Troop 77 - Lone Start Hiking Trail 50 Mile Adventure

When: Sunday, June 4, 2000 to Saturday, June 10, 2000
Where: The Lone Star Hiking Trail is located in the Sam Houston National Forest  near Huntsville, Texas.  Route: See Daily Schedule below.
Purpose:

Our purpose is to:

  1. Have a challenging Scouting adventure by backpacking seven days for 50 miles.
  2. Learn by practice long distance hiking skills.
  3. Build Patrol and Troop teamwork.
  4. Work on advancement requirements.
Cost: None.  Bring your own food (see Food  section below).

Medical 
Requirement:

 All persons, Scouts and adults, must have a "Personal Health and Medical Record Form - Class 3" completed.  This requires a doctor's physical examination.  A blank form for this purpose is included in the handout.

"Leave No Trace" will be practiced.  "Pack it in...pack it out."

Equipment List:

Items required...this is the minimum and  the maximum.

1 - Long sleeve shirt

2 - T-shirts

3 - Underpants

1 - Trousers (no shorts)

3 - Pairs (sets) hiking socks

1 - Swim suit

1 - Boots

1 - Light sandals or shoes for camp & wading streams

1 - Foul weather gear or poncho

1 - Hat

1 - Bandana

(Note: Clothing not worn should be in ziplock bags & stuffsacks)

1 - Pack with waterproof cover

1 - First aid kit (personal)

1 - Toothbrush, toothpaste

1 - Very small towel or wash cloth

1 - Bug repellent (mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers are everywhere)

1 - Water treatment system

1 - Flashlight with fresh batteries, extra batteries, and bulb

1 - Pad to sleep on (or you can pile pine needles under your tent instead)

1 - Bed sheet - double bed size (no sleeping bag)

1 - Cup

1 - Big soup spoon

1 - Bowl

1 - Pocket knife with can opener

1 - Canteen or jug (you will need two quarts of capacity)

1 - Whistle

1 - Roll of toilet paper (in ziplock)

1 - 20+ feet of heavy line or light rope

Gear Shared with "Buddy":
Tent (lightweight)
Trowel
Stove with fuel
2 cooking pots with handle
Matches in ziplock bag
Scrub brush & detergent soap
Patrol first aid kit -- Each Patrol member must have a personal first aid kit.  In addition, each Patrol must have: "Nuskin" for blisters, "Immodium", and activated charcoal tablets.  All of these are available at pharmacies over the counter.

Note: Your pack when "dry", i.e., with everything in it but no fuel, no water, and no food when you are wearing your hiking outfit should weigh less than 20 pounds.  When you add fuel, water, and food for 3 days you add about 15 pounds.  This brings your total to about 35 pounds.  That is more than you will want to carry by lunch the first day.  Go light.  Leave it at home if it is not on this list; yes, you can do without it!  :-)  Remember: If you carry it in, you must carry it out!

Food:

Bring your own food and snacks.  Buddy system will be used for cooking.  Adult advisors may buddy up.  Bring trail foods.  We will be resupplied on Wednesday afternoon at I-45 at the Huntsville State Park  exit.
Your food must be divided into two packages: one which you will backpack onto the trail;  the second will be your re-supply.  Leave it with Susan Reinarz for delivery in a package with your name on it.
To initially carry onto the trail, you will need three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners with three days of snacks.
To re-supply, you will need three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners with three days of snacks.
All lunches should be for quick eating at trailside requiring no cooking.

Some ideas are attached (obtain the "Backpacking Meals" handout from your patrol leader or the Scoutmaster).  You will need about 1.5 times the food which you normally eat at home, plus snacks.

Daily Schedule:

Sunday, June 3
12:00 noon Meet at JRS Exxon store, FM 1431 & Lohman Ford Rd.
12:30 p.m. Depart.  Route: East on FM 1431 to Cedar Park, south on US 183 to Austin, east on US 290 to Brenham, northeast on TX 106 to Navasota, northeast on TX 90 to Anderson, generally east on FM 149 through Richards. Three miles east of Richards, turn right on Forest Service Rd. 219 and follow to the trailhead.  The trailhead is on Forest Service Rd. 219 just south of FM 149.
3:30 p.m. Arrive at trailhead, Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT)
4:00 p.m.

Depart on LSHT
5:00 p.m. Camp

Daily Routine, Monday through Saturday
6:00 a.m. Reveille & breakfast
8:00 a.m. Start hiking
12:00 noon Lunch
2:00 p.m. Make camp
5:00 p.m. Supper
9:00 p.m. Taps

Wednesday, June 7
12:00 noon Lunch & rendezvous with food drop at I-45 at Huntsville State Park exit
Saturday, June 10
12:00 noon Lunch & rendezvous for trip home.  Route to Saturday rendezvous: Follow route used on June 3 to Navasota, then east on TX 105 to Conroe, N on I-45 to FM 150 at New Waverly, east on TX 150 through Maynard to just before Evergreen.  Take Forest Service Rd. 202 north about 10 miles to intersection with Forest Service Rd. 207.  Rendezvous is at 202 & 207.
12:30 p.m. Load and depart for home (reverse route).
3:30 p.m. Home and Hiker's Showers  (Definition of Hiker Shower: Runs at least 15 minutes and exhausts the hot water supply.)