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My 12 year old grandson Gavin is reportly going with his Scout Troop Thursday morning to Reavis returning Friday afternoon. I do not know yet which route they are taking and I seriously question the leaders experience for this trip. I discussed it with his parents this morning via phone and they are going to ask the leaders a list of questions for me.

I never recommend this trip as an overnight for 12 and 13 year old boys unless the leaders have done it before and horsepack in the food, sleeping bags and tents. It should be a three day two night affair instead of just a forced march in and out in less than 48 hours. They can get that kind of experience when they join the Marine Corp.

Anyone interested in shadowing this Troop for me so that Gavin and his Boy Scout buddies come out alive or at least not so angry at their adult leaders that they give up on Scouting? ;)

I would do it myself but am currently 7 time zones away from you all almost on the other side of the world.

How far is it one-way? I guess it depends upon the troop and their level of experience. At that age, both my boys had hiked a several of the primitive trails in Grand Canyon, such as New Hance-Tonto-Grandview, 27 miles in 3 days (Matt was 10 and still in Webelos when we did that one and we couldn't keep up with him!) and both boys had done a 30-mile 3-day backpack ("Hohokam Trail" medal) and a 50-mile 5-day backpack ("Catalina Challenge" patch) in the Catalinas by the time they were about 12.

But our Scout troop did backpacking ONLY--no car camping--and as soon as boys joined at age 11 or so, they started them backpacking. Jeff was 11 when he did the 50 miler, and it was only his second backpacking trip. He did just fine. Our troop was not divided into age groups like LDS troops are. There is in fact no such division in non-LDS troops, for the most part.

So I think it is dependent upon how much have they done before, how much day hiking are they doing, how heavy are their packs, etc. There are a lot of factors that could make it or break it.

SuperstitionGuy wrote:Anyone interested in shadowing this Troop for me

that would more likely scare the crap out of those kids-- having some weirdo tracking them for two days! Seriously, though, I've only done Reavis from 109 north and it wasn't difficult. It might be a little long for some kids with packs but nothing unsafe. You might, though, want to give the leaders some good advice like why they should camp a little ways outside of the ranch because of the cold down there at night. I think, also, that you are correct-- this would be much more enjoyable for the kids as a 3-day / 2-night trip.

Good news.
Backpacking in from the south off of Rogers Trailhead and the adults are experienced. In fact one of the leaders went on two 50 mile backpack trips with me through the Supers when he was a teenager. They will camp about 6 1/2 miles in and return on the same route and It will be cold according to the weather report with a 10 to 20 percent chance of rain.

If any of you happen to be at Reavis Friday evening please stop by their campsite and add a few stories around the campfire for the boys.
:thanx:

PS - my avatar is now a picture taken of the Reavis Ranch house shortly before it burned down.