Fwd: Big Hill Pond Campout Details
We are all looking forward to Troop 45’s Backpacking Camping Experience at Big Hill Pond. Below I have placed all relevant details for the weekend. Please contact me or one of the other leaders for any additional details.
*Drop Off Time & Location:*
– 7:30 am Saturday morning at the First Presbyterian Church, Oxford
*Pick Up Time & Location:*
– Approximately 3:30 pm Sunday afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church, Oxford – Please watch your email late Sunday morning for an update. As we are backpacking, if we are early or are running behind, we may flex this time by 1 to 2 hours.
*Leaders attending:*
– Nathan Crouch (601-934-5628) – Jamie Copelin – Sam Cole – Anthony Williams
*Camping & Hiking location:*
– Big Hill Pond State Park – 1435 John Howell Road Pocahontas, TN 38061 <www.google.com/maps/search/1435+John+Howell+Road+Pocahontas,+TN+38061?entry=gmail&source=g> – tnstateparks.com/parks/info/big-hill-pond
*Plan and details for the Weekend:*
– We will travel in 3 vehicles to Big Hill Pond and get started hiking around 10:30 Saturday. – The tentative plan is to hike about 3 to 5 Miles on Saturday, back country camp on Saturday evening and then return ~3 to 5 miles on Sunday with a planned departure just after lunch. – This campout will be a unique opportunity compared to many of our campouts. The plan is to carry all of our camping gear, cooking equipment and food in our backpacks. This will allow the Scouts the experience of hiking with a full pack, cooking on the trail, and back country camping.
*Items to bring:*
– A common saying in hiking is *”Ounces are pounds, and pounds are pain”*. As mentioned above, as the Scouts will be carrying all of the gear needed for the weekend, it’s very important for this campout that they do not overpack. With that in mind, please see the list below as a guide for the Scouts’ packs. I am resharing below what was in Ben’s previous email, but some additions were discussed with the Scout group during the meeting Monday that should also be included.
*Personal Gear to Pack:*
– Backpacking Backpack – Bag Rain cover if available – Sleeping Bag – Sleeping Matt (inflatable best, but fold up ones are ok too, they just take up more room and have more weight) – Small pillow (inflatable best, but if not available, a pillowcase could be stuffed with clothes from the trip and used as an alternative) – 2 Water Bottles – Small Mess Kit (Spoon/Fork/Bowl) – Headlamp with extra batteries or a small to medium flashlight – Compass – Whistle – Small bug spray (*standard large can would be too big for backpacking*) – Small Sunscreen (*standard large spray can would be too big for backpacking*) – Small toiletry set- toilet paper or biodegradable wipes (*standard sizes of these items are too large-important to pack very small travel sizes*) – Hat – Sunglasses – Small first aid kit (*we will have a large kit with the leaders so a very small one is just fine)* – Lighter (only if they have their fireman chit) – Pocket knife or Multi-Tool (only if they have their totem chit) – Optional: Small quick dry small towel (*not a full size standard bath towel*) – Journal & Pen
*Clothes to Pack:*
– Weather forecast is for a high of 75 and low of 47 with only a ~10% chance of rain but this can always change, and Scouts are trained to “Be Prepared”. – Scouts should arrive on Saturday morning in their hiking clothes – Hiking pants – No cotton, denim, jeans, or sweatpants. As Ben mentioned, Cotton kills in the wilderness. – Class B Scout T Shirt – Scouts will only most likely change clothes one time so just one extra set of clothes is needed. – 1 short sleeve t shirt – 1 long sleeve t shirt – 1 sweatshirt for night as it may get cold – 2 pairs wool socks – 1 extra pair of long hiking pants (no jeans and no sweat pants) – 1 set of extra underwear – Just in case of rain, when packed, clothes need to go in a thick trash bag or waterproof bag
*Final Details:*
– For this campout, Jamie, Anthony, Sam, and I are taking care of packing the food, camp stoves, fuel, trowel, tents, and cooking equipment so those items are not needed.
Warm Regards,
Nathan Crouch