Weston
Boy Scout Troop 157
Snowshoe Camping Trip
Phillips Brook Backcountry Recreation Area
January 18-22, 2002
We are planning a very exciting winter camping trip for January. The trip will be three nights, over the long, Martin Luther King weekend, from Friday through Monday. We'll be hiking on snowshoes, and staying in woodstove-heated yurts. Our gear will be transported on sleds that we pull behind us. Our destination is the Phillips Brook Backcountry Recreation Area in northern New Hampshire. We'll be leaving Friday afternoon at 4 pm, and returning on Monday afternoon at about 5 pm. We'll have a yurt all to ourselves each of the three nights we are out. On Friday night we are at the Paris Meadow yurt not far from the parking lot. On Saturday we will load the sleds, and head for the Dummer Ridge yurt, about 3.5 miles away along a packed trail. We’ll stay at Dummer Ridge Saturday and Sunday night, and return along the same trail on Monday morning. On Sunday, we’ll do some exploring without our gear. Pay careful attention to the troop packing list, and bring all of the warm clothing items on the list (e.g., warm parka, two pairs of warm mittens/gloves, warm stocking hat, top and bottom poly long underwear). You will not need a tent. You should also have a scarf and/or neck warmer (or balaclava) to wear over your face if it turns out to be real cold or windy. You should have insulated boots (or mukluks) rather than hiking boots. The ideal boot is both breathable (e.g. leather) and insulated (e.g., felt liners). A pair of traditional Bean boots would work. Typical hiking boots are not well insulated, and don’t provide room for your foot to move around so it stays warm. Important: Your gear should be packed in a duffel bag or an internal frame pack, but NOT IN AN EXTERNAL FRAME PACK, as your gear will be pulled on sleds and toboggans behind us, and external frame packs will be cumbersome to tie down on the sleds. You need to have every item of gear listed on the Winter Snowshoe Trip Packing List online (and handed out at the meeting on January 15, 2002). Cost of the trip is $85, to cover the three nights at the yurts, food, and snowshoe rentals. You will also need some money (e.g., 10-20) for food/snack stops on the way up and back. We may possibly have to limit the number of people that can go on this trip, as the yurts are only so large. Try to come to the meeting on January 8 with a decision on whether you are going. Anyone who has a simple rectangular plastic sled, or a toboggan, should let Mr. Lee known at the meeting on January 8. Even if you are not going on the trip, it would be helpful if you could lend the troop your sled or toboggan.
________________________________________ has my permission to go on the above described trip with members of Boy Scout Troop 157 of Weston, Massachusetts, and participate in all activities. I acknowledge that I have read the following waiver in its entirety, that I understand it, and that I agree to be legally bound by its terms.
I understand that the activities described for this trip carry the risk of personal injury. In consideration of the benefits to be derived, and in view of the fact that the Boy Scouts of America is a nonprofit, educational institution, membership in which is voluntary, and having full confidence that reasonable precautions will be taken to insure the safety and well-being of my son on this activity, I agree to and support his participation, and I waive any and all claims against the leaders and their assistants on this trip, and the officers, agents, and representatives of the Boy Scouts of America.
In case of emergency (and in the event that a parent/guardian cannot be reached) I give my permission for my child to be treated at the nearest medical facility.
Parent/Guardian Signature:______________________________________________________________
Date: ____________ Telephone where I can be reached during
outing: _______________________