Unknown High Adventure - Northern Tier Scout Base

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=William_J_O'Brochta]William J O'Brochta
Many people have heard of Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, but there are actually four different high adventure bases operated by the Boy Scouts of America, three of which make up the Triple Crown of High Adventure. The newest addition, Summit at Bethal Reserve is due to open in time for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. The other three bases, Philmont, Florida Sea Base, and Northern Tier Canoe Base, have been established and operating for years. While Philmont is better known, Northern Tier deserves a great deal of consideration when choosing where to go for summer high adventure in Scouting.
Background:
Founded in 1923, Northern Tier and the Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base are the oldest high adventure bases in the Boy Scouts of America. The Sommers base is located in Ely, Minnesota with two other bases in Canada. Approximately 6000 Scouts and adults go to Northern Tier, compared to 20000 that attend Philmont.
Purpose:
Northern Tier consists of a two-week canoe trip through the lakes of Minnesota and often moving into the Boundary Waters of Canada.
Planning and Route Selection:
A Troop or Council interested in attending Northern Tier must register and apply at least one full year in advance. Crews at Northern Tier are limited to eight to ten individuals who usually use four canoes. Crews cannot travel together, so plan different crews wisely. Begin your preparation by purchasing maps of the Quetico and Minnesota waters areas. These maps usually come from the Northern Tier Trading Post. Gauging the ability of your Scouts and any of the recommended shakedown paddles, try to choose a general route for the trip. There are no set itineraries, nor does the crew have to stick to the chosen plan once on the water.
A crew can canoe in either the Minnesota waters or Quetico Provincial Park or both. Even though you will be traveling through the waters by canoe, your crew still must have passports on them to go into the Provincial Park. Make sure to alert the Northern Tier staff of your intent to go into Canada so that they can provide you with a knowledgeable guide who can help plan route around a border crossing station. Crews going into Canada can also consider taking a floatplane with all their gear and getting dropped off outside the park in order to canoe back to the base. This is optional and requires much more planning and some additional cost.
There are some benefits and disadvantages to choosing to go into either Minnesota or Quetico. The Quetico Provincial Park is operated under strict guidelines. There can be no permanent campsites, buildings, power lines, airplane flyovers, or groups of more than ten people. This means that the area is pristine and extremely beautiful. You will see no one if you choose a route that is primarily in Quetico. The Minnesota Boundary Waters have none of these restrictions. That does not mean that the canoeing is unpleasant, but the motorboats do create both a distraction and a large wake. I recommend traveling in Quetico if you want to have a true adventurous experience and Minnesota if you want to be with another crew most of the time.
Supplies:
Northern Tier supplies much of what you need. In fact, everything you carry should fit into one five-gallon Ziploc bag. You will need clothes and shoes and that is about all. However, no matter how hot it may be in your hometown, count on wearing a jacket and long sleeve shirt a fair amount. There are only two special items I would recommend: cheap boots with holes drilled in the bottom and a mosquito head net. The boots must be worn at all times when in the canoe. When you have to portage from lake-to-lake, everyone must jump out of the canoe and get their feet soaking wet. Go to Wal-Mart and buy a pair of twenty-dollar boots and drill four or so 0.25-inch holes in the sides for water drainage. Also carry a pair of other shoes to wear around camp, Keen sandals work very well. The head net is about three dollars to buy, but worth hundreds. There are millions of mosquitoes or black flies that will bite you constantly when portaging or at camp. While portaging, you will likely be carrying so much stuff that it is impossible to swat any away. Look for a head net that has a piece of piping around the middle to keep it away from your face.
Getting There and Checking-In:
This is pretty simple, fly to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport, rent a couple of vans and drive about four hours to Ely. There are no closer airports and the drive is pretty nice.
Once at Northern Tier, you will check-in, play some old tribal games, and meet your guide for the two weeks. He or she will walk you around to numerous different stations to get all of your supplies. This includes canoes, tents, bags, stoves, pots, and food. You should count on buying paddles at Northern Tier or bringing your own. Either way, this is a bit inconvenient to do. Make sure that you check all the equipment for issues before taking ownership of it.
You will then have some free time to discuss what gear you will personally need. The guide will give your crew an octagonal cabin to spend the night in and sort out your gear. Get everything packed-up and ready to go the night before departing.
On the Water:
Whether you choose to go by float plane or not, your first day will start early with a pre-float shakedown and safety summary. Your guide will then go over some basic canoeing maneuvers before departure.
Typically, the group will canoe until about noon, take a half hour lunch break, and then continue canoeing until three or four in the afternoon. Other breaks are rarely taken except for after longer portages, although the mosquitoes may deter such stopping. After arrival at camp, set-up camp quickly and stow all gear. Focus on making dinner before five o'clock because there is a good deal of required clean-up. When dinner is finished, pack everything away and review the day, preferably with a thorns, roses, and buds exercise. Unless you wish to be bitten by swarms of mosquitoes, go to bed before eight thirty.
Plan on arising at about six and getting on the water by seven-thirty. This is again to prevent an infestation of mosquitoes.
Taking Out:
On your final float day, you will arrive back at the Sommers base. Hopefully this will occur early in the morning because gear check-in takes three or more hours to successfully complete. The afternoon is usually free before a closing celebration at night. The next morning, all crews are required to depart.
In Sum:
Northern Tier provides a wilderness experience that is unmatched by either Philmont or Sea Base. Count on seeing no one else on the water during the entire trip. This is difficult for some Scouts, but rewarding for others.
Resources:
The Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association sponsors the Triple Crown of High Adventure Award for Scouts who complete all three bases. Contact Northern Tier directly at   rel=nofollow http://ntier.org/ with any specific questions or ask your Troop or Council if there is someone from a recent trip who would be willing to answer more general questions.
William O'Brochta is a recipient of the William T. Hornaday Silver Medal for Distinguished Service to Conservation in the Boy Scouts of America and William T. Hornaday Badge. He is an Eagle Scout with nine Eagle palms and has earned sixty-five Merit Badges. William is currently an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 17 in Roanoke, Virginia working with Troop elections, new Scout advancement, and Eagle projects. He also serves as an active member on the Blue Ridge Mountains Council Conservation, Advancement, Eagle Board of Review, and Troop Committees. William is the William T. Hornaday Awards Specialist for the Blue Ridge Mountains Council Conservation Committee and the Life-to-Eagle Specialist for the Blue Ridge Mountains Council Advancement Committee. He is also a Life-to-Eagle Advisor, a Merit Badge Counselor for thirty Merit Badges, and a Leave No Trace Trainer. He has been involved in Scouting for more than thirteen years.
William attends Patrick Henry High School and the Roanoke Valley Governor's School and is ranked first in his class of 500. Currently, he is working on a three-year environmental research project dealing with using plants to remove pesticides from the soil. He has presented this research at the Society of Toxicology Annual meeting. A musician, he plays trumpet and serves as Drum Major for the Marching Band.
Committed to community service, he has volunteered for six months for Habitat for Humanity in Hungary and helped Breakell, Inc. General Contractors achieve LEED Platinum energy efficiency certification.
William can best be contacted through his LinkedIn page: http://linkd.in/q8dXm0
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Unknown-High-Adventure---Northern-Tier-Scout-Base&id=6539280] Unknown High Adventure - Northern Tier Scout Base