We start our ride at the Brown Ranch trailhead. The ride is structured as a main ride through the area with multiple opportunities for more experienced riders to break off from the group to do more challenging sections and then rejoin with the group. We will stop at points of interest such as “The Amphitheater” and have lunch (probably) at “Balanced Rock”. After lunch, we continue the ride to the next trailhead, Fraesfield Mtn Trailhead, about 3 miles east of the Brown’s Ranch trailhead, and comes at about 14 miles into the ride. This trailhead is at about 132nd street and the bike trailer will have been moved to this site while we are on the trail. Scouts who have had enough can opt-out here and load their bikes on the trailer for a ride to the campsite. The rest of the group will continue an additional 8 miles south on 130th St. to the Tom Thumb Trailhead and from there into McDowell Mountain Regional Park to the Delsie Trail and to the group campsite.
This year the troop will once again be participating in the “Survival Man” exercise hosted by the former members of Venture Crew 2323. This exercise involves Scouts/adults participating as either “survivors” or “rescuers”. The exercise requires Survival Participants (“survivors”) to stay alone in the Superstition Wilderness Area near Phoenix for 48 hours with only the gear, food, and water they would take on a normal day hike. The purpose of the exercise is to mimic a typical survival situation in which a day hiker gets lost or injured and has to survive with only his day hike gear while awaiting rescue, which statistically takes place within 48-72 hours. This year’s survival participants Scouts/adults are: Elliot Hull, Jordan McCormick, Ian Marcon, Haydon Evenson and Mr. Wright. The remainder of the Troop (Scouts and Adults) will participate in this exercise by being the Rescuers for the “lost” survival Scouts. On Saturday, November 16th, you and the other “rescuer” members of Troop 323 will backpack 2.3 miles from the “Miles” Trailhead to a base camp at the Oak Flat area. The hike is relatively easy on a trail that is on mostly flat ground. It should take less than 2.0 hours to complete. The hike should not be a problem for anyone with “normal” physical capacities.
