Troop 37 Jan 27, 28 PATC

Contact: Gary Banks, gbanks@virginia.edu, 434.981.9530.

BSA Tour Permit No. 2007123-A.

As of: 1/23/2007 10:57 AM

 

  1. Setup trip
    • What: Potomac Appalachian Trails Club Cabin (PATC).  Winter camping.
    • Purpose/Activities: There is a nice shorter one-way 1.5 mile hike (3 mile total). http://ajheatwole.com/guide/walk.htm  The cabin does make it fun.  I've used this cabin before in particular.  It has a pot belly stove inside to take the edge off the cold.  It has a very nice stone fireplace on the front porch with a wide hearth.   It has bunk beds inside as well to keep you off the ground.  It has a picnic table inside for card games. Other patrol activity suggestions encouraged -- like winter camping skills, shelter construction, star gazing, photography, winter first aid.
    • Where:
      • If Skyline Drive is open: It is hilly 0.5 miles in to cabin. Picture. As of 1/23/2007 the Shenandoah Park Service has opened up Skyline drive south from US33 to mile post 79.5.  Doyle River Cabin parking lot is at mile 81.1.  So we are now just 1.6 miles short of the parking lot for Doyle River.  The cabin is .5 miles from the parking lot.  So if we went today, we'd have a 2 mile hike.  It is highly unlikely that they will have Skyline drive open to the Doyle River parking lot at mile 81.1 by the time we go.
      • If Skyline Drive is closed: DRIVING MAP. Garth Road west to VA 810 (Brown’s Gap Trnpke).  Past Mountfair. VA 810 becomes Blackwell’s Hollow – but stay on smaller Brown’s Gap Turnpike (I think this is at Browns Cove) Go on VA 629 as far as you can.  It leads to a yellow blazed trail (Browns Gap Fire Road).  Park. Hike north about 2.5 miles on Browns Gap Fire Road to Doyles River Trail.  Turn right and hike 1.2 miles to cabin.  Total hike miles is 3.7 miles.  Hike is up hill going in.
      • If we hike in from below, then we approach from the bottom of this map on the dashed lined Browns Gap Fire Road.
    • Sleeping: Doyle River Cabin Sleeps 12 total.  There are 2 double width, double-decked bunks (sleeping 8) and 2 single-width, double-decked bunks (sleeping 4). 
    • Dates/Times: We will meet at the church on Saturday at 7:00am and arrive back at the church Sunday@12:00 noon.  Bad winter weather or the forecast for bad winter weather will cancel this trip.
    • Meals guidance: Since we are backpacking, dutch ovens out.  Patrol meal planning.  I’ll bring one backpacking stove.  Bringing one other might be a good idea.
    • Money: Food purchases will be shared.
    • Water: Always bring nalgene bottle filled with water from home. Water filter needed for pulling water from stream.
    • Special items: – Can leave extra set of clothes and food stuffs in transports for return trip home.
    • Transportation: We are using personal vehicles.
    • Contact: Gary Banks, gbanks@virginia.edu, 434.981.9530.
    • Attendance: See on-line outdoor tracker for specific patrol and adult attendance information.
    • Weather report: Graves Mill, Va.  Only for general weather conditions.
    • NEW -- Parent Permission: Submitting “Parent/Guardian Permission”.
      • The parental permission form invites updates to the scout's medical history since the medical form was completed.
      • I have a paper version available on-line to print and sign.  No electronic method yet – sorry.
      • Need Class I medical forms from Chris M.
  2. January 22, at Monday night meeting:
    • Have SPL/ASPL set aside time during meeting for “Patrol Corners” to plan for camping trip. Patrol leaders should -
      • Determine who is going and establish tenting arrangements.
      • Plan menus and assign grocery shopping, cooking, and clean-up responsibilities.
      • Determine who is responsible for bringing and maintaining various equipment needed by the patrol for safety, cooking, and navigation. Winter camping so remember weight (a bit), cold and daylight hours.
    • Get list of adults going on trip. Have patrol member check to see if parents can drive/attend the outing.
    • Have SPL/ASPL conduct or arrange for someone to conduct any special training that might be necessary before the trip (how to pack; cold weather camping; etc.).
    • Any special training needs?
  3. January 22, Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs:
    • Have SPL/ASPL get final count and names of those attending… if this cannot be done on Monday night because some Scouts are absent or there is not a Monday meeting, PLs call all members of their patrol on Tuesday and report totals and names to SPL/ASPL. The SPL is responsible for calling an adult coordinator by Wednesday evening with names of Scouts attending to allow time for the adult coordinator (Gary Banks).
    • On Wednesday and Thursday, adult coordinators call other adults, starting with those who have sons attending the activity. Gary Banks assigned.
    • A BSA Tour Permit should be prepared and a copy of the Driver/Vehicle Inventory should be faxed to the Stonewall Jackson Council office in Waynesboro. The fax number is 540.943.6676. The regular phone number is 540.943.6675 in the event of problems with the fax. Gary Banks assigned.
  4. January 27, Day of Trip
    • SPL/ASPL and PLs verify that everyone is present and properly equipped (food, tent, clothing etc.).  Troop and patrol and buddy gear distributed fairly.
    • Trip coordinator gets Scouts on bus or in cars/vans.
    • Once on trip supervise but turn it over to the SPL/ASPL