Challenge 1 - Off Road Mountain Biking
The course will start at Pennwood Park off Route 185 in Simsbury on June 15th at 10:00 am. You must arrive at the starting line by 9:45 to be sure of being allowed to start in the first wave. Those arriving after 9:45 will be allowed to start at 1 minute after the first group, but their time will be clocked from 10:00 am.
You must start by 10:00 or you will not be allowed to start.
Start on the upper road trail for 10 minutes until the road veers hard right. At this point the dirt trail goes straight ahead. Continue straight. There are some faint white dots marking this trail. At “T” junction go left on blue trail. 100 ft later is a sign “Metacomet Trail Go Right”. Disregard and go straight on unmarked trail (blue trail goes up to the ridge and back down to rejoin your trail later.
Follow the trail until it descends into Wintonbury road. You must walk your bike down the hill as soon as you see the road. If you ride down the judges will add 10 minutes to your time. The 1st checkpoint is at Wintonbury. Sign in with race official. You must reach checkpoint by 11:30AM.
Bicycle down Wintonbury and get on to Terry’s Plain rd. Stay on the right hand side of the road and ride to Curtiss E. Stay left at Road Fork and go right on Rt 315 at bridge to Curtiss E. Do not cross Route 315 until you get the Curtiss E. If you cross before Curtiss E and your team will pick up 10 additional minutes
Challenge 2 - Scout Skills
The 2nd checkpoint is Curtiss E main table by the river. You must reach checkpoint 2 by 12:00 At this checkpoint, you have 4 events to accomplish. They are:
1. Compass Course
2. Rappel across a river
3. Go over green wall
4. Mandatory 15 minute rest stop.
If you can, do the River Rappel first. If there is a team already doing it, do something else or wait in line.
1. Compass Course: Your must collect clues to give a phrase to official. Once you have the phrase, you may go forward. If you cannot finish after 30 minute, go ahead anyway.
2. River Rappel: You must get your team across the river. If you are having trouble, you may be asked to step aside. If you cannot do it after 30 minutes go ahead anyway.
3. The Wall: You must get your team over the “smooth” side of the green wall. If you cannot do it after 15 minutes go ahead anyway.
4. Rest Stop: You must stop and rest 15 minutes at the Main Table by the River
Challenge 3 - The Run
You must now walk/run to the bike path on iron horse Blvd at the intersection of Rt 315 and Route 10. Watch for traffic.
You must now hike Iron Blvd to Pettibones Tavern. Somewhere along the way will be the 3rd checkpoint. It is kept secret to make sure you stay on the course. The checkpoint will be on the bike trail and you must not miss it. Get your sign off/in and continue on.
At Pettibones Tavern you must go East on Rt 185 until you get to the Bridge across the river. Use the pedestrian part of the bridge to cross to the Sycamore Canoe Landing. This is the 4th checkpoint; you must reach it by 2:00 PM. You will have another mandatory 15-minute rest stop here.
Challenge 4 - The Water Ride
Pick up your Canoe, put on your PFD and start canoeing north on the Farmington River. You must wear your PFD at all time. If you are spotted with it not on your team will be eliminated. Spies will be hiding by the river to make sure. Your next checkpoint (#5) will be well before the Drake Hill Bridge where you must pull into Carter’s Riverside Canoe Stop and Dance Hall (look for sign) and get your card signed by Mrs. Carter. Continue on North on the river and at some point stop to select wood and kindling for the fire you must make at the end of this canoe trip (you may NOT pick up wood at Carter’s checkpoint). You can stop anywhere but you must have your wood before you pass under the Route 315 Bridge near Curtiss. You will not be permitted to pick up fire supplies after the bridge nor use any material found at Curtiss. You must bring it all with you.
Continue in the canoe to Curtiss and exit at Curtiss.
Challenge 5 - Trial by Fire
You must now make a fire to burn through a string that will be strung in a number of locations. Check in at Main Desk #6. You will be assigned a location. You may use only matches and wood supplies found before the Rt 315 bridge. You may not use lighter fluids, paper, or any prepared stuff. Judges will be watching closely.
You may elect to start your fire with Flint and steel only (no cotton balls or charred cloth). If you do and are successful you will have 15 minutes deducted from your time.
When your string burns through you will stop your clock. You are finished. You may relax and help cheer on your fellow scouts.
