Dates: Sat-Sun, April 16-17, 2016
Meet: Saturday, 7:00 a.m. sharp at the Danville Park & Ride
Return: Scouts will be returned to their homes at approximately 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: $45. Covers backpacking meals, trail snacks, campground & permits.
Attire: T805 hiking or other synthetic wicking shirt. (No cotton!)
Details:
– Participants need appropriate backpacking and quality rain gear: backpacks, 10 essentials, boots, waterproof shells (for body, head and packs – no ponchos!), layered clothing, extra socks, gallon ziplocks for dry clothes, synthetic sleeping bags, and a full 3 liters of water. No cotton! (“Cotton kills.”)
– Bring sack lunch for Saturday (in gallon Ziploc, not paper sack). All other meals will be provided.
– We will need drivers to take us from Park & Ride to Sunol Regional Park on Saturday, and to pick us up at Del Valle Regional Park on Sunday. Please indicate if you can help out by driving.
Required:
– 03/22 Permission slip due at Troop Meeting
– 03/22 Mandatory planning meeting at Troop meeting
– 04/12 Mandatory pack check at Troop meeting
A very challenging 20-mile two-day backpack from Sunol Regional Park through the beautiful Ohlone Wilderness to Del Valle Regional Park. Day 1 will involve approximately 4,000 vertical feet of climbing over 10 miles, in about 7 hours of hiking. Day 2 is about as much descending over another 10 miles. This strenuous intermediate-level backpack is open to scouts with significant troop backpacking experience.
(Note: There is an introductory Sunol Backpack trip for scouts new to backpacking this same weekend.)
Contact Mr Gary if you have questions.
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged backpacking, camping
Dates: Saturday, February 27 to Sunday, February 28, 2016
Meet: Saturday, 9:00 a.m. at the Danville Park & Ride
Return: Sunday, approximately 4:00 p.m., at Danville Park & Ride. Scouts will call ahead with actual pickup time. (Our likely return window is between 3:00 and 4:30.)
Cost: $15 for campsite & travel costs. (Meals by patrols.)
Attire: T805 hiking or other synthetic wicking shirt. (No cotton!)
Details:
Participants need appropriate backpacking and quality rain gear: backpacks, 10 essentials, boots, waterproof shells (for body, head and packs – no ponchos!), layered clothing, extra socks, gallon ziplocks for dry clothes, synthetic sleeping bags, and 2-3 liters of water. No cotton! (“Cotton kills.”)
Bring sack lunch for Saturday (in gallon Ziploc, not paper sack). All other meals will be planned and purchased by patrols.
Required:
– 02/09 Permission slip due at Troop Meeting
– 02/16 Mandatory planning meeting at Troop meeting
– 02/23 Mandatory pack check at PLC
An adventurous overnight backpack trip through three local regional parks. We’ll warm up Saturday with a five mile hike into Round Valley Regional Preserve, climbing 850 feet, and camping overnight at Round Valley Group Campground. Sunday we’ll hike through the Los Vaqueros Watershed and into Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, stretching our legs with 1,400 feet of climbing over eight miles through some fantastic country. This outing goes forward rain or shine, so bring good boots, good rain gear and an adventurous spirit! This moderately-strenuous intermediate-level backpack is open to scouts with previous backpacking experience and good fitness levels.
Contact Mr Gary if you have questions.
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged backpacking, camping
Date: Saturday, May 30 – Sunday, May 31, 2015
Meet: 7:30am @ Sycamore Park & Ride on Saturday
Return: Scouts will be dropped off at home ~3pm Sunday
Cost: $35 adults and scouts (includes campsite fees & transportation)
Attire: Class B (for hiking)
Prerequisites: Scouts must have completed a T805 introduction to backpacking trip of at least 6 miles round trip
Required: Permission slip due May 19th
Bring:
– $10 for lunch on return trip
– Appropriate backpacking clothes and gears
– Save room to pack shared equipment (tents, stoves, fuel) and food
Hello,
This backpacking trip will be a one night trek in the Pt Reyes National Seashore. We will be leaving Saturday morning from the Sycamore Park and Ride at 8 am, and expect to be on the trail between 10:30 and 11:00 am. Our hike will be seven miles each way, with some moderate altitude gain. We should arrive in our campsite early enough Saturday afternoon to take a side hike to the beach area of Pt Reyes to enjoy the scenic beauty of this great area! We will be backpacking out Sunday morning, and should be home by 3 pm. The trip home will include a quick stop for lunch.
This trek open to all scouts who have completed the Troop 805 Introduction to Backpacking outing, or an equivalent BSA backpacking trip of at least 6 miles round trip. Scouts who will be attending the summer 50 miler should consider this as a critical practice trek and make every effort to attend.
