T17-Red River Road Trip posted 04/29/19

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Last week, you heard from Mr. Rekieta about how great our trip to Red River, New Mexico will be this July. I have been on this trip twice and I will concur in that it is one of the best outdoor experiences you and your scouts will be a part of. I do have to point out, however, that while we are staying in a national forest, this will not be a walk in the park. Scouts and families should be prepared for this trip and this preparation needs to start now. First on the list to be prepared for is the weather. It will rain every afternoon in the mountains. Everyone should be prepared for a downpour with good rain gear and good tents. We will basically shut down for an hour or two every afternoon. Second on the list is the altitude. Here in Fort Worth, we are at a whopping 653 feet above sea level. Our base camp near Red River will be at 9,685 feet. We will hike up to Wheeler Peak which is 13,159 feet (more on the hike later). How do you prepare for this in advance? You cannotbut if you know that you or your scout are susceptible to altitude issues, please discuss this with your physician. There is prescription medicine available to help prevent altitude sickness. We will work as a group to become acclimated to the altitude and would not anticipate anyone having an issue. Third on the list is something that took us by surprise one trip caffeine withdrawal. Scouts will go without a soft drink for the entire trip so we would encourage everyone to cut back in the weeks leading up to the trip. The final item on the list, and this is the big one, is the day hike up to Wheeler Peak. The hike is roughly 15 miles round trip as we ascend roughly 3,500 feet. The trails are rated as intermediate in the guide books. What does that really mean? The trail grade averages 7% but could be as steep as 18%. The trail is relatively well maintained, but this is a forest so we may encounter obstacles like fallen trees and rocks that we may have to climb over or around. Good, well broken in boots are highly recommended along with good rain gear and warm layers (temperatures are much colder near the summit and we may also encounter snow on the trail). While this is technically a day hike, we will leave very early in the morning so that we can be at the summit and back below the tree line before the afternoon storms roll in. We will be back in camp around dinner time. How can you prepare for this? Walk, hike, walk, and hike some more now. This isnt Philmont so we dont have to be prepared to hike with 80lb packs but everyone will be carrying water, food, and personal gear for the day. Consider also that we will be at a much higher elevation. Parents and scouts, yes scouts too, should be walking multiple times a week, for increasing distances, over the next several weeks. Not only will scouts benefit from this for the Red River trip, having several weeks of hikes in advance of all the trips up and down hernia hill at summer camp will make their lives easier at The Big Adventure. If you have a treadmill at home, consider clearing off the laundry and working up to doing a couple of miles a day at a 10% or greater incline. Walking outside with a day pack now, before it gets blistering hot, is also strongly advised. With all of that in mind, there is no requirement for families to go with us up to Wheeler Peak. We want, however, all of our scouts to experience the grandeur that is Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico! We will continue to post information about the trip and talk about it at scout meetings. We are also working on the logistics for the trip so if you are planning on going on the trip, please register at http://www.troop17.net/redir?8. Please do not hesitate to ask questions we want everyone to be informed and to BE PREPARED! Thanks, Mr. Turner

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