Destinations
T36 traditions:
| September | October | November | December |
| Rocket trip: Edwards AFB | Easy backpacking |
No trip. Xmas tree
sales |
|
| January | February | March | April |
| Snow camping Montecito-Sequoia | Skiing: China Peak |
Spring Break ~3-day backpack* |
Camporee or alternate* |
| May | June | July | August |
| Easy backpacking (esp. for new recruits) |
Mt San Jacinto or alternate |
BSA Summer Camp (all Scouts) Summer backpack (all Scouts) High Adventure (age 14+) |
Destinations are decided by vote at August planning session. Traditions are not cast in stone. Boys should research the destinations below and come to the planning session with a favorite or two.
Challenge ratings: 0—car camping 1—easy: good for beginners 2—moderate 3—tough
Star ratings: 1—avoid 2—ok but some drawbacks 3—usual thrill 4—better than normal thrill 5—outstanding
Cost: $: ~$50 $$: ~$200 $$$: ~$500
| Map |
Location |
Features, history, reviews |
Booking |
Cost |
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BSA HIGH ADVENTURE |
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| Northern Tier |
Map |
Ely, MN |
35 | 2015. Physically demanding:
Canoeing and portage. 80-130 mi, 7+ nights. |
Apply in winter for
following summer. Lottery sometimes. Crew of 8. |
$1500+ |
| Philmont | Map | Taos, NM ... Map | 3 4 | 2013. |
||
| Seabase | Map | Florida Keys |
1 3 | 2011. Sailing. Easiest of
the High Adventure destinations. |
Lottery: apply by January
of previous year |
|
| Summit
Bechtel |
Map |
Mt Hope, WV |
New BSA facility | |||
BSA SUMMER CAMP |
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| Chawanakee |
Map | Shaver Lake |
SCUBA program for older/more experienced scouts; water sports MBs | |||
| Emerald Bay | Map | Catalina Is |
1 4 | $500 |
||
| Fiesta Island |
San Diego: Mission Bay |
1 5 | 2014. Emphasis on water | $435 |
||
| Kern |
Map | Sierra NF |
1 5 | 2013. Hilly. Can be
dusty. Great staff. |
$$$ |
|
| Mabel
French |
Map |
Arroyo Grande/Lopez Lk. 3.7
mi up Upr Lopez Cyn Rd |
Former BSA property. Water
slides ($20) at Lopez Lk nearby. |
|||
| Mensinger | Map | Stanislaus NF ... Map | 0 3 | 2012. Many MBs offered
(some capped, require early signup). |
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| Pico Blanco |
Map? | Near Monterey |
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| Pupukea |
Map? | Oahu, HI | ||||
| Rancho Alegre | Map | CA-154 by Lake Cachuma ... Map | Too close for summer camp,
but good place to hone skills and to complete
pre-requisites for MBs. |
|||
| Whitsett |
Map | Sequoia NP |
4 | Whitewater |
$$$ |
|
SPRING BREAK |
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| Anza-Borrego Desert: Yaqui Pass | Map |
Salton Sea | ||||
| Anza-Borrego
Desert: Arroyo Salado |
Map | Salton Sea |
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| Colorado River canoe |
Map? | $$ |
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| Death Valley NP |
Map? | |||||
| Joshua Tree NP |
Map? | |||||
| Santa Cruz Island backpack |
Map? | 1-2 4 | 2014 |
$100 (boat) |
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| Santa Cruz Island kayak |
Map? | $$ |
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WINTER/SNOW (MLK/Presidents Day weekend)
|
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| China Peak |
Map | Sierra NF, CA-168 ... Map | 0 4 | 19??-2013 (Feb) regular
event. Downhill ski. Cabins. Snowsports merit badge can be
earned. No camping credits. |
$300 |
|
| Los Pinos |
Map? | Cleveland NF/Lk Elsinore |
Snow | |||
| Montecito-Sequoia |
Map? | Sequoia NP |
2 4 | -2013 regular event (Jan). Snow camping. XC ski. | Motel first night, camp
second night. |
$100 |
CAR CAMP |
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| Davy Brown campground |
Map? | Los Padres NF off Hwy 154 | 0 | Adventure Pass Fire permit |
— |
|
| Edwards AFB |
Map | Off Claymine Road |
0 3 | 2012. Annual event (Oct).
