Tilden Park – Bay Area Ridge Trail

January 24 and 25, 2004

 

WHAT:  We will camp at Wildcat View Camp (Group campsite) in Tilden Park and take an approximate 11 mile loop hike primarily along the Bay Area Ridge Trail.  First, we will drive to the campsite and drop our gear.  Then we will grab our daypacks (with lunch and lots of water) and hike the loop trail.  From the campsite, we will hike northwest into Wildcat Canyon, then up to the old Nike missile site on San Pablo Ridge, then turn southeast along the Bay Area Ridge trail (which is Nimitz Way on your maps), past Wildcat Peak and Inspiration Point, then on to Vollmer Peak.  We will then hike back along Vollmer Peak, Big Springs, and Meadow Canyon Trails to our campsite. 

We are essentially hiking a loop from Berkeley Bart to El Cerrito, back past Go (on another trail) to the far side of the Berkeley campus and back to Berkeley Bart all along San Pablo Ridge.  If this scenario proves to be too strenuous, there are many points along the way to circle back and shorten the hike. 

Note: we will be camping in the Wildcat View group campsite.   

WHEN:  Arrive at the clubhouse at 7:30 AM on Saturday, January 24, to arrange food, sort patrol gear, and set car assignments, so that we can leave by the clubhouse by 8:00.  We will leave Tilden Park Sunday between about 11:15 AM to return to return to the clubhouse by approximately 12:00 Noon.

ADVANCEMENT:  This trip offers excellent advancement opportunities for all, especially those seeking to achieve Tenderfoot, Second, and First Class.  This trip will also count towards your Camping Merit Badge.  Please review your requirements so that all those attending are prepared for the advancement opportunities.  The campsite will be adjacent to the parking lot and, hence, this campout will provide not only an excellent opportunity to complete some of the cooking requirements for second and first class scouts, but to show off some advanced menu selection and cooking skills.  In addition, to other advancement work, we will work on map reading and orienting skills.

WHAT TO BRING: Among the many things to bring on the campout, you will certainly need to bring a backpack, a warm sleeping bag and pad, good hiking boots, and a compass.  If you do not have a pack, ask an adult leader about borrowing one from the troop.  See our website: http://T88SF.org for a list of essential backpacking items and for a link to the Tilden Park website. 

Water will be available at the campsite, but bring water containers for cooking, personal use, and for the hike.

Read up on or review your map reading and orienting skills in your Boy Scout Handbook. 

Don’t forget to bring:

a)       a completed permission form,

b)       money to reimburse the cooks [$6] for the food they purchased and the drivers [$3] for gas and bridge toll,

c)       lunch for Saturday,

d)       a compass,

e)       sunscreen

f)         Boy Scout Handbook 

Adult Leaders: Michael Dotson (415) 665-4455  Gary Furney (415) 695-1157