bag• Gatorade• 24 Alcohol Swabs

Stoves: Make sure that everyone knows how to operate and repair the stoves that you bring on the trail. An easy way to ensure this is to have each crew member demonstrate or teach someone else how to use the stoves so that they are clear on how they work. Floods, Lightning, and FireIn case of flooding, stay on high ground. Greenwood Trail (the fire road) is an especially good place to be. In all emergen-cies, make every effort to reach an outpost or base camp. If water is so high that hiking is unsafe and you are in low level areas, find a point to stay that is above the levels of nearby creeks and wait for help. For lightning: get off the ridge tops. For fires: Move as quickly as possible AWAY from the direction of fire spread. Wildfire spread is generally greatest on steep slopes and/or when pushed by wind so pay attention to the terrain you are hiking on and towards as well as the environ-mental conditions each day. Personal CleanlinessThere are shower facilities at both Camp Powhatan and Camp Ottari. Your itinerary will put you near a base camp several times during your trek. As you are going by or through these base camps, make sure that you stop by and speak with someone in the main office. They can point you in the direction of the shower facilities that will best suit the entire crew. Backcountry cleanliness is equally important for your health and others’ happiness. A complete bath may not be possible but consider taking a “bucket bath” in a secluded area and washing your face, hands, feet and private parts. Carry water at least 200 feet from springs, lakes, and streams, use biodegradable soap, and please don’t place contaminated water back into the water supply as this is the same water that you will be drinking from throughout the week. Please be discreet and bathe in private. LatrinesPit latrines are at all manned outpost camps. If you find it necessary to use a latrine at other than established areas, use a small “Cathole” to get rid of human waste. A cathole is efficient because the top layer of soil in most areas is full of micro organisms that decompose the remains of plants and animals. Make each cathole at least 200 feet from any campsite, trail, or water source, and choose a location that isn’t likely to be visited by others. With the heel of your boot or a small trowel, dig a hole about 6 inches deep but no deeper than the rich, organic topsoil. After use, cover the hole completely. Place nothing in a latrine or cathole except human waste and papers necessary for this action. See the dispose of waste properly principle in the Leave No Trace section for more information. Clean UpProper washing and rinsing of dishes will help protect your crew’s health and keep you in the fittest shape for the week. Never use cold water; this will not prevent dysentery and diarrhea; only hot water will accomplish this. Time taken to boil water for eight (8) minutes for rinsing is time well spent. Rinse dishes in boiling water treated with sanitizing tablets that are provided to the crew on Sunday. In order to achieve maximum effectiveness only use these tablets as directed. Safe Drinking WaterThere is a water source in each outpost. All water outside of the base camps, Ottari and Powhatan, must be treated as there may be microorganisms that can mess with your system and make hiking very unpleasant. There are three accept-able methods of purification:

· boiling water· Polar Pure or Potable Aqua pills (iodine based) (provided by the crew)· Two water pumps/filters (provided by the crew)

In most outposts, the creeks are the source of our water used for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Swimming, bathing or washing of any items in the creeks are not allowed.

• Sunscreen (for rafting)• Paper and Pencil• Mouth Barrier Device• Antibiotic Ointment• Petroleum Jelly• Two Pair of Latex Gloves• Four Triangular Bandages, 40”

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High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Feed a Bear, Kill a BearThis sheet is designed to protect both our High Knoll Participants and Resident Bears. Please check it off with your Crew Leader each night and ask the Outpost Director to initial below. The following items are considered “smellables” and should be placed in bear bags as instructed by your Ranger. These items should never be left unattended in camp, at conservation sites, etc. If you are not looking at it, hang it. If camp staff requests you to hang anything else, please do not question them. Thank you for your cooperation.• Soaps(includingcampsuds)• Shampoo• Deodorant/Antiperspirant(donotuseafternoon)• FootPowder• Toothpaste/Toothbrush• Medicine(placeinbootifneededduringthenight,for

example,aninhaler)• FirstAidKits

(bearslikeglueonmoleskin,tape,andband-aids)• Chapstick• Sunscreen

• InsectRepellant• ExtraBatteries• DisposableCamerasandExtraFilm• Tobacco*• FeminineHygieneProducts(usedorunused)**• WaterBottles(thathaveevercontainedanythingbutwater)• AllFoodandTrash(checkanddoublecheck)**• UnwashedDishes• YummyBagandCondimentBag• Clothesthathavespilledfoodordrinkonthem• Anythinginquestion

* Highly Discouraged ** Not to be placed in latrines

Crew Checklist Days on TrailHave items checked by staff each evening 1 2 3 4 5 6

Setupsleepingareaawayfromcooking/eatingarea

Clean up all food and trash around campsite

Washdishesandbodies at 100 feet away from camp

Put all food, smellables, trash & unburnable garbage hung in bear bag at night and when out of campsite for program

