mammynunswife, hopefully I have something to contribute... I am an Eagle Scout and have been a scout leader in several troops over the last 20 years, currently a Scoutmaster, but I have done it all.
Start small with a few "shakedown" hikes fully packed. 5 miles is plently with a full pack. Half of the teens and most of the adults won't be in shape to do the 5 miles without being exhausted. Half hour daily walks in your hiking shoes will build up callouses and prevent blisters on the trail, and stamina. After each "shakedown" trip make notes of what you used and didn't use, and what can be shared, and make adjustments for the next outing. Not eveyone needs to carry a saw and hatchet or a big cook kit.
A good pack that fits is key. I can't stress it enough. Most can be adjusted, but many parents buy their kids a pack that they can "grow into". Since you're talking about Venture Scouts, they're pretty close to done. Alps Mountaineering has some great offers for scouts.
Water is heavy. So carry as little as possible. 2 quarts minimum per person per day for drinking, plus enough for cooking and washing. That's more water than you probably want to carry, so know where the water stops are before heading out; plan your route accordingly. Take purifying methods and a backup (chlorine/iodine tablets in addition to a good filter). One filter is enough for the whole group. Check the specs on your filter - most of them aren't sufficient alone and you must still use the tablets. Check out "PolarPure". Avoid creek water -- too many chemicals in the runoff.
Canned food has a lot of water and is heavy. Steel cans are heavy too, and eveything that's packed in must be packed out. There's a reason they make freeze dried backpacking meals.
Ramen is light but takes up lots of space. Look at noodle soup packets. Spaghetti and things like Rice a Roni take up less space, but use too much fuel to cook. I recommend "instant" boil in the bag rice. Dried fruits are EXCELLENT, high in complex carbs, and you will want to carb load everyone at every meal. Nuts have fats and protein. Both nuts and dried fruit are nutrient and energy dense foods. But you will be hiking - focus the bulk of the calories on carbs. (Teen boys will want 3000-4000 calories per day when hiking, when I was in high school sports 2.5 hours of practice per day, I was 6'3" and weighed 165 pounds, a beanpole, and ate 4000-5000 calories, but I was the exception.) The more protein you eat the more water you need to drink to digest it. Most people plan too much protein. One 6 oz. can of tuna, eaten with other foods, will supply the average adult with all the protein (s)he needs for a day.
Get a topo map of the area and make sure everyone is trained in map and compass skills.
Change socks halfway through the day, wash out the used ones and hang them on your pack to dry.
Start small with a few "shakedown" hikes fully packed. 5 miles is plently with a full pack. Half of the teens and most of the adults won't be in shape to do the 5 miles without being exhausted. Half hour daily walks in your hiking shoes will build up callouses and prevent blisters on the trail, and stamina. After each "shakedown" trip make notes of what you used and didn't use, and what can be shared, and make adjustments for the next outing. Not eveyone needs to carry a saw and hatchet or a big cook kit.
A good pack that fits is key. I can't stress it enough. Most can be adjusted, but many parents buy their kids a pack that they can "grow into". Since you're talking about Venture Scouts, they're pretty close to done. Alps Mountaineering has some great offers for scouts.
Water is heavy. So carry as little as possible. 2 quarts minimum per person per day for drinking, plus enough for cooking and washing. That's more water than you probably want to carry, so know where the water stops are before heading out; plan your route accordingly. Take purifying methods and a backup (chlorine/iodine tablets in addition to a good filter). One filter is enough for the whole group. Check the specs on your filter - most of them aren't sufficient alone and you must still use the tablets. Check out "PolarPure". Avoid creek water -- too many chemicals in the runoff.
Canned food has a lot of water and is heavy. Steel cans are heavy too, and eveything that's packed in must be packed out. There's a reason they make freeze dried backpacking meals.
Ramen is light but takes up lots of space. Look at noodle soup packets. Spaghetti and things like Rice a Roni take up less space, but use too much fuel to cook. I recommend "instant" boil in the bag rice. Dried fruits are EXCELLENT, high in complex carbs, and you will want to carb load everyone at every meal. Nuts have fats and protein. Both nuts and dried fruit are nutrient and energy dense foods. But you will be hiking - focus the bulk of the calories on carbs. (Teen boys will want 3000-4000 calories per day when hiking, when I was in high school sports 2.5 hours of practice per day, I was 6'3" and weighed 165 pounds, a beanpole, and ate 4000-5000 calories, but I was the exception.) The more protein you eat the more water you need to drink to digest it. Most people plan too much protein. One 6 oz. can of tuna, eaten with other foods, will supply the average adult with all the protein (s)he needs for a day.
Get a topo map of the area and make sure everyone is trained in map and compass skills.
Change socks halfway through the day, wash out the used ones and hang them on your pack to dry.
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