Youth Groups - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

As many people out on the trail any given year, I ran into quite a few youth groups, whether it be a community group, boyscouts, wilderness camps, or other programs. Most of these groups were very well-behaved and courteous, but one thing really bothered me about these groups.

More often than not, I would see these groups of boys and girls, some as young as 10 or 11 years of age, with a pack on their back heavier than mine at Springer. While I understand that many of these groups lack the budget to go ultra light, I DO NOT understand how some of these groups, who should be very experienced on the backcountry when taking children out in the woods, can think it is safe to strap 50-75% of a child’s weight to his or her pack.

Are these concerns legitimate? I know I wouldn’t go into the woods with 75-100 lbs strapped to my back. Is this an unsafe thing to do, or am I just worrying too much?

nobody

#2

I think you are worrying too much. In the first place there is an epidemic of obesity in this country and even more so with children. Exercise will not kill them although many like your self believe this. In the second place I believe you are overestimating their pack weight. Most of the volume is clothes, which their mothers have forced them to carry. Clothes do no weigh that much but take up a lot of space

Blue Jay

#3

when I was leaving Bly Gap to head hope in November, I met a crowd of boy scouts over a 3 mile section. They were making for Plumorchard Gap shelter. One kid I will never forget had what looked like a refrigerator on his back. He had already picked up 2 sticks to use as hiking poles. My guess is, he had it licked and was having the time of his life, even if he didn’t know it at the moment.

burn

#4

I agree with Blue Jay. When I took my daughter on her first backpacking trip she used a daypack that’s almost too large for her. It was stuffed to bursting with her sleeping bag, extra socks and a paperback copy of Fellowship of the Ring. She had a sleeping pad and a stuffed tiger strapped to the outside, and two .5 L bottles of water in the mesh pockets. The total weight was about 10-12 lbs, but it probably looked a lot heavier. If the contents of her pack had had the same density as mine, it would’ve weighed about 20-25 lbs.

Ardsgaine

#5

The Boy Scouts carry big packs but in general they do not carry them as far as long distance hikers. Their goal is not miles but the experience of being in the woods and hiking. I remember years ago when I was a boy scout we carried packs that were heavy. All our gear was heavy. Remember that boy scout jack knife with the twenty tools on it? But even with the big heavy pack we all loved being out there. In general it was a great experience.

Big B

#6

“NOBODY” makes a valid point. (now there’s a logical sentence for ya) Several kids have died in recent years in outdoors programs.

Yes. Kids are not healthy, but program leaders are not always well trained or attentive.

Im not certain, but I believe some of these kids were in the programs against their personal wishes. (Courts and forceful parents)

There are problems with wilderness youth programs, but also, lots of benefits for the kids too. Personally, I think the good outweighs the bad.

GAdewME

#7

While I realize that exercise will not kill kids, I also realize that pushing them too far may.

The pack weight, and it may have been in a few isolated incidents, I got was after a discussion with different group leaders. These ideas to get kids out and involved with nature are wonderful, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t want to see too much of the wrong thing happening, because you know it doesn’t take much to put further restrictions on these types of activities.

nobody

#8

I tried to keep my 8yrold daughter’s pack weight under 10% for her first overnight “backpack”. She just had her clothes, toilet items, stuffed horse, and the marshmallows with her. She did fine, but had to stop and rest a lot over the 1.5 mile journey, lol…

bitpusher

#9

The BSA recommendation is that packweight should not exceed 20% of bodyweight. I spent 4 months teaching scouts about backpacking and outdoor skills before we went on a 50 miler. I showed them my pack which weighed 22lbs without food and water, but included a first aid kit for whatever I thought a kid could do to himself. Turned out the Desenex (anti chafing) and Kaopectate (anti diarrhea) was the most popular. Nobody got chopped, stabbed or broken (whew!).
We only made 4 ½ miles the first day. That evening, one of the kids told me privately that he could not carry his pack. I helped him go through his stuff and pick out what he really wanted to carry. I gave him some plastic for a poncho. Them I spread his large GI poncho on the ground and made a general announcement that we were going to hide some stuff in the woods and come back for it later. The gear fairly flew! I could hardly lift it I bundled it up and we took it 100 steps back into the woods to pick up after the hike.

That   half day’s walk made more converts for lightweight backpacking than my 4 months of lecture.   As Scouts get more experience, they lighten up fast.   The little kids learn from the older guys.  My scouts are now in their mid 40's, and are probably doing the same thing with their kids today.  I know they still  remember their first 50 miler.  The tradition continues.

Bulldog

#10

The recommended maximum pack weight, including food and water, is 25 to 30% of body weight. Scout leaders who are knowledgable of backpacking do cull through Scouts packs to keep the weight below this maximum.

Peaks

#11

bulldog, you tell a mean story. I’m sure I lose a few more pounds on trail too, but i can’t go much lower, unless every day is hike nekkid day!

burn

#12

I’ve been doing a Long Trail 50-80 mile section hike with my son’s scout troop the last two years. We do 3-4 full pack, overnight shake down hikes in the spring before we do our week or two on the LT in July. The adult leaders go through packs with the kids parents before they set foot out the door and strictly adhere to the 25% body weight guidelines. The shake down hikes do the most for teaching the kids about weight, food, and what is and is not necessary. The packs do look heavy because they tend to carry the 3500 - 4500 cubic inch external frame packs (usually easier for kids to pack themselves and less expensive for the parents), but the adult leaders help get them light and the shakedowns keep them honest. The kids who start keep coming back for more. Can’t wait to get started again.

digit