Deposit garbage in the trash box at next staffed camp

Do not use any lotion, soaps, or scented items after noon

Storeallcloths,packs,stoves&fuel away from sleeping area

Wearandsleepinclean/non-smellable clothing

Be Considerate of bears:• Nevertakeaflashphoto

of a bear • Nevergetbetweenabearand

food, or a bear and a cub• Neverapproachorprovoke

a bear• Reportallbearsightingstostaff

CrewleaderSignature:

Sample of check sheet your crew will complete at each outpost:

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High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Leave No Trace is the code of outdoor ethics that backpackers have adopted as a way to recreate in the outdoors while leaving as little of an impact on the areas that they interact with. Here at High Knoll, Leave No Trace is a program that is taken very seriously and is crucial that all crews that are on the trail throughout the week need to follow. It consists of seven core principles and what they mean are listed below:

Leave no Trace

LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND• Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural

or historic structures and artifacts.• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you

find them.• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS• Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcoun-

try. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy acandle lantern for light.

• Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings,fire pans, or mound fires.

• Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground thatcan be broken by hand.

• Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires com-pletely, then scatter cool ashes.

RESPECT WILDLIFE• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or ap-

proach them.• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their

health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them topredators and other dangers.

• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations andtrash securely.

• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting,

raising young, or winter.

BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their

experience.• Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.• Step to the downhill side of the trail when encounter-

ing pack stock.• Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visi-

tors.• Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and

noises

PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE• Know the regulations and special concerns for the area

you'll visit.• Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergen-

cies.• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.• Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting

larger groups into smaller groups.• Repackage food to minimize waste.• Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of mark-

ing paint, rock cairns or flagging.

TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES• Durable surfaces include established trails and camp-

sites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.• Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet

from lakes and streams.• Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is

not necessary.In popular areas:o Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.o Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when

wet or muddy.o Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where

vegetation is absent.In pristine areas:o Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and

trails.o Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY• Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest

areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, left-over food, and litter.

• Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, andtrails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.

• Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet

away from streams or lakes and use small amounts ofbiodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

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High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Be Prepared for Your Week - Gear Probably one of the favorite things that all backpackers share in common is the love and affinity for backpacking gear. There are so many options that are out on the market now that the possibilities are endless as to what can be used for backpacking excursions. There is a necessary gear list in this guide that gives a checklist of all of the gear necessary to spend a week on High Knoll. Keep in mind that you don’t have to break the bank to acquire the backpacking gear you will need on this trek. Here are a few helpful hints to outfit yourself with the necessary gear.

Wal-Mart or other volume retailers can be one of your best friends when trying to get inexpensive gear. The prod-ucts that they sell are decent in quality for the price and will provide you with almost everything that you will need for a week. For those who want a little better quality, check REI, Sierra Trading Post, or any other outdoors store. There are also many online sites to check out that give helpful ideas and competitive prices for gear if you know exactly what you are looking for. One of the best sites is one called www.spadout.com which allows you to compare several different sites at once for the price of a piece of gear that you are looking for, definitely worth checking out. Try to shop locally if you can to support your local outdoors store, they will have most everything you will need and will also be able to answer questions.

Choosing a backpack that is right for each individual and fits them properly is a very important process. There are three major types of packs on the market today: internal frame, external frame, and frameless. All three of these packs are designed so that you can swing the pack onto your back, tighten the padded hip belt around your waist, and then adjust the shoulder straps so most of the weight rides on your hips. Your bone structure and the strong muscles of your legs support the weight so that a full load can be carried with relative ease. Some people prefer internal frame packs that have a compact shape and snug fit that is ideal for traveling over difficult terrain, through heavy brush, or even climbing. On the other hand, the external frame actually transfers weight from the shoulders to the hips more efficiently and provides room to strap on equipment such as sleeping bags or tents. While some people have opted for frameless backpacks. These backpackers are known as “ultralighters” as their packs weigh much less than both internal and external frame packs. They are constructed almost exactly the same as internal frame packs, however do not have the internal frame hence “ frameless”. These packs should only be pursued by those who are very serious and experienced backpackers who are looking to shed a few pounds. Though the type of pack is personal choice, make sure that it is large enough to carry both personal and crew gear (typically four thousand to fifty-four hundred cubic inches).

Getting enough sleep is essential to having an enjoyable trek. Evening temperatures on the reservation are erratic, dropping as low as 40º on some nights. We recommend that you bring a summer weight bag with a sheet, fleece, or synthetic sleeping bag liner, and a closed foam sleeping pad. This will help keep you warmer by keeping your body heat contained inside the sleeping bag and not escaping into the ground as it would without a pad. A sleeping bag liner also helps to lengthen the life of the sleeping bag by keeping it cleaner. If you use an inflatable pad, please bring a repair patch and sealer in your crew’s repair kit as there is a possibility that it could get damaged when sleeping on some of our terrain.