Rockets (see rocket science
below). Visit to Edwards AFB can be arranged. Can be
windy. |
— |
— |
| Figueroa Mountain
campground |
Map | Los Padres NF off Hwy 154 |
— |
|||
| Jalama Beach |
Map |
East of Lompoc |
||||
| Lake
Santa Margarita |
Map | Just beyond SLO | Fishing. 2 nights. Lake views. Large group camping. | Reservations online. |
$30 |
|
| Montaña de Oro | Map? | Los Osos ... Map | 2013 |
— |
||
| Nira campground |
Map | Los Padres NF off Hwy 154 | 02 | 2013. River. Tables. Kybo.
Less a destination than a stepping point to Lost Valley,
Fish Camp, Manzana Crk trail. Parking area W of Nira
serves Potrero, Coldwater. |
Adventure Pass Fire permit |
— |
| P-Bar Flats |
Map? | |||||
| Pinnacles National Monument |
Map | Off US-101 nr Soledad |
$100 |
|||
| Refugio Beach |
Map | US-101 | 0 3 | 2011. Kayaking | 6 mos |
|
| San Simeon State Beach |
Map? | PCH, San Simeon | ||||
CAR CAMP Summer |
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| Lake San Antonio |
Map? | Nr Paso Robles |
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| Mammoth Lakes |
Map? | Yosemite NP |
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OTHER |
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| Carpinteria Bike Ride |
Map | Carpinteria | 1½ 3 | 2014, 2013. Can spend the
night at Scout House in Carp. |
Scout House, 1059 Vallecito
Rd. Contact T50. |
— |
| FIRST Robotics |
Map | Long Beach | 0 2 | 2012. Robotics. Education,
fun. No camping credits |
||
| Gibraltar Rock |
Map |
Gibraltar Road |
2 5 | 2015 |
Through UCSB Rec Ctr | $75 |
| Red Rock Climbing |
Map? | Rock climbing | ||||
| Dodgers game |
Map |
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles | 0 4 | 2013 Fun. No camping
credits |
||
| TV show |
Hollywood | 0 | Education, fun. No camping
credits |
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DAY HIKES |
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| Lizard's Mouth |
Map |
W Camino Cielo |
0 3 | 2014. Very easy nearby
hike. Map coordinates point to trailhead. Rock is 250m to
the SW. |
— |
— |
| Inspiration Point |
Map | San Roque Rd N |
1 3 | 2015. Set difficulty level:
turn around wherever |
— |
— |
BACKPACK Weekend
|
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| Bear Trap |
Map? | Sequoia NF |
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| Coldwater |
Map | Los Padres NF hike from near Nira ... Map ... Parking | 1 3 | 2012 Easy/beginner
backpacking: 6 mi RT, 1 night. 2 sites w/ tables. River.
