EZ Backpacking this weekend.

I am hoping to get my AR a good percentage of them to go backpacking with us this weekend.

This trip is easy. Friday night at 5:30 pm we leave and drive about 1 hour to the trail head. 1/2 mile backpack in setup base camp in the dark. The trail is also marked with glow in the dark tacks but it can be very dark and spooky....going down into devils den.

Base camp down by the river. It's dark they can't see much. Tents will go up and gear stowed and firewood dragged up. Campfires are all started and got going by the boys. They need the hands on experience. So many young men that have the merits and yet few can get a fire going. They just need more hands on and repetition. This sunday night we will do a beanie weenie soda pop boil with each boy making his own fire and cooking his own food. Good practice for this weekend. Good council fire of course. Lights out at 11 pm.

Saturday 6:45 am we will stir and kindle a fire and cook and have morning devotion. Day packs will be packed and our gear will be tucked away in our tents. We will hit the trail up the side of the hill and walk over to Pilot Knob. Along the way we will see all kinds of different terrain. Glades, creeks, hills and more. At the base of pilot knob we will check out a ravine water fall and then goto the top of Pilot knob. 300 feet up. Nice hill that sticks up and is one of the highest points in that area.

We will cross over and then go back to the west and down the other side down to Long creek to the falls. At lunch time we will eat at the Long Creek falls. A campfire and fun. Cool place Almost always see someone down there...you wouldn't think anyone would be down there but it's the focal point of 3 other trail heads. Cool place.

Then we bushwack down stream back to base camp about 3 miles. following the creek bank walking through the WATER SOME TIMES.

Back to base camp we break camp and take a little break and then backpack back up that long hill we came down in the dark the night before. IN about 45 minutes we will be in McDonalds enjoying some icecream and then back to home where we send the boys back to their parents.

A great trip. Pretty easy trail. A couple of climbs but not terrible bad. Great training and fun.

Take those boys backpacking.

Mark Jones

http://readyrangers.tzo.com/devilsdenbackpack2014.pdf
Permission Slip if any of you all want to come along with us. Also the sheets are good for examples.

Mark Jones

Well...... all my well thougth out plans didn't check the calendar for TBQ. Teen Bible Quiz. I have only few of my boys going this weekend. 5 are in TBQ 1 in band so I could kick myself for not checking that calendar. I am on it now! Next month maybe for these guys.
We will still have 10 to 15 go but I so much wanted for my AR boys to go.

Mark Jones

Lucky me all I worry about is local events.

Central AOG next to HQ has all kinds of things going on. We get reminded of JBQ and TBQ and other events from time to time. Parents are extremely loyal to JBQ and TBQ. No exceptions on those for sure. I learned that along time ago.

Mark Jones

Hot Dog! 90% chance of rain Friday night and 80% on Saturday on our Backpack..........................................................................................>>>>>>> were still going. <<<<<<<<< stupid people anyway.... My son wants to go... wonder where in the round world he got that from.<<<Mark Jones

It was wet. It was wet. It was wet..did I say it was wet?

http://readyrangers.tzo.com/2014herculeswet/2014herculeswet.htm

Still had a great time.  Take those boys outside!