Re: Looking for Backpacking Treks
Amick Robert (amick@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU)
Wed, 19 Jun 1996 16:49:54 -0600
Your friendly adjacent State of Colorado would certainly fill the bill for
what you are requesting.
A great opportunity is the Elkhorn High Adventure base associated
with the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch near Red Feather Lakes, CO, west of Ft.
Collins. This new program is in its second year and offers Scouts a great
challenge and some of the finest scenery in the Rocky Mountains. Contact
Camp Director Terry Dunn, at (303) 881-2144 for details. Also see the Ben
Delatour Scout Ranch and Elkhorn High Adventure Base Home pages for
detailed information.
Many National Forest Wilderness areas abound in
the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies, such as Mt. Zirkel Wilderness
area in North Park near the Wyoming Border, and the Indian Peaks
Wilderness Area west of Boulder. Flattops Wilderness in Western Colorado
is also incredibly beautiful as is the San Juans in Soutwestern Colorado.
You can do a backpack from the Silverton-Durango area and ride the narrow
gauge steam locomotive "Durango and Silverton" to your backpacking area,
which is really a treat for the Scouts. The 1000 foot cliff over the
Animas River that the train goes through is really spectacular.
Several of our posts have done 50 milers in these areas with great
enjoyment. This is a great time of year to go, as
wildflowers are in abundance and the peaks are inspiring as always.
Contact the National Forest Offices in Boulder for additional
information. Wilderness areas have restrictions and permits are required
for back country travel. It's a good idea to "acclimatize to elevation"
to avoid problems with altitude sickness, so if you can stay a few days at
the 5000-7000 foot level, before going to the "high country" at
9000-13,000 feet, you will definitely benefit.
Triple A has some excellent video tapes on "Colorado Getaways" that cover
many of these areas, and are available for checkout to give you an idea.
If you are driving out, be sure to stop at the Koshare Indian Museum
and Kiva in La Junta and see one of the tremendous Koshare Indian Dancers
shows, as well as touring the Museum. This is a favorite for Scouts going
to Philmont. Overnight accomodations are available at the "Kiva" for very
moderate cost. See the Koshare Home Page for details on shows and
accomodations.
Be sure to use sunscreen and protective clothing and sunglasses, because
the sun is fierce at these elevations and can cause lots of misery if skin
is exposed without protection; the ozone layer problem seems to be
aggravating the incidence of severe sunburn more than it used to, and it
always was severe at high altitude.
Dehydration is another serious concern. Be sure to bring lots of water
bottles, and use water purification filters to purify water. Boiling
still works but is a hassle, and takes lots of fuel. Iodine and chlorine
water purification tablets are often NOT
effective against giardia lamblia parasite which causes severe diarrhea if
infected. There is lots of giardia in "pure rocky mountain spring waters"
so you have to be very careful.
Best wishes...
Bob Amick, Explorer Advisor, High Adventure Explorer Post 72, Boulder, CO
On Wed, 19 Jun 1996, Sharon Jorski wrote:
> Greetings all,
>
> I am posting this message for a friend. He is looking for a 50-mile
> backpacking trek for the troop.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