Kybo. |
Adventure Pass Fire permit |
— |
| East Fork Lions |
Map? | Los Padres NF | Adventure Pass Fire permit |
|||
| Fish Bowls |
Map? | Los Padres NF off CA-33 |
Adventure Pass Fire permit |
|||
| Fish Camp |
Los Padres NF hike from
Nira |
1 3 | 2013 Easy/beginner
backpacking. 6 mi RT, 1 night. River. Kybo. |
Adventure Pass Fire permit |
— |
|
| Forbush Flats |
Map? | Los Padres NF nr Gibraltar reservoir | Adventure Pass Fire permit |
|||
| Manzana Narrows |
Map? | Los Padres NF off CA-154 |
1½ 3 | 2012 spring break. Backpack
15 mi circuit. 2 nights. |
Adventure Pass Fire permit |
— |
| Matilija Creek |
Map? | Los Padres NF off CA-33 | Adventure Pass Fire permit |
|||
| Mission Pine Spring |
Map? | Los Padres NF off CA-33 | 2 | Backpack 26 mi. 2 nights. | Adventure Pass Fire permit |
|
| Upper Sisquoc River |
Map? | Los Padres NF | Adventure Pass Fire permit |
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BACKPACK Extended (Spring Break/Summer)
|
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| Cora Lakes |
Map | Yosemite NP |
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| Dinkey Lakes |
Map? | Sierra NF |
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| Emigrant Wilderness |
Map? | Stanislaus NF |
Backpack | No wilderness permit
required. |
— |
|
| Grand Canyon of Tuolumne |
Map? | Yosemite NP |
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| John Muir Trail |
Map? | Yosemite NP | ||||
| Kings Canyon—Rae Lakes Loop | Map | Yosemite NP |
2 4 | Scenic. |
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| Mammoth |
Map | Yosemite NP |
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| Mineral King |
Map? | Kings NP |
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| Mt Langley |
Map | Inyo NF |
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| Mt San Jacinto | Map | W of Palm Springs |
Backpack 10 mi RT. 2 nights. | 60 days |
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| Treasure Lakes |
Map | Sierra NF via Bishop |
1½ 4 |
Backpack 4 mi RT @ 10,000'.
Scenic. |
Wilderness permit. Online
bookings (a few weeks in advance advisable) or take
chances onsite. |
— |
Notes
US Forest Service jurisdiction
National: http://www.fs.fed.us/
Los Padres: http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf
The section of Los Padres National Forest east of Lk Cachuma (Paradise) is under the Santa Barbara Forest Ranger District. The area north and west of Lk Cachuma (Davy Brown, Manzana, Coldwater, etc) are under Santa Lucia District headquartered in Santa Maria.
The web page above lists the Districts and contact numbers.
Contact the Forest Ranger for Adventure Passes, and information on water availability and fire restrictions. Call 911 in the event of an emergency of any sort.
Adventure Pass
Information:
- http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lpnf/passes-permits
- http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5208699&width=full
- 6755
Hollister
Avenue [map link], Suite 150 (stealth location; map link
shows entrance on south face of building. Enter from Hollister
just east of KMart fence). 805-968-6640. M-F 0800-1200,
1300-1630
- 3505 Paradise Rd
Price: $35 for one car, $5 for the second car. Before purchasing, ask if the troop has a valid one—they're good for a year.
There's some controversy and a legal case about the Adventure
Pass fee being a double-dip for the feds. So retail outlets like
Big5, REI and Mountain Air, which have traditionally sold
Adventure Passes, may not sell them any more.
Fire Permit
Available online:
www.fire.ca.gov/communications/communications_firesafety_camping_campfirepermits.php
Usually good to the end of the calendar year. The point of the permit is mostly to make you aware of the seriousness of fire, rather than to put your name on file. Always:
- Clear all flammable material away from the fire's edge 5 feet in all directions to prevent escape of the fire.
- Have a shovel available at the campfire site for preparing and extinguishing campfires.
- Have a responsible person in attendance at all times.
- Extinguish campfires with water, using the drown, stir, and feel method
Permits may be suspended without notice when forest conditions warrant.
Rocket Science
Source: Don Heuchert. For first-timers. What to buy:
(a) 2-3 rockets @ $5-15 each, (b) at least 6 engines @ $6-12 for
a 3-pack, $50 for a 24-pack. Do not buy a kit with a launch pad.
We have our own launch pad. Engines: If you buy a multi-stage,
you need an engine for each stage. A is the smallest engine, D
is the biggest. The Dash number is the lag in seconds between
the engine cut off and parachute. So for a multistage you need
to use -0 as in a
C6-0. A C6-4 would
be a C engine, 6 thrust and 4 second lag. Buy an RTF (ready to
fire), beginner or intermediate. Advanced is great but they get
expensive for something that is going to get crashed. And they
take longer to build. Larger engines are shipped as
hazmats—shipping costs more. Where to buy: 1 2
3