Racoon Mtn. Caving

Pending the bus being mobile we will still be leaving the Hut 10:00 AM this coming Saturday, January 16th.

Arrive at the Hut at 9:30 AM in preparation to leave at 10:00 AM.

If the weather is workable the fees are: $62.00 for a Leader and $57.00 for a Scout
If the weather will be too cold or wet the fees are: $50.00 Per person

I will send an Email Thursday afternoon when we have an idea of he weather.

If a snow/ice situation presents, which will not be recommended for driving, we won't be going.
If the bus still has a problem with it's air compressor, we won't be going.

Assuming we are going, he needs to have the following:
1. BSA Parental Consent Form, blank copy on Troop Web Site, with spares at the Hut.
Uniform for the trip is Class A tan shirt, Scout uniform, Scout Socks, Scout belt.
2. Before you drop him off and leave, sign the cave parental consent form in the Hut..Don't forget this. Leaders also sign one.
3. Fees as cash or preferably check made out to Troop 21, BSA
3. Fast food money for lunch and supper on Saturday..the caving fee above does not include meals. Souvenir money for the railway and the cave. They provide breakfast at the cave and we will return around noon or sooner to Birmingham.
4. Warm clothing for riding the incline railway, and walking on top of the mountain if we take the option as notified on Thursday evening. You can count on it being cold on top the mountain.
3. For the Cave: An information sheet was passed out, but several were left behind:

*A plastic drop cloth to put his foam or thermarest on for sleeping in the cave in his sleeping bag. The Troop will not provide this and paint drop cloths are available at all retail stores..Walmart..Dollar General..Kmart..Target..whatever...should be a toss away type or he can fold it and bring it home also.
* Jeans and a long sleeve shirt and sneakers, all of which you can wash or throw away at the end of the tour. Sweat shirts get too hot and sweat pants get pulled down while crawling, so wear jeans and a belt.
Boots or sneakers with traction still on the bottom are recommended to give traction in the cave. A handerchief to wipe off eyeglasses if they fog up or get dirty...eye glass restraints in order no to lose the glasses and an extra pair if he does.
* a small flashlight for his own use in the cave..the cave provides a headlamp for the tour,,but he should have a back up.
* They will give him an Army duffle bag to put all your gear in to take to the sleeping area..That's all just a Duffle bag that all your gear has to go in: Sleeping bag, plastic ground cloth, sleeping clothes, or change of clothes and socks for after the exploration, water bottle, snacks, flashlight,
* A small amount of Toilet Paper for their minimal facility in case they run out.
* When we get there in the bus, we will change into our cave clothes from the uniform. then when we leave we will go back to the bus and change back to the uniform.
* The cave will be in the mid to high 60's so he will not need a coat, sweater, or a knit hat in the cave..or he will overheat.
* a quart of water as there will be none in the cave where we will sleep.
* They recommend clean sleeping clothes inside the sleeping bag (long underwear/pajamas) then change back into caving clothes to get out (might bring a extra pair of dry socks if his feet get wet).
*the Cave will provide a head lamp, knee pads, helmet, and gloves
* Snack...energy bars only...no soft drinks, no glass, no crumbly flake food
* no electronics..no cell phones. Wear belt with jeans as elastic or no belt jeans tend to pull down when crawling.
*
* After the tour, he can take a shower..so he will need a soap and towel...recommend instead some towelettes for his face and hands...he won't be getting that dirty..and we won't have to wait around to leave.

That's it....If you don't get an email Thursday afternoon..we will see you at the Hut at 9:30 AM on Saturday morning, Jan 16.

YiS Dan S "Delivering the Promise"