Trail Life Handbook

(First Printing)

Trail Life Handbook

(Second Printing)

Explain how being a good steward and observing the low impact camping method applies to Trail Skills. 

The Trailman's Oath:  We will "do our best to.. be a good steward of creation."

As stewards of God's creation, we endeavor to enjoy the land without disturbing or destroying it.  We should practice Low-Impact Camping:  

• Pack in only what is necessary,
• Stay on the trails
• Leave no trace
• Practice fire safety
• Dispose of water and wastes properly
• Seek to leave an area cleaner than when we arrived

pg. 158

pg. 147

The Hiker's Code - You are responsible for yourself, so be prepared:

• With knowledge and gear.  Become self-reliant by learning about the terrain, conditions, local weather, and your equipment before you start.
• To leave your plan.  Tell someone where you are going, the trails you are hiking, when you will return, and your emergency plans.
• To stay together.  When you start as a group, hike as a group and end as a group.  Pace your hike to the slowest person.
• To turn back.  Weather changes quickly.  Fatigue and unexpected conditions can also affect your hike.  Know your limits and when it is wise to postpone or turn back.
• For emergencies.  Even if you are headed out for just an hour, an injury, severe weather, or a wrong turn could become life-threatening.  Don't assume you will be rescued.  Know how to rescue yourself.
• To share the Hiker's Code with others. 

Leave an Activity Plan with parents or other leaders:  where you are going, when you will depart and return, who is going with you,  why you are going, what you are taking, and how you can be contacted in an emergency.

See: The Buddy System

Describe how to identify poisonous plants in your area such as poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, stinging nettle, and Flowering Poodle Dog Brush (Sticky Nama).

Learn to recognize the plants common to your area.  Trees and plants can be recognized by their leaves, bark, height, color and their overall shape. 

The only poisonous plant in our area is Poison Ivy, which identified by:

• Green leaves of three
• "Hairy Vine"
• Thumb shaped wedge on leaf (not always visible)
• See: Poison Ivy  

Outside Sources are available online, at bookstores, and in libraries that describe and show pictures of common poisonous plants.  

• http://www.georgiapoisoncenter.org
• http://landscaping.about.com/od/poisonouslandscapeplants/tp/poisonous-plants.htm,

For fun: Poodle Dog Bush (Sticky Nama)  

Learn about Georgia's six poisonous snakes through online sources, in bookstores and at libraries.  Be able to identify them from photos and to describe them.

• Florida Cottonmouth (Water moccassin):  triangular shaped head, dark stripe down both sides of its head; inhabits areas near water (creeks, rivers, lakes).
• Southern Copperhead:  tan or light brown with brown or red markings.  Seen from the top, pattern in shape of an hourglass; seen from the side a pattern in shape of Hershey kisses; juveniles have a yellow or greenish tail; responsible for most snake bits; live on higher ground away from water in most parts of Georgia.
• Eastern Coral Snake:  red and yellow bands always touch; primarily found in the southern half of Georgia.
• Eastern Diamondback Rattler:  the largest rattlesnake in the world; distinctive diamond pattern on skin; primarily found in southern half of Georgia.
• Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake:  small rattlesnake with black and brown spots on gray skin; easy to miss because of size and camouflage; rattle sounds like buzz of a bee; found in all but the northernmost parts of Georgia.
• Timber/Canebreak Rattlesnake:  Thick body with a rusty, orange or brown stripe running down the back; light tan (or pinkish) background with black chevrons or cross bands; found throughout Georgia.

See Photos at:

• http://www.snakesareus.com/venomous_snakes
  
• http://www.gafollowers.com/6-dangerous-snakes-georgia/

If you do encounter a snake, stay a safe distance away.  Most people are bitten on the hand or arm when they "attempt to kill, capture or harass a snake", or to reach for what they believe is a "dead" snakes.

• www.snakesareus.com

Discuss how to avoid encountering a snake.

• Step on logs instead of over them.
• Do not reach into logs or hollow spaces in trees or rocks.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KyxGlZynUA

1. Lightning
2. Tornadoes

Others hazards not in Trailman's Guide: 

1. Hiking and Wildlife
2. How to Cross a River 

Also see "Clothing" in the Backpacking Gear List  

pp. 144-145

Various sources say limit backpack weight to 1/4 - 1/3 of your body weight.

Professional backpackers say limit weight to 25-40 lbs, depending on the conditions of your hike and the duration.  

• http://seattlebackpackersmagazine.com/author/philip-werner/ 
  

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• Plan to drink 8 cups of water per day - more if you are on a strenuous hike or camping/hiking in hot temperatures.  Water adds a lot  of weight to your pack, though, so carry an essential amount of water AND a portable water filter or purification supplies.   
• Water can be supplied in a number of ways when hiking near water sources
• Tablet treatment
• Filtration
• UV treatment (with special UV devices) 

Demonstrate proper packing and necessary items for a day pack for a day hike.

Note:  At Troop 317 we're taking the "day hike" to mean a short, overnight backpacking trip vs. an extended backpacking trip.  

Online sources:

• http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/loading-backpack.html

http://www.ussartf.org/compass_basics.htm

http://www.ussartf.org/compass_basics.htm  

Trailman will have to demo.  Attempt to do while completing number 7 below, or on any hiking trip where we have supplied a topographic map, such as the Vogel State Park hike.

See #7 below for local ideas.

Troop orienteering course exercise - 50' is marked for pace measurement.

See requirement 6a for details on orienteering course.

Troop orienteering course exercise - measure a light pole.   Only the Felling Method is required, other info is provided simply for more info.

• Measure Height of an Object

See requirement 6a for details on orienteering course.

• Finding the North Star
• Using the Moon to Find South
• Finding Directions at Night - Two Sticks

By Day: 

• Directions by Day - Watch Method
• Directions by Day - Shadow Stick 
• Directions by Day - Equal Length Shadow  

Troop 317 has constructed an orienteering course on the grounds of Perimeter Church. 

• General location map
• Orienteering Course Worksheet
• goal is to find all waypoints to solve the worksheet puzzle.
• a marker at each of 21 waypoints on the 2.5 mile course contains part of the solution to the worksheet puzzle.
• includes instructions to determine an individual's "walking pace". 
• Orienteering Course Leader Guide
• includes answers for course worksheet & tips for finding markers.

This course is available at any time, however it is best to inform Perimeter Church Security team prior to use.

Option 1 - hike the full set of trails at Sawnee Mountain in Cumming. 

Sawnee Mountain:

• Sawneee Mt. Trail Map 2014.pdf

Big Creek Greenway:

• BigCreekMcFarlandTopo.pdf
• Forsyth-Big-Creek-Greenway-Map-Large.jpg