Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area Backpack Trip

Headed out Thursday to Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area with a group of 3 Commanders and 5 boys. We weren't able to make it the entire way to Ellicott Rock because I was held up Thursday morning dealing with some banking issues (apparently money doesn't grow on trees and I needed more than I already had, so a loan was the order of the day).

The first group headed up earlier in the day and went to the fish hatchery while they waited for me and my two boys to meet up with them.

This is us heading out Thursday afternoon up the river with my son Seth up front.
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My son Phillip Jr on the left along with his friend Chuck getting ready to go fishing.
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Phillip Jr fishing
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Definitely a beautiful place to camp.
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We all look forward to going back ASAP! You could easily spend a good week or two backpacking through the area without hiking a trail twice.

Take me, take me!

Just come on down Dan!

Good Job Commander! Enjoyed the pictures and the blessing your leading these boys outside. To me that is the pinnicle of a Ranger event! Woo whoo Rangers!

Other good stuff all round but I love Backpacking.

Mark Jones

I really enjoy backpacking as well, but I'm still trying to streamline it so that it would be a little easier for long distance trips (which is my goal). Not just in weight, but in setup and tear down of camp so that it's not so time consuming to travel for multiple days.

There's a 17.XX mile loop up at Ellicott that would make a great multi-day backpack trip with plenty of rivers for refilling water along the way. I might even be able to add in some spurs, or take a round about way somewhere to make it a 25 miler. I doubt that we'll be able to do that this year, but maybe by next spring... I think 4 days including the travel out and back the first and last day would be ideal. The two middle days would be the 7-9 mile days with the first and last days being 4-5 mile days to get us around the loop. I think that might be somewhat realistic for the DR's that go. Even then, some DR's would have a hard time with 7-9 miles in a day with packs on. Opinions?

Phillip Gross wrote: Even then, some DR's would have a hard time with 7-9 miles in a day with packs on. Opinions?

Unless the boys are experienced, I wouldn't recommend DRs. After all, they're in grades 3-5. They likely won't have the more expensive, lightweight material, so they probably can't carry their own gear any real distance. I've taken kids that young on day hikes with water bottles, and most complain in the first mile! It's best to plan on only averaging 1 mph, with all the breaks you'll have to take.

With the younger boys keep it a base camp. Backpack in no more than a mile then day hike from there.

Even with a a 12 year old we had a hard time getting him to go the miles. He is fine now...after a year or two of growth.

Plan the 25 miler but only for those that you know can go teh distance. We are doing one over 3 days in the November.

Mark Jones