BULLETIN
BOARD
September 2000
[Climbing] [Philmont Trek] [Food Storage Regulations]
High Adventure Team - Outdoor Leader Training
High Adventure Outdoor
Leader Training
will be held Sat., Oct. 21, 2000 at the First Christan Church - 38 Teloma Dr.,
Ventura. Doors open at 7:30am with the
course starting a 8:00am sharp. We plan on being done no later the 5:00pm.
This is the first of many courses offered by the VCC High
Adventure Team. This course is the
prerequisite for all other courses. Subjects include: Leadership, Trip
Planning, Equipment, Food Planning, Weather, Health & Safety, Awards, Conservation
& Trail Boss Program, & map & Compass.
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Ventura
County Council
High
Adventure Team – Winter Backpack Course
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New
Food Storage Regulations in Rae Lakes Loop Vicinity
Effective May 26, 2000
To preserve the
natural behavior of bears and to protect visitor safety, portable,
park-approved, bear-proof food storage containers (with the capacity to store
all garbage, scent and food items) will be required for all overnight parties
both entering and exiting the restricted area via Cedar Grove, Kearsarge Pass,
Baxter Pass, Sawmill Pass, or combination thereof. The restricted area includes all of the Rae Lakes Loop, south
along the Pacific Crest Trail to Forester Pass, the Bubbs Creek drainage and
all other drainages feeding Bubbs Creek east of, and including East Creek, east
to the park boundary and south to the Kings-Kern Divide. This regulation applies to all groups
traveling through the restricted area on trips either originating or ending at
points other than Ceder Grove, Kearsarge Pass, Baxter Pass or Sawmill Pass
(examples: Onion Valley to Mt. Whitney: Pacific Crest/John Muir Trails) must
use portable, park-approved, bear-proof food storage containers or camp at
sites with food storage boxes and use the boxes. The techniques of counterbalancing or hanging food by other
methods, or posting a guard to protect improperly stored food, are prohibited.
Effective Dates: Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Outside this time period, hanging food (such
as by counterbalancing) will be allowed only when snow prevents access to food storage boxes.
Unsure whether your
trip passes through the restricted are?
Call the Wilderness Office at (559) 565-3766.
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New National BSA Climbing/Rappelling Requirements.
Starting January 2000, BSA National has set new guidelines for climbing/rappelling outings. These new changes deal more with Adult Leadership then with climbing requirements, though there is a new climbing merit badge book due out sometime this spring. The new program is called Climb On Safely. You may view the complete text of Climb On Safely on this site or may get a copy from your local Council office. The major changes deal with adult training. Units must have one adult leader (Supervisor) going on a climbing outing, who has completed the Climb On Safely Course. This course runs about 2 hrs. and covers all the safety aspects of conducting a safe climbing/rappelling outing with your unit. You must also have 1 adult leader for every 10 youth. Climb On Safely Supervisors are also required to have completed American Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR (a 6½-hour course) and the 2-hr. module "First Aid - When Help Is Delayed".
All units must have a qualified rock climbing/rappelling instructor who has completed a minimum of 10 hours of climbing/rappelling instructors training from a nationally or regionally recognized organization, a climbing school, a college-level climbing/rappelling course, or is a qualified BSA climbing/rappelling instructor. Every instructor must have prior experiences in teaching climbing/rappelling to youth and must agree to adhere to Climb On Safely and the guidelines in the Outdoor Skills Instruction (OSI) -Climbing/Rappelling manual.
For more info on the New Climbing/Rappelling Guidelines, please contact the Council Office or a HAT Team Member.
As of July 2000, Council has 3 Climbing Instructors available for climbing/rappelling outings (other then hiring an outside instructor). The list of instructors is available at the Council Office, Trading Post, or on this site.
By Sept. of 2000 we hope to have leaders that have completed a 3 day Climbing/Rappelling Instructor Course at the Council level for those with climbing experience that may wish to become instructors.
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In 2001 the Ventura County Council is planning a Philmont Trek. It will be one of the twelve-day treks provided by Philmont. On the trek the participants will experience the thrill of climbing mountains over two miles high! Learn technical rock climbing, archaeological excavation techniques, and blacksmithing. Relive the by-gone days of the Old West as you ride a western saddle horse, learn the ways of the mountain man, pack burros and pan for gold in a clear mountain stream. Discover the wonder of Scouting's Paradise as over 650.000 Scouts, Varsity, Ventures, and leaders have since 1939.
Ten Scouts, Varsity, or Ventures and 2 leaders will participate in this experience. The Council is currently accepting applications for those youth wishing to participate. But more importantly the Council is looking for 2 adult leaders for the trek. There is no formal application for either adults or youth; you must send a letter to the Scout Service Center, 509 Daily Drive, Camarillo, CA. 93010-5820. The letter should include your name, address, phone number, unit number, and your past experience in backpacking. If the letter is for an adult leadership position you must include your past leadership experiences.
The trek will depart in time to arrive at Philmont on June 26, 2001. The departure from Philmont will be July 8, 2001. Once the leadership has been selected and at least half (5) of the youth participants have been selected, an itinerary will be determined and a final price determined. The price of the trek at Philmont is $395. Youth participants must be 14 years of age by or completed the eighth grade on later than August 31, 2000. So don't wait to the last minute, act now so you won't miss out.