We will begin accepting permission slips beginning tomorrow night and ending the meeting of May 19th. Permission slips will be accepted on a “first come first served basis.”
Please contact either Mr Chan (925-548-6179) or myself by email, or at tomorrow nights meeting if you have any questions regarding the Pt Reyes outing.
Best regards,
Mr. Carstensen
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged backpacking, camping
Hi Scouts,
The hills are green, the wildflowers are blooming, and we are offering two backpack trips to get out there and enjoy spring! Both backpacking trips are Saturday–Sunday, April 11-12, 2015. The first trip is an Introduction to Backpacking at Sunol. The Sunol trip is open to 2nd year scouts (RGB’s, Huskies) and above. This trip is for scouts with limited backpacking experience (or more experienced scouts who want to help teach backpacking skills). The second trip, Morgan Territory Backpacking, is open to 3rd year scouts (HB’s, Dragons) and above who have been on prior backpacks. The Morgan Territory trip is a season opener for scouts attending additional backpack trips this year (or just for fun). It is encouraged for Northern Tier crew members.
Both trips are described more fully below, and on their separate permission slips. Please note: because these trips are only two and a half weeks away, there are extremely tight deadlines for turning in permission slips and having a mandatory pack check. Details differ for each outing, so please check below and on the permission slips. We look forward to seeing you on the trail!
Yours in Scouting,
Troop 805 Leadership
Introduction to Backpacking at Sunol
On April 11-12th, we have a great backpacking trip through the green, wildflower covered hills of Sunol. We’ll check out Alameda County’s largest stream, Alameda Creek, as it flows through Little Yosemite and we’ll pitch our backpacking tents at Stars Rest with views of Mission Peak. We’ll also try different backpacking foods and different water purification methods. This trip is open to 2nd year scouts (RGB’s, Huskies) and above, and is an introductory backpack outing.
The permission slip is posted on the website here . Note: The permission slip and payment is due next Tuesday, March 31st at our Court of Honor.
The scouts will need to have a pack check on Wednesday, April 1st, 7pm behind Sycamore Elementary’s MPR. If you cannot make that day/time, you may contact Mr. Screechfield to make a special appointment for a pack check at his house. At the pack check we will make sure your backpack fits you properly, that you have everything you need, and that you don’t have anything you don’t need. We’ll also divide the food and tent equipment.
For questions, contact Mr. Screechfield (kscreechfield@trcsolutions.com) or Mrs. Kim (dasrkims@yahoo.com)
Morgan Territory Backpacking
On April 11-12, we’ll have a two-day backpacking trek through the Morgan Territory Preserve, the Los Vaqueros Watershed, and into Round Valley Regional Preserve. We’ll hike approximately 5-6 miles each day, with little climbing, and a net elevation loss from start to finish. This is beautiful country in spring, and we’ll have a chance to warm up our legs for the coming season. This trip is open to 3rd year scouts (HB’s, Dragons) and above who have been on prior backpacks.
The permission slip is posted on the website here. Note: The permission slip and payment is due next Tuesday, March 31st at our Court of Honor.
Scouts will need to have a mandatory pack check after the Court of Honor this Tuesday March 31, or on Tuesday April 7 (during spring break) at 7:00at Mr. Mahoney’s house, or by special appointment prior to April 7.
For questions, contact Mr. Gary (todd@thegarys.net) or Mr. Mahoney (randmaho@pacbell.net)
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged backpacking, camping
October 8th: Updated with Logistics info.
Date: October 10-12, 2014 (Friday – Sunday)
Location: Angel Island
Cost: $60
Attire: Class A for travel, Class B for hiking
Required: Permission slip
A two-night backpack camping trip on Angel Island, the weekend of S.F. Fleet Week. We’ll take a privately chartered boat (HyperFish) to ferry us from Jack London Square in Oakland to Angel Island on Friday evening, and hike to our campsite on the west shore of the island. We’ll hike Saturday morning, then watch the US Navy Blue Angels airshow in the afternoon, returning by commercial Blue & Gold Ferry service on Sunday.
This outing is limited to 20 participants. Participation will be on first-come, first-served basis (check in hand); however, priority may be given to scouts whose parents can provide transportation.
We will need six (6) drivers to take us to Jack London Square on Friday evening, and six (6) drivers to pick us up at Jack London on Sunday evening. Please volunteer on the permission slip.
Important Dates & Time:
09/16 (Tu) 7:00pm – Permission slip due at Troop meeting
09/23 (Tu) 7:00pm – Mandatory planning meeting 1 at Troop meeting
09/30 (Tu) 7:00pm – Mandatory planning meeting 2 at PLC meeting
10/10 (Fr) 4:00pm – Meet at Sycamore Park and Ride. Schedule is extremely tight. Arrive early if possible.
