The balance on the Mt. Cranmore Ski Trip is due today (Jan 30).   Mr. Hamilton should have been in contact with you regarding final payment information. 

Please turn in required paperwork at the same time. (this info was also included in the e-mail)

The next required Mt. Cardigan practice hikes with full back packs in the Blue Hills are:
-Saturday, February 4th and
-Saturday, February 18th

For the practice hikes, we will meet at the Mansfield Congregational Church (17 West Street, Mansfield, MA 02048) at 8 a.m. to: review our equipment, pick our hiking route for the morning, fill our water bottles and head off. We will plan to be back at the Church around 1-1:30 p.m. Everyone is again asked to bring a suitably delicious snack and lunch with them.

There will be a Court of Honor on January 23.  All are invited to celebrate the achievements of Troop members.

Prior to the Court of Honor, there will be a pack inspection for all those attending the Klondike Derby.

The Jan 16 Practice Hike for the Mt. Cardigan trip (see previous Blog post) is open to any scout needing meet the hiking requirments (i.e., for rrank or Hiking Merit Badge).   Please contact Mr, Ham as soon as possible, if you are planning on attending.

The Troop had voted  to again conquer Mt. Cardigan and to stay in the High Cabin in February. 

In  a "Scout is Prepared" sort  of way, it will be helpful for us to review for our  upcoming trip to Mt.  Cardigan in February 21-24th.  Our Troop has made this  trip twice before and  it has always been memorable. 

This trip is only for approved Star and above Scouts. 


Trip itinerary:  
February 21st: leave  Mansfield around 4  p.m. (to avoid traffic), pick up snow shoes at  EMS and arrive at the Epsom New
Rye Congregational Church in N.H. to spend the night

February 22nd: leave the Church by 7 a.m., have a hearty breakfast at an awesome  restaurant and arrive/check in at the Mt. Cardigan Base Lodge by late morning,  2 mile hike to the High Cabin and spend the night

February 23rd: day hikes from  and to the High Cabin, spend second night

February  24th leave the High Cabin by 10 a.m., check out, return snow shoes, and be back  in Mansfield by late  afternoon (dependent on traffic) 

Pre-Trip Events (MANDATORY)
Pack  Inspection: Sunday, January 15th  (noon-1  p.m.) 
We  will have a pack  inspection at the Church on Sunday, January  15th at noon which should not last long.  Please be sure to have a   backpack and foot gear that are suitable.  If you are not sure, give Mr. Ham a call.  
 
See our Troop's Winter Camping checklist  for your review.  Since we  will be staying in a cabin with bunks that have  good mattresses, we will not be needing tents. 

We will also take a look at the Trial Map for the Blue Hills in order to plan which route we will be taking on our practice hike on Monday,  January 16th.  A copy of  a map that lists  the routes of  some of our previous practice hikes is available for further consideration

Practice  Hike #1: Monday,  January 16th (8 a.m.-1  p.m. )
Please  be sure to pack a  lunch to eat on the trail on Monday.  We will plan to meet at  the Church at 8  a.m. and will return
by 1 p.m.  The permission slip must be completed and handed in to Mr. Ham  before the  hike. 


Practice  Hike #2: Date to be discussed and finalized 
We  will be discussing this during our Pack inspection.    

During our up-coming preparations, we will be sampling freeze-dried meals, reviewing cold weather hiking & first aid, checking
boot sizes (in order to place an order with EMS for the rental of snow shoes prior to our trip), and a variety of topics to make our trip a really nice experience. You will be receiving a more detailed plan after our first practice hike regarding our February trip which will contain contact information and a detailed itinerary.

Further information about Mt. Cardigan can be reviewed on the AMC's website at: www.outdoors.org , click on "Lodging"
at the top, and then click on the "Cabins & Campgrounds" tab.