Alaska Newsletter #1

Alaska 2000!
September 1999 Issue

Page 1

Get Ready for Alaska!

What better way to celebrate our troop's 25th anniversary than by visiting this spectacular land! In a time honored Troop 325 tradition, be prepared to take part in a high adventure trip of a lifetime. Scoutmaster John Combs summed it up best during the planning meeting when he said, "You can subtitle this trip 'Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!'"

This ride will start at the Cincinnati Airport at Continental Airline's check-in area at 11:00 a.m. on June 10. Our ride will come to a close at its baggage claim area at 7:30 p.m. (hopefully) on June 24.

The Hurdles of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Participants must jump a few hurdles before hopping aboard that airplane. Scouts, start jumping:

1. 13 years old by 1/1/00 or accompanied by parent
2. Be First Class and earn a rank between 9/1/99-5/1/00
3. Class 1 medical form signed by a doctor by 5/1/00
4. Permission slip signed by a parent by 5/1/00
5. Parent attends information meeting on 1/10/00
6. Attend two preparation backpacking trips by 5/1/00
7. Pay an escrow deposit of $40 by 8/30/99
8. Pay a trip fee of $1,200 ($200 must be earned through troop fund raisers):
     a. $300 nonrefundable deposit by 9/20/99
     b. $400 nonrefundable deposit by 2/7/00
     c. $500 nonrefundable deposit by 5/1/00

Adults need to jump hurdles 3, 5, 6 (if backpacking), 7 and 8 (minus fund raising participation).

What Will the Wild Ride be Like?

Hold on tight friends! This is gonna be one wild ride! The Alaska Railroad, Anchorage Museum of History and Art (we'll teach you unrefined folks some culture), hike Flat Top Mountain, dog sled demonstration with Iditarod winner Jeff King, Seward Sealife Center, Kenai Fjords boat trip (glacier, puffins, eagles and sea lions), Kenai Peninsula backpacking overnight (Johnson Trail), Exit Glacier, Portage Glacier via boat tour (Alaska's #1 attraction), salmon fishing in the Kenai River, Razor Clam digging, Denali National Park tour/backpacking overnight, tour of Independence Mine, Hatcher Pass, panning for gold at Crow Creek Mine, some joint activities with our brother Troop 325 in Palmer and a few small surprises!

Every now and then we will stop the ride to let everyone eat and sleep. To keep the trip cost low, meals will be basic (heat and eat on a propane stove) as will the lodgings (sleeping on the floor of a church basement, tent camping, etc.).

Sometimes the ride can get too intense for some of our adult riders. "Must I backpack?" or "Must I sleep on the church floor? or "Must I pan for gold?" Naw! Adults can exit the ride temporarily as long as it does not inconvenience the rest of the group. For example, you don't want to sleep on the church floor. Instead, you can go sleep in a hotel for the night at your own expense. Remember, you will need to arrange for your own hotel transportation.

Glacier

Page 2

Various Details

The $1,200 fee covers all associated trip costs except airport meals. To be safe, assume the airline will do a poor job of feeding you. That way you will budget enough money for airport meals to keep you from starving to death. Although the trip fee covers the cost of a souvenir t-shirt and patch, you may want to bring additional money for that special keepsake such as a gold plated igloo ashtray.

Very little special equipment will be needed for the trip. Good insect repellent is a must. Head nets are also highly recommended for backcountry use. Good hiking boots and rain gear are also a must. If you are backpacking then you will need... you guessed it, a backpack! If you don't have one then borrow one. Buying one for two overnight treks is unnecessary. Scouts should obtain and carry a photo ID.

Anyone unfamiliar with backpacking basics will want to pay close attention to this paragraph. Our backpacking portions of the trip will be very primitive. Food (and all smellables) will be stored far away from camp. Cooking will be done on backpacking stoves. Drinking water will be obtained through water purifiers. You will make your own latrine. The backpacking preparation treks will teach you the skills you need to meet the challenges.

Alaska has weather much like the Pacific Northwest. An average June day in Anchorage has a high of 62 degrees, a low of 45 degrees and 19 hours of daylight. Average participation for the month is one inch.

Packing for a two week Alaska trip will definitely be a challenge. You have a backpack, sleeping bag, ground pad and tent to cram in with your stuff. Typically, the airlines allow two check-in bags and one carry on bag. Please pack accordingly. The troop will pay for a laundry party half way through the trip. Therefore, you will only need to bring one week's worth of clothes.

And speaking of clothes, should we wear our Scout uniform on the trip? What I think would be most appropriate is to wear a troop T-shirt and official B.S.A. shorts for most of the trip. Make sure and voice your opinion if you have a strong preference.

There are two skills that are very important for a high adventure trip. One is teamwork and the other is getting along with others. We need to make an extra special effort to work quickly to get the mundane tasks (cooking, washing dishes, putting up and taking down tents, loading vehicles, etc.) done so we can get to the fun things sooner. We also need to try our best to be amiable. A long and involved trip such as this will test the patience of each one of us. Let's do our best to stay positive.

In the Works

Twenty seven people have plunked down $40 and made a commitment to be a part of this wild ride. Now is the time for the real fun to begin.

Within the next week, the Alaska Scouts will have an opportunity to elected a trip crew chief. This young man will be involved in the planning process as well as being in charge during the trip. Stay tuned for the election results. We are also looking for a couple of volunteers to serve as our trip's quartermasters. Duties include creating food menus and purchasing. Interested parties should call me ASAP.

Within the next month, a basic itinerary will be created and mailed to you. I hope to have lodging and meal information at that time. Please let me know of any food or medical restrictions you may have.

It would be great for someone to plan a get together or two before we leave on the trip. We could have a "Come as Your Favorite Eskimo" party or just drive to Young's Jersey Dairy for some ice cream. Let me know if you are interested in making something happen.

By the way, did you know half of the world's Eskimos have never seen an igloo?

For you computer geeks, we will have a web site containing various info. Point your browser at:

http://www.infinet.com/~combs/bsa/alaska/

If you have an email address then drop me a line at combs@infinet.com. I will be glad to send all info via email as well as snail mail.

If you have any questions or concerns on any information in this newsletter, don't hesitate to contact me as soon as possible. Furthermore, I am open to any suggestions or clarifications as may be necessary.

I am really looking forward to this excursion. For many of us, it will be the trip of a lifetime.

                             John Combs
                             Alaska Tour Leader
                             Mr. Toad's Wild Ride