50-mile Afoot/Afloat Award
Woltz, Al LTC (woltza@SHAFTER-EMH3.ARMY.MIL)
Thu, 7 Jul 1994 07:38:00 PDT
Can I get some clarification as to the requirements for this award? The BSA
Handbook and the 93-95 Requirements Book list essentially the same
requirements. Specifically,
1. Cover the 50-mile distance over a continuous course/trail.
2. Do this in no less than 5 days.
3. Complete at least ten hours of service projects along the way (or upon
return if coordinated with the trail authorities)
My problem is that the APPLICATION (No. 4408 dated 1988-lee) for the award
states that no more than 10 miles may be covered in one day. Is this an old
requirement? Does one interpret this as no more than ten miles per day
count toward the fifty total? Is the requirement on the application a
misprint? Why is it that the first time we see this requirement is when we
go to complete the application?
We just took six of the older boys from out troop on a 58-mile hike across
the island of Kauai. Even if we knew about this requirement in advance (if
it is a requirement), we still could not have complied with the "no more
than ten miles per day" issue. The distances each day were necessitated by
the locations of the campsites (where permits are required or where safe
camping was allowed). I also heard from another scoutmaster that there is a
"rule" that the hikers are not allowed to retrace their paths. Any truth to
that rule?
For those of you who may be familiar with hiking in Hawaii (Kauai
specifically), allow me to describe our route. If you're not interested,
stop reading here, otherwise you'll be bored to death.
We were dropped off by the U.S. Coast Guard (our sponsoring organization)
and with the assistance of the Hanalei Outrigger Canoe Club on the Kalalau
beach at the end of the Na Pali Coast. The 11-mile Kalalau trail was
originally built in the late 1800's and was similar to the foot trails that
linked earlier Hawaiian settlements along the coastline. The trail
traverses 5 valleys from Ke'e Beach to Kalalau Beach where access is blocked
by sheer "fluted pali (cliffs)." Waterfalls and swift flowing streams
continue to cut through the 5 narrow valleys while the sea carves cliffs at
there mouths. Extensive stone walled terraces can still be found on the
valley bottoms where Hawaiians once cultivated taro. Between valleys the
elevations range from sea-level to nearly 1000 feet with almost a roller
coaster effect. Enough of the tour guide in me, but the vistas were
absolutely outstanding. Anyway, one the first day, we hiked out of the
Kalalau valley to the Hanakoa valley (4 miles) where we dropped off about
100 pounds of food and then we hiked back to our start point (DAY 1 = 8
miles).
Fortunately, we did not have to carry our water supply. There was an ample
supply of fresh water from the mountain steams as long as we purified with
iodine tablets or boiled the water first. On both the first and second
nights, we slept on the beach in dry caves which dot the coast. The boys
also had the opportunity to swim in one of the wet caves (fresh water) along
the beach. One other experience we shared (that was not planned for) was
the fact that the Kalalau Beach is a "clothing optional" beach. It took
nearly 4 hours to complete breakfast, KP, and get our gear packed out on day
#2 due to some of the boys being significantly distracted by a young woman
who was sharing the cave.
The next day we again hiked to Hanakoa, picked up our food, and prepared for
the next day's hike which would be the most difficult day of our entire
journey (DAY 2 = 4 miles). During the respite we found another waterfall to
shower in as well as a pond to swim in. That night our campsite was shared
by a "religious hermit" who called the mountains his home.
The next day we competed the Kalalau trail and continued to the Haena County
beach park (DAY 3 = 8 miles). We had planned to do several service projects
along the Kalalau trail, but the State Park Officials requested us not to
during the time we were hiking. So we ended up assisting numerous hikers
that were not prepared to hike the arduous trails. In one case, in addition
to our gear, food, etc., we actually carried all of the gear of another
hiker who was suffering inordinately from blisters (new shoes and "flip
flops").
Day 4 took us through the towns of Hanalei and Princeville along county
roads (DAY 4 = 11 miles). This was our first opportunity to call home, use
a flush toilet, eat at McDonalds, etc. You'd think the guys had been on a
deserted island for the last several years.
Day 5 took us up and over the mountains across the island to the outskirts
of Wailua. We had to hike from 400 above sea level to 2,200 feet and then
back down again. During the day it rained nearly continuously. The
powerline trail was awash with mud, sometimes up to our mid-thighs. Again
we were fortunate that we did not have to burden ourselves with extra
drinking water. We had planned to use the streams along the way, but
another camper we met back at Kalalau had offered to ride his dirt bike up
from the other side and drop off fresh water for us. True to his word, as
we crested the top of the mountains (seeing both the souther and northern
coastlines) we found about 16 liters of bottled water with Troop #304
printed on it. He also left his address, cellular phone number, and his
best wishes. Although we had planned to camp along the powerline trail, we
were concerned about flash floods; so we pressed on to the end of the trail
(DAY 5 = 13 miles).
Although we still planned on two more days of camping, the ship (our
transportation home) we were going to meet was due to dock at 10 PM that
evening. When we got to our scheduled camping location, it was a terrible
location, and due to the fact that it had been a relatively short hike (7
miles) thus far, the boys (as well as we two adults) were anxious to
continue on and get to the ship. We passed by Wailua Falls ("The
Plane....The Plane {from "Fantasy Island fame]), and hiked on into the town
of Lihue; stopped at Pizza Hut to "freshen up;" and finished the last three
miles to the Nawiliwili Coast Guard Station with smiles (grimaces) on our
faces (Day 6 = 14 miles) (Total 58 miles).
The next day, several of the crew members of the ship volunteered to drive
the boys to the Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyons of the Pacific). Me? I
didn't leave the of cabin (or the chair I was sitting in for that matter)
for the next two days. What a prelude to summer camp!!! The boys are
already talking about their next 50-miler over on the Big Island (Hawaii)
through the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (planned for December).
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