Your unit should bring at least two backpacking stoves for your trek. We recommend that you use either white gas or kerosene stoves to avoid carrying fuel cartridges because the cartridges can’t be refilled and typically are heavier because you have to carry more of them. Backpacking stoves are to be used only under adult supervision and never in tents. All fuel must be carried in designed fuel bottles, easily distinguishable from water bottles. Practice using your stoves and repairing them before arriving at camp.

There are no structures for your crew to camp in on the trail. You will need to bring your own trail shelters, both tents and a cooking tarp. BSA National Camp standards specify that all tentage used in camp must be marked “No Flames in Tents.” Please either stencil this message onto your tents or attach a tag with this message. Hammocks must be supported by wide webbing or padding to prevent damage to our trees. There are many different options for tents out there for you to choose from. The key aspects of a tent that you want are: waterproof with a full rain fly, durable, relatively light, something that you will be relatively comfortable in, something that will keep your gear safe from the elements, and of course something that fits your price range. Kelty and Eureka are fantastic tent manufacturers that are reasonable in cost and provide all of these features. Mountain Hardwear, MSR, and The North Face are a few examples of manufacturers that provide top of the line gear.

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High Knoll TrailHK TREK PROGRAM

Hiking boots are the most crucial piece of gear that you will need for the week. Proper boot selection and fitting is one of the most important skills that hikers develop as they gain experience, To help save your feet here are some tips: • Try on boots! Don’t just buy boots without trying them on. Most boots and boot manufacturers vary in size, width,

and lacing.• For the first try-on, take the time to remove the laces entirely and re-lace, making sure to snug the laces through

each eyelet. When your boots are laced completely there should be no slack in the laces near the toe area. Be care-ful not to over-tighten! Once the shoes or boots are laced properly, take a short jaunt around your living room.(Don’t go outside yet!)

• Afternoon or evening is the best time to try on your new footwear, since your feet generally swell throughout theday. If your brand new boots fit perfectly first thing in the morning, they may be too tight by the time afternoonrolls around. After you’ve determined a proper fit in the afternoon/evening, you should also make sure your bootsfit well the next morning.

• Toe room prevents your toes from banging into the front of the boot when going downhill, and allows for naturalfoot swelling. Ideally, you want a snug fit through the ankle, heel, and forefoot, and plenty of toe room. (Trail run-ning shoes offer a closer ‘performance’ fit in the toe area, so they normally have less toe room.) To see if you haveenough room, slide your foot forward so your toes are touching the front of the unlaced boot. In this position, youshould have a finger’s width behind your heel.

• If your heel is loose, try tightening the laces in the area near the bend of the ankle. If you are trying on a low-topshoe this means the laces at the very top-two eyelets. In a boot, tighten this same area, directly at the ankle-bend.

• If you notice too much pressure over your instep (the top of your foot near your ankle), try completely skippingone set of eyelets with the laces, directly over the affected area. One drawback - you may experience a looserheel with shoes laced this way.

• People with wide feet (in a boot that is too narrow) often feel slight pain or numbness at the ball of the foot. Tofix this, first try loosening the laces (in the affected area only). If this doesn’t work, you may need to try a thinnerinsole, which will give your feet more room.

• People with narrow feet (in a boot that is too wide) can try two things: 1) Tightening up the laces often works,but once the boots have stretched slightly you may run out of room for more lace tightening. 2) Try a thicker,after-market insole to take up excess space. Try a flat (arch-less) insole for this purpose, and put it underneath theremovable arch insole that came with the boot.

• If, after you take a few steps in your living room, you find the boots creasing abnormally and digging into the topsof your toes, you may have a boot that is too wide, too long, or has too much interior volume for your foot. Thickerinsoles may help, or you can try a ‘Rubbing Bar.’

• If you’re not used to wearing hiking boots, the tops of the boots may feel restrictive on your lower shins, justabove the ankles. Generally this discomfort goes away after break-in. During the break-in process you can skip lac-ing the top set of eyelets, so the laces don’t come up as high on your lower shin. This also allows for more forwardflex while you walk.

• So, after a few adjustments, and everything checks out; your new boots feel great. It’s time to take a test walkoutside. Ideally you should stick to a moderate walk somewhere around your neighborhood. If possible, try to in-corporate some hills into your test walk. If no hills are available, try to find some stairs to climb and descend. Bringalong a small daypack containing a pair of comfortable shoes to change into if need be.

• An estimated 63% of Americans live with constant minor foot pain. Roughly 50% of these people think that thispain is ‘normal.’ An international study done by the American Podiatry Association found that 74% of peopleraised in shoe-wearing cultures have ongoing foot problems, while only 3% of people raised in non-shoe-wearingcultures experience foot troubles. The APA determined that the problems arise not from the actual wearing ofshoes, but from being improperly fit in shoes over the course of many years. With all of this in mind, don’t settlefor an improper fit.

Be Prepared for Your Week - Gear