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Mr. Burnside will be holding the First Aid Merit Badge class on Tuesday, December 29 at 9:00am at his house (an email was sent with contact and address details). The class is free, will take about 6-7 hours to complete, and lunch will be provided.
If you would like to attend, you must CALL Mr. Burnside so he can speak to you (scout) directly. Additionally, you must bring the following with you to the class:
- A first aid kit that you (scout) assembles (think backpacking)
- Your scout book and pen
- Your water bottle
- A sweatshirt or jacket
- DO NOT BRING A MERIT BADGE WORKSHEET
Please come dressed in your Class B uniform and be ready to participate.
A merit badge counselor will be holding a Music Merit Badge class on Tuesday, January 12 at 6:30pm at the church before the regularly scheduled Troop meeting.
If you have already indicated your desire to attend, please print, read and complete the online music merit badge workbook (to the best of your abilities), and come to the class ready to participate.
What to bring
The Scouts will need their day packs with their 10+ essentials. 2 Nalgene bottles or a 3 liter water bladder are needed for the hike (There is no water along the trail). The Scout must also bring trail snacks and a lunch. There may be some poison oak along the trail so long pants are recommended. The weather looks like it will be sunny, so have your Scout bring a hat and sun screen. Hiking boots are a must for this hike.
When and Where
On Saturday morning at 6:00am we will be meeting at the West end of the parking lot at Grace Episcopal Church in Glendora. We will depart shortly after 6:00am and travel to Loma Alta Drive in Altadena. See below for additional directions.
The first half of the hike (up to Alpine Tavern (now Mt Lowe Camp) and Inspiration Point, follows the Sunset Ridge Fire road to the top):
We will start at the trailhead next to the parking lot and hike up to the Sunset Ridge Fire Road. We will then follow the Mt. Lowe railway above Echo Mountain and have lunch at the Alpine Tavern. These locations were the most popular in Southern California in the late 1800’s, before being destroyed by floods and fire. More than a dozen historical markers along the way tell the fascinating story of this railway. The hike includes stunning views, pine forests, deep canyons, and lots of hiking.
Return Leg:
The return leg is a bit more convoluted, but quite fun. A quarter mile downhill from Inspiration point, we will take the Sam Merrill Trail to Echo Mountain and visit the ruins of the former Inn at this location. Next, we will head right on Echo Mountain Trail back to the Sunset Ridge Fire road. A hundred yards down the fire road on the right, we will take the unmarked trailhead for Sunset Ridge Trail, which parallels the fire road to get us back to the parking lot.
Directions
If you are a parent that will be joining us, or if you can help drive the Scouts to/from the hike, here are some directions to where we will park. From Loma Alta Drive in Altadena, turn north on Chaney Trail Drive and follow it to the ridge top junction. Sometimes the trail head parking is crowded. It may be easier to park in the parking area at the bottom of Millard Canyon. This will be to the left of the ridge top junction. If you will be parking your vehicle and joining us on the hike, you will need a $5 California Adventure Pass since you will be in the Angeles National Forest. An Adventure Pass can be purchased at any sporting goods retailer or US Forestry Office.
Troop 486 had an incredible trip to Death Valley on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving! A big thank you to all that attended as it was a great outing. The weather was phenomenal and the scenery was almost as breathtaking as the hiking. The Scouts climbed over 2500’ vertical height in less than 4 miles on the way to Wild Rose summit as they covered a total of 10 miles. The view on top included Mount Whitney (the highest point) and the Death Valley floor (the lowest point) in the continental United States. Luke, one of our newest Scouts really worked hard to complete the hike and left me with a desire to share some advice. First, I would offer this to Luke, you don’t have to stop every 100 feet and collect a rock to take home and show your parents. He must have weighed an extra 50 pounds but smiled the whole time. Good job Luke! Some of our High Adventure Scouts also slipped in a mountain bike ride of 25 miles which included a tough climb to Augerberry Peak and then a ride to the Wild Rose campground. Mr. Morrison donated some skin along the way and tested the bounds of friendship getting patched back up. I am happy to report he is doing great!
Our younger Scouts took advantage of the long outing and really got after the advancements on the Trail to First Class. Great job guys! As I am passing out compliments, I have to thank the Thompson’s and Mr. Martin for keeping the adults well fed. Overall, very good stuff!
The drive home was uneventful except for the meal break in Adelanto. A Scout who shall remain nameless, although Ralph would be appropriate, made a world record attempt on regurgitating his lunch! The sheer volume was very impressive and I am glad to report he is feeling much better, however, I may need therapy.
What I am most proud of is the growth that I saw in our newer Scouts. It was a pleasure to watch these boys step up and give it their all! The Scouts never cease to amaze me on how they take care of each other and how the older Scouts make the newer Scouts feel welcome and how they become friends. There is an incredible level of camaraderie and you can see many lifelong friendships developing. This is what makes our troop special.
I am pretty certain that almost every new Scout is a little intimidated as they walk in the door to their first meeting or head out to their first outing. I would venture a guess that most parents can see the apprehension in their son’s face. I would also confidently speculate that as your son marches down the trail to Eagle with Troop 486 that apprehension turns into anticipation as they look forward to challenges that lay ahead and spending time with their fellow Scouts. I know I do.
We are Troop 486!
Scott Burnside
Mr. Burnside will be holding the Fingerprinting Merit Badge class on Tuesday, December 8 at 6:15pm at the church before the regularly scheduled Troop meeting.
If you would like to attend, please read the online fingerprinting merit badge workbook (do not print and fill out), and come to the class ready to participate.