10/10 (Fr) 4:30pm – Drivers take Scouts to Scott’s Seafood at Jack London Square (Google directions)
10/12 (Su) approx 2:30-3:00pm – Return trip begins at Angel Island – Look out for email on Sunday for arrival updates
10/12 (Su) 4:40pm – Drivers pick up at Scott’s Seafood at Jack London Square
10/12 (Su) 5:30pm – Return to Sycamore Park and Ride
Bring:
– Tent parts assigned to you!
– Sack dinner
– Layers – it can be windy and cold on the bay. A lightweight waterproof, windproof shell is an excellent idea!
– Lightweight binoculars (optional)
– Lightweight camp chair for the 4-hour airshow (optional)
– Playing cards etc, for passing the time (optional)
– 10 essentials and camping gears
Logistics
Drivers:
Drivers must take scouts and backpacks. I have therefore utilized all drivers to include capacity for equipment, and in the event of unplanned emergencies or equipment failure. Here are the day / family driver assignments, and the number of scouts you have told me you can carry. If your situation has changed or this is impossible for you, PLEASE NOTIFY ME IMMEDIATELY.
Friday: Aidan (4), Andre (4), Chris (4), Eric (5), Ethan (7), Jared O (5), Owen (4)
Sunday: AJ (4), Jared O (5), Jared Q (3), Jimmy (6), Justin (3), Lucas (4), Matthew (6)
Friday: (All Families)
Drivers (and all families) will meet at the Park & Ride Friday at 4:00 sharp. Please arrive early if possible. Our schedule is extremely tight. We have to distribute some equipment and food, get it packed in backpacks, get it in the cars, drive in Friday evening traffic through the maze to Jack London Square in Oakland, find our boat, board a boat, motor to Angel Island, disembark, hike a mile in, and set up camp – hopefully still in some daylight. (Don’t forget a sack dinner.)
I will have driver packets with driving information for all drivers on Friday, but essentially, we are going to Scotts Seafood at Jack London Square. Here is a link with location and driving directions. http://www.scottsjls.com/location.html. Please familiarize yourself with them in advance so we have smooth sailing on our way to the waterfront. 🙂
Sunday: (All Families)
Unfortunately, we will not know what time we will need to be picked up at Scott’s Seafood until sometime around 2:30 or 3:00, when we return to the docks on the island. We do not know (and can’t know) whether we will be able to take a direct Ferry back to Jack London, or whether we will have to go first to San Francisco, and take a different Ferry from there. We therefore have a fairly large swing in possible arrival times at Jack London, from about 4:00 to 6:00 – “ish.” For non-driving families, that puts our arrival at Park & Ride likely somewhere between 5:00 and 7:00 (ish). When I know more on Sunday afternoon I will email all of us. Thank you for your patience and being on “standby” for our transportation and pick up. I would be more precise if I could.
Scouts:
You have been assigned, and taken home, split portions of tents. If you unpack and repack your pack, DO NOT FORGET TO PACK ANY TENT PARTS. The tents will not work without all their parts. Your patrol will have a very cold, windy set of nights in the open on the bay, and you will not be popular at all! 🙂
Each patrol will need to bring whatever cooking equipment/utensils it needs for your planned meals (and no extra equipment). Generally, this means selecting a large pot and lid from a red kit (and perhaps a serving spoon from a green kit) for the whole patrol, and bringing your personal mess kit, but it depends of course on what you have planned for meals. Each patrol will have to arrange to get what it needs from a patrol quartermaster this week, so we have it packed at the Park & Ride. We will distribute stoves and fuel at the Park & Ride.
Consider bringing lightweight binoculars if you have them, and a camp chair if you can carry it. The airshow is four hours long, and we will likely find a good spot somewhere within a mile of camp and set up for the afternoon to watch. The hike into camp is one mile, with some short, moderate climbing. Consider your comfort hiking versus your comfort sitting. Consider also cards, etc. for passing the time. Camera? Cell phones are permitted on this special outing for photography only – and of course for posting videos or texting pictures with cool blue jets in them to your buds and making them jelly. (Using phones for games will result in confiscation and return (sadly) at the end of the outing.)
Weather:
The weather looks outstanding:
– Friday Night Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
– Saturday Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
– Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
– Sunday Sunny, with a high near 74.
With that said, we are right on the water, and fog is damp and cold and can make you quickly miserable. A lightweight waterproof, windproof shell is an excellent idea (as well as being one of the 10 essentials).
That’s about it! I am SOOOOOOOO excited! (I love air shows and the Blue Angels!) I hope you are too.
For more information, contact the ASM in charge, Mr Gary at todd@thegarys.net or (925) 518-9896.
Posted in Activities, Troop News | Tagged backpacking, camping
