Philmont 2023 Archive

Sunday 12 March: ORIENTEERING and BACKPACK HIKING at Ridley Creek State Park

==> SIGN UP HERE <==

• 9:30AM DST Meet at WRA Headquarters in Center Square Park, Blue Bell (MAP)

  • Orienteering training (inside) for one hour then depart for Ridley Creek Park at 10:30

  • If you're driving, go to the parking lot at "Parque Ridley Creek" (MAP)

  • Hike/run the O-Course beginning ~11:30

  • Return to parking lot/HQ • Debrief and lunch • If there's time, run a second course

  • Depart for Blue Bell at 1:45PM

• Pickup from WRA Headquarters at 2:30PM

WHAT TO BRING/WEAR:

• Wear comfortable outdoor clothes and your hiking boots

• Bring your backpack with at least 20 pounds of packed weight

• Bring an outer layer/jacket plus hat and gloves in case there's bad weather (FORECAST) and for when you're not moving

• Bring water or a hydration bladder, snacks, and a nutritious bag lunch

• No need for Scout uniform

• If you've never gone orienteering and want to Be Prepared, learn about the sport HERE.

Feb 5th Valley Forge Hike:    

1. • Don't go to St. John's. We are meeting at the WRA Headquarters at Center Square Park, 1527 Yost Rd, Blue Bell, PA 19422 [MAP]. Go to the large pavilion-like building at the back of the parking lot. We will return here after the hike.

     • Gear meeting from 8:30 to about 9:45 at WRA, then depart for Valley Forge. This meeting is "show and tell" about Philmont gear. There may be some opportunities to swap, buy/sell, or borrow gear. Philmont veterans: please bring your backpack and boots, plus any gear you think is especially important to show first-timers.    PHILMONT GEAR PAGE

     • Start hiking around 10:30AM from the parking lot next to the Delaware Memorial [MAP]. Hike 5 to 6 miles, with a stop for lunch, returning to where we started.

     • Return to WRA at 3PM but we'll call if significantly earlier or later.

   • Wear appropriate hiking clothes, including layers, rain gear, hiking boots, a lightweight and nutritious bag lunch, and a water bottle or hydration pack. Bring your backpack with 10 to 20 pounds of weight (ideas for weight: textbooks, canned goods, water bottles).

Sign up link HERE  •  WHO'S GOING:

Feb 1, 2023 Update:

1. Gear Prep & Valley Forge Park hike - Sunday Feb 5 (preferred), 8:30 to 3PM Saturday Feb 4 OR

   • Sign up HERE and let us know which day(s) you can go. We're going Sunday due to weather (Sunday is forecast to be 45°, vs. 25° on Saturday).

   • Wear appropriate hiking clothes, including layers, rain gear, hiking boots, a lightweight and nutritious bag lunch, and a water bottle or hydration pack. Bring your backpack with 10 to 20 pounds of weight (ideas for weight: textbooks, canned goods, water bottles).

   • Schedule:

     • 8:30AM - Meet at St. John's for a "show and tell" about Philmont gear. There may be some opportunities to swap, buy/sell, or borrow gear. Philmont veterans: please bring your backpack and boots, plus any gear you think is especially important to show first-timers.    PHILMONT GEAR PAGE

     • 10:00AM - Depart for Valley Forge Park; begin hiking from Washington's HQ by 11AM. Hike 5 to 6 miles, with a stop for lunch, and return to HQ. Depart for home at 2PM.

     • 3:00PM - Pickup from St. John's.

2. See the "Philmont Who's Going" sheet on this page (or HERE) and make sure we have your correct response.

3. We must have at least one additional adult in order to go. Please consider joining the expedition.

4. Please make sure you have paid $1500 "on account" by Feb 15.

5. Consult the "Philmont Events Calendar" on this page (or HERE) and make sure you commit to these dates on your personal calendar.

Jan 2023 Update:

1. Please GO HERE to reconfirm your participation and let us know of flexibility to depart one day earlier and/or return one day later.

2. We are in need of adults 21 or older to accommodate the number of Scouts who want to go. Please consider joining the expedition!

3. You should begin thinking about your gear. Make sure you've studied the Troop 98 Philmont Gear page. As soon as we find great deals on gear we'll be sending out regular gear updates via email (make sure you review those promptly).

4. You should be working on your physical fitness from now until we leave for Philmont. Check out the Philmont Phitness plan.

5. Camping/Backpacking weekends are on the Troop 98 calendar (www.bsa98.com/calendar):

   • Feb 17-19: Camping weekend at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation (indoor backpacking training + day backpacking)

   • March 18-19: Backpacking campout on the Horseshoe Trail

   • April 21-23: Backpacking campout (location TBD; likely the Appalachian Trail)

   • May 19-21: Weekend campout and gear shakedown (crew & personal); day backpacking (at Ockanickon Scout Reservation)

   • June 9-11: Backpacking campout on the Conestoga Trail

6. Day trips:

   • Sunday Feb 4th: Gear training and day hike at Valley Forge National Park - 9AM to 3PM

   • Sunday Mar 12th: Orienteering at Quail Hill Scout Camp - 9AM to 2PM

   • Saturday Mar 25th: Orienteering at Norristown Farm Park - 10AM to 1PM

   • Sunday Apr 2nd: Orienteering at Hibernia County Park - 10AM to 1PM

   • Saturday May 6th: Orienteering at French Creek State Park - 10AM to 1PM

7. Financial update: 

   • Philmont has increased the expedition fee and airfare is unusually high this year. Given this, we need to increase our expected expedition cost to $2500 (up from $2300). We will do our best to minimize costs, and are open to group fundraising efforts. 

   • Please make sure you have paid Troop 98 as follows:

     • $1500 paid "on account" by Feb 15, 2023

     • Next $500 paid by April 30, 2023

     • Final $500 paid by May 31, 2023 (if airfare comes in lower we may reduce this final payment)