High Adventure

Troop 407 is active in High Adventure. With ambitious scouts and experienced adults, we frequently take part in hiking treks and unique adventures several times each year. Read on for some of what we're involved in.

Chief Pontiac Trail

The Chief Pontiac Trail credential hike program is a backpacking program designed for Boy Scouts of First class rank or above. It is also designed to challenge youth and adults.

It is a high adventure program that involves not only backpacking, canoeing, or winter trekking, but includes a report process designed to challenge the mind as well as the body. The treks are located near Proud Lake and Kensington.

Units may opt to canoe a portion of the 16.5 mile trail. A winter trek option covers a shorter distance. The canoe trek involves canoeing and hiking.

The trek dates for 2012 are:

Winter Hike: January 14-15
16.5-mile Trek: April 20-22
Canoe Hike: May 13-14

Any scout of First Class rank or above who has hiking skills and can carry his gear in his backpack (about 30 pounds) is welcome. (Scouts who are less than First Class can still hike but would earn a Li'l Brave award instead of a CPT medal.) See Mr. Rickel for details.

Philmont 2010 trek

On the trail with Tooth of Time in
background

The Philmont crew have returned and Mr. Murphy has chronicled their adventure in a slide presentation (PDF, 3.0 MB) showing the happy hikers, local flora and fauna and the breathtaking scenery.

Philmont Scout Ranch provides an unforgettable adventure along its hundreds of miles of rugged, rocky trails. Program features combine the best of the Old West-horseback riding, burro packing, gold panning, chuckwagon dinners, and interpretive history-with exciting challenges for today-rock climbing, burro racing, mountain biking, and rifle shooting-in an unbeatable recipe for fast-moving outdoor fun.

Born in 1938 as Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp, today's Philmont Scout Ranch is a bustling center for high adventure and training. Youth and adults take advantage of the ranch's camping, training, and work programs. Most activity takes place during the summer, but Philmont also offers its Fall Adventure and Kanik winter program.

More than 860,000 Scouts, Venturers, and leaders have experienced the adventure of Philmont since the first camping season in 1939. Throughout its existence, conscientious attention to low-impact camping techniques have helped maintain the ranch's wilderness flavor.

The area surrounding the ranch is rich with history, from the Native Americans who made this arid land their home to the land barons of the 19th century. The town of Cimarron boasts a number of historical buildings, including the St. James Hotel-site of at least 26 killings during Cimarron's wilder days.

Sea Base

Our 2009 troop contingent to Florida Sea Base had a terrific time. Mr. Thimm writes about the experience:

Sea Base was a great experience for all who attended. Eighteen scouts and scouters from Troop 407 enjoyed five days on Big Munson Island. We went snorkeling at Looe Key which was amazing (it is the third most dived site in the world). Deep sea fishing was another tremendous experience. We were able to enjoy a delightful dinner of our fresh catch after a great day fishing. While deep sea fishing we were able to cool off with a swim in 850 feet of water. We had several other opportunities to snorkel including night snorkeling on the patch reefs which are know as Munson Rocks. We went shark fishing, navigated our way through the mangrove maze and enjoyed excellent meals. We were even able to catch sight of the elusive Key Deer and Vacca Raccoons plus we raced hermit crabs.

Ask anyone who went about their experience. I haven't heard a scout tell me they wouldn't go again. If you get the opportunity to go to Sea Base, I wouldn't miss it. Like Philmont, this is a once in a lifetime experience that I hope to do again.

The Summit: BSA High Adventure Base under construction in West Virginia

Construction progresses at The Summit Bechtel Family Scouting Reserve in the New River Gorge area near Mount Hope in Fayette County, West Virginia. The Summit will feature a combination of traditional high-adventure along with completely new activities such as white-water rafting, rappelling, skateboarding, mountain biking, and other activities not found anywhere else. Much planning and work is yet to be done, working toward a projected opening for the 2013 National Jamboree. Visit the Summit website for more information.

Isle Royale

A planned trek to Isle Royale had to be cancelled but there is still the possibility that a trip can be planned next year or thereafter if there is sufficient interest. Here is the presentation put together by Mr. Rickel. It goes into great detail about the island and the hike. (This is a 3+ megabyte PDF.)