Beginners Backpacking Trip
Morgan-Monroe Backpacking Skills Trip
April 8-9, 2017
Trip Leaders: Bob Hart (rrhrunner@Comcast.net) and Lisa Forester (lisajforester@comcast.net)
Cost: $10 for Sat Dinner and Sunday Breakfast and use of club gear - Bring lunch and snacks for the trail
Maximum number: 8
Morgan – Monroe State Forest (south of Martinsville)
April 8/9, 2017, 9:30 AM to April 9, 2017 11:00 AM (rain date April 22/23)
Wilderness Level 2 (EMS help may be over an hour away) – cell service spotty at best.
Cancellation Date: March 25th (fee must be received by this date) ![https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif]()
Learn and practice backpacking skills with experienced CIWC members. First priority for this trip is reserved for those who participate in the Beginners’ Backpacking Class offered on March 4 at Holliday Park, from 9:30 -1:00 PM. Come to the class to sign up for one of these trips and some of the other CIWC trips later this summer. After March 4, this trip will be opened to others.
Rendezvous point: To be announced.
Trip Plan: First order of the day will be to get acquainted and then make sure everyone has their pack adjusted properly. Group items will be dispersed among the participants, which will consist of group food, cooking and kitchen gear and some materials we’ll use in skills training, such as water filters and ropes for hanging food at night. Everything we will need for overnight will be carried into the backcountry where we will make camp,
Working as a group goals would be to teach the basics of shelter, fire, water, personal hygiene and camp food. It will be extremely helpful if participants have either (1) been to the beginning backpacking class or (2) have prior camping experience.
Shelter: We would cover how to pitch a backpacking tent and keep the inside dry. We will also show various methods of erecting a tarp.
Fire: We would teach how to gather tinder and fuel and how to start and safely maintain a fire.
Water: Various water collection and purification procedures will be demonstrated.
Personal Hygiene: Personal cleanliness and “bathroom” processes will be explained.
Camp Food: Leaders will demonstrate and prepare a camp dinner and a camp breakfast. Group involvement is a key part of our club culture for shared camp duties for meal preparation and clean up procedures. So, we will involve everyone in the process. Methods will be discussed and demonstrated for keeping a clean camp and protecting food from critters.
Cost: $10 per person to cover the cost of group food, cost of using club equipment and fuel for the camp stoves. Online payment is required to get on the list. After we reach 8 people a waitlist will be started.
After camp set up there should be time for relaxation or area exploration (day hike) before we begin supper preparation. Both Saturday supper and Sunday breakfast will be group meals and will be done by camp duty sharing. Any other food such as Saturday lunch and snacks is your personal responsibility and should be placed in a separate bag for securing against unwanted animal visitors.
After Breakfast on Sunday we will pack up camp and hike back to the trail head parking lot.
Don’t have gear? CIWC has tents and backpacks you can borrow and we share some club-provided group gear, such as stoves and water filters. Suggested personal gear list will be provided by your trip leaders.
All trip participants will be expected to submit a medical form, sign a waiver and complete emergency information documents prior to participation.
