T17-Red River Road Trip posted 06/25/19

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The Red River Road Trip is almost upon us. We have 18 days to prepare and be ready to head out on July 13th. The Poop Sheet and Itinerary have been handed out. We should all be preparing physically for the altitude, rafting and the big hike. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask.<br><br> Weather - It will rain every afternoon in the mountains. Everyone should have good rain gear and good tents. Temperatures can range from the high 30s to the low 80s. Layers work well, wool or synthetic and should be anything but cotton. Good fitting and well broken in hiking boots are a must. Dry, well fitting gear and boots make everyone happy.<br><br> Altitude - In Ft. Worth, we at at 653 feet above sea level. Our base camp is over 9,600 feet above sea level. The hike to the top of Wheeler Peak is 13,161 feet above sea level and is a long hike. With practice hikes and time, we should all acclimate to the conditions. If you think you are susceptible to altitude sickness, talk to your physician now. There are medications that can help with this.<br><br> Caffeine - If your children are used to drinking soft drinks daily, there will not be any on this trip. Please have them cut back on caffeine intake to help them adjust to this. Adults, same thing goes for us. We wont have soft drinks on this trip either. We will have coffee in the morning and possibly in the evening.<br><br> Wheeler Peak - This Hike is roughly 17 miles round trip and we will ascend roughly 3,500 feet to the summit. Trails are rated intermediate, which means on average, a 7% grade. Portions of the hike will be less, but some will be as steep as 18%! Good, well broken in boots are highly recommended along with good rain gear and warm layers. We will start very early in the morning so that we can summit and be back below tree line before afternoon storms roll in. We will be back in camp around dinner time. Preparation is important. Walk, hike, walk, hike, stairs and hike some more. You should do this with your day pack and maybe 10-15 pounds in it. Everyone will carry water, food and personal gear for the day. Parents and Scouts should be walking multiple times a week and increasing distance over the next couple of weeks.<br><br> As Mr. Turner stated earlier, With all of that in mind, there is no requirement for families to go with us up Wheeler Peak. We want, however, all of our Scouts to experience the grandeur that is Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico.<br><br> Thank you,<br> Mr. Rekieta <br><br> On another note of extreme importance. I need an OF to take lead on being the Patrol Leader and at least one other OF to be an Assistant Patrol Leader. You would be in charge of menu selection, food purchases and food distribution. We cant run these type of programs without your assistance. It is imperative that we have adults step up to fill these positions today. Please let me know this evening at the meeting. I will be there around 7:00pm tonight. I have existing menus from these trips for guidance. Mr. Towle has done this before and is willing to give support. New dads, now is a great time to get more involved.

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