THE BASTROP MILE 

By:  Scoutmaster Rankin

It sounded it easy when I offered to the Troop to lead a short 1 mile hike into the woods and camp at a remote location.  And I would say comparing it to other backpacking adventures I've been on it was - but! What made it hard was not being ready for it - boy did I learn my lesson. Other than the heat at night and no breeze it was a good little camping adventure.  Mr. Eberhardt is a great one-stove cook and the burgers he cooked were better than any fast food.  Between Mr. Eberhardt, the scouts hiking in our group and myself, we were able to stay on the 'correct trail' and see all that hiking through the woods has to offer. 

When: September 17-19, 2004

Where: Bastrop State Park in Texas

Map: About 25 miles east of Austin

Cost: $15 for those staying at base camp; $17 for those going to remote camp

Depart St. Laurence: Load the trailer at 5:30pm; Depart at 6:00pm sharp

Return to St. Laurence:  Around noon

Informed Consent (Word document)

Mr. Rankin says (Sept 7):

If you are not going on the Bastrop Campout, but you have a backpack that another scout can borrow for the overnight remote portion of the campout, please let me know.  Scouts who have not decided on the type of backpack they want to purchase would greatly appreciate trying the different types available.  Let me know - YIS - Mr. Rankin

Mr. Rankin says (August 26):

The following [15 scouts] have signed up for the Bastrop Campout at the troop meeting Monday night:  [list deleted].

 

Of this list,  who is interested in hiking in and camping at a remote campsite Saturday night?  Are there any scouts not on the list above who would like to go on this overnighter?  Here are my plans for the remote program - Leave after lunch on Saturday from the base camp.  Hike at least 1 mile minimum in on trail and set up camp (incuding tents) in remote location.  Have dinner at remote campsite.  No open campfires allowed at remote campsite.  Break camp early Sunday morning and hike back to base camp and join troop for return trip home.  If you participate in this hike to the remote campsite - I expect you to share in carrying (in addition to your personal gear) - tent, ground cloth, cooking gear and food for dinner and breakfast, water.  Though it will be brief, I expect you to actually carry a pack with equipment and food in it.  If you want to go on this and you don't have a backpack - please contact me.
 
Prior to lunch on Saturday, we can go on a bike ride in the park.  There is a quite scenic ride to the other end of the park (20 miles round trip) but I don't thik we would have time to take it prio to getting ready to hike.
 
Out of the list above, who plans on taking their bikes?  I need to start figuring out the logistics of how big of a second trailer do we need, if we need one.