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Pack Winter Hike details

Blue Hills Reservation
Elliot Tower/Great Blue Hill Hike Saturday, January 21, 2017
Starts at 10am @ Houghton’s Pond Parking Area

 

OVERVIEW: Cub Scout Pack 313 will have a Pack Hike in the Blue Hills Reservation starting at Houghton’s Pond parking area at 10am on Saturday, January 21, 2017. The hike will start at the information boards in front of the restrooms at the Houghton’s Pond parking area and consist of hiking to Elliot Tower and the Great Blue Hill Weather Observatory via the Headquarters Path, Wolcott Path, Skyline Trail (North and South), and the Houghton Path. The planned path is shown in Figure 1. The hike is approximately 3 miles in total length with approximately 400 ft in elevation gain.

gbh-hike-map

Figure 1. Trail Map for Pack 313 Elliot Tower/Great Blue Hill Hike.

We estimate your Scout will hike at ~1 mile per hour, so the entire hike will be about 4 hours (3 hours hiking, 1 hour for lunch and breaks). The lunch break will be at the Elliot Tower, about halfway thru the hike.

DIRECTIONS:

The Houghton’s Pond parking area is located within the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, MA. Google Maps lists the address of the parking area as 840 Hillside St, Milton, MA 02186. From Route 93, take Exit 3 (Houghton’s Pond, Ponkapoag Trail exit) from I-93. Follow the signs to Houghton’s Pond. The trip is approximately 26 miles (~30 minutes) from Arlington by car.

CUB SCOUT ADVENTURES:

This hike will assist your Scout in the following Cub Scout Adventures:

  • Tiger: Tigers in the Wild
  • Wolf: Paws on the Path
  • Bear: Fur, Feathers, and Ferns
  • Webelos: Webelos Walkabout

Please consult the relevant Cub Scout Handbooks for the requirements of these adventures you can do with your Scout on this hike. Prior to the start of each Loop, the Hike Leader will review the Cub Scout Essentials and talk about various activities that Scouts can do on the hike. The Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum is a short walk down the Great Blue Hill Weather Observatory (~ 11⁄2 mile round trip). A visit to the Trailside Museum may fulfill other Cub Scout Adventure requirements. The cost to enter the Trailside Museum is $5 for adults and $3 for Scouts. Additional information on the Trailside Museum can be found at http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/blue-hills-trailside-museum.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:

It is recommended that you and your Cub Scout bring the six (6) Cub Scout Essentials for hiking. These essentials are (1) a first aid kit, (2) flashlight, (3) water, (4) trail food, (5) sun protection, and (6) a whistle. The Hike Leader will carry these items on the hike and will have several maps of the Blue Hills Reservation. However, it is recommended you bring your own map and compass. A free hiking trails map of the Blue Hills Reservation can be downloaded at the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) website. In addition, a 5 gallon cooler with water and limited snacks will be provided by the Hike Leader. Finally, please dress you and your Scout appropriately. The weather will be typical for early winter in New England and the trails in the Blue Hills Reservation are hilly and rocky. Additionally, if snow and/or ice exist on the trails, you may want additional traction for your feet, such as microspikes. Hiking poles also may be helpful in snow/icy conditions.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

The hike will be led by Ed Hajduk, the Den 5 (Bear) Leader. Please contact Ed at 781-462-8971 or at ehajduk@mac.com with any questions. Ed will happily text or email KML and GPX files of the planned hike and the DCR Blue Hills trail map as a PDF file to anyone who would like this information. Should the hike be cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions, an email will be sent to the Pack as soon as possible.

Eagle scout project – Arlington Health Fair

The Arlington Health Fair will be held on December 10 from 9-12pm at the Arlington Town Hall. The health fair is the Eagle Scout service project for one of the boys in our scout troop. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in Boy Scouts. One of the many requirements to earn the rank of Eagle Scout is to organize and direct a community service project.

arlington-health-fair-brochure-final

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