|
What’s This About: 50/20 signifies a hike of “50” miles in “20” hours and is a significant physical, emotional, and mental challenge, and should only be attempted by Scouts and adults who have extensively trained for it. A 50/20 hike one district has sponsored for eleven years has statistics indicating only about 1/3 of those attempting this distance and time will complete the hike.
When Does It Begin: This year’s first annual 50/20 hike is
scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. Friday, July 9th (rain date Friday,
July 16th) in Oakley and will end at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, July 10th
(rain date Saturday, July 17th) at the Twin Falls Idaho South Stake
Center (located at the North East intersection of Orchard Drive and
Harrison St. South, the actual address is 851 Orchard Drive).
Who May Participate: This event is open only to registered Boy
Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturer Scouts, 14 years of age or older (on
or before July 9th, 2010) and their associated adults. It is highly
recommended that all participating adults also be registered with the
BSA, however, this is not required. The minimum sign up number for a
Unit is two youth (all youth must use the “buddy” system) and one
adult. Support (Safety) Stops are also required with even this minimum
number of participants.
The hike is actually put on by the participating Units. For this
reason, it requires the logistical and staffing support of the
participating Units. There will be ten Support (Safety) Stops (each
stop roughly 5-miles apart… at miles 5-10-15 etc. and at mile 50) All
hikers are supported at these Support (Safety) Stops by their
participating Units. There they may receive water, nourishment,
sock/shoe change outs, encouragement and verification of hiker’s
physical/emotional status and continued ability to participate in the
hike etc.
Who must register: Everyone must register, whether you are a
hiker or staff/volunteer. Only hikers are charged a registration fee,
registration form will be forth coming.
Registration Fees: The fee is $5 per hiker. There is a
registration cutoff one week in advance of the start of the event
(cutoff date - Friday July 2nd). There is a NO REFUND POLICY in effect
following the registration cutoff, but Units may freely substitute for
drop outs right up to the afternoon of the hike, but all paperwork must
be accomplished on any additions.
Route: The specific route has now been confirmed and is 50-miles in length.
Support (Safety) Stop Setup and Operations: All Support (Safety)
Stops are standalone operations run entirely by their assigned Units
(Units may combine on the Support (Safety) Stops and personnel). Each
hiker must have a “Support (Safety) Stop Kit” (or its equivalent) at
each Support (Safety) Stop (i.e. there must be something available for
each hiker at each stop provided by the hiker’s Unit). You can’t load
them down at the beginning and the hikers be expected carry everything
to the end.
Cut-Off Time at Support (Safety) Stops: There will be cut-off
times beginning at Support (Safety) Stop #02, past which any remaining
hikers will not be allowed to continue. The cut-off times are based on
leaving the Support (Safety) Stop before the average of 2.5 mph
deadline to reach each location. NO EXCEPTIONS, individual hiker safety
is paramount. For example, at Support (Safety) Stop #02 the cutoff time
would be approximately 8:00 p.m. to be leaving the stop. If leaving
later than that time the hiker/hikers would not be permitted to
continue. They would be picked up by their leaders/ or Unit designees
and taken home or to the end of the hike, depending on time/distance
involved.
Finishing Times: A hiker must average 2.5 mph to complete the
race in 20 hours. This requires a minimal stop at the Support (Safety)
Stops. Lingering at a Support (Safety) Stop increases the pace one must
then use to maintain the 2.5 mph average. As this is the first annual
50/20, statistics will develop following this and each subsequent
event. It is expected most 50/20 finishers will push the 12:00 p.m. end
time.
Hikers: All hikers should have realistic expectations. 50 miles
in 20 hours is very challenging hike for anyone. Any hikers who stop at
or between Support (Safety) Stop locations and cannot continue will
need to be picked up by their Unit Leadership or their designees. When
hikers are picked up this requires that proper numbers between youth
and adults to be maintained at all times (At least one adult with two
youth or two adults with one youth). No one is allowed to “jog/run” all
the course, participants are “hikers” not “joggers/runners.” This is
not an Ultimate Marathon etc.
Buddy System in Effect Throughout the Hike: All hikers must hike
as buddy pairs (2) or triplets (3). These buddy groups must stay
together at all times while hiking. A hiker that cannot continue CANNOT
BE LEFT between Support (Safety) Stops by any buddy group. If not at a
Support (Safety) Stop, the discontinuing hiker must be picked up before
the group can continue. “NO SOLO HIKING.” A hiker left “SOLO” must
“pair/triple” up with another passing buddy pair or if it occurs at a
Support (Safety) Stop the solo individual must buddy up there before
leaving the Support (Safety) Stop.
Support Bags/Kits: Support bags/kits etc. are to be transported
and controlled by each Unit’s/Combined Units’ Support (Safety) Stop
personnel. Hydration devices/systems, emergency or time sensitive
medicines, and cell phones are the exceptions. These items may be
carried by the hikers. Yes putting extra stuff in a hydration pack is
okay, but cannot be mandated by a unit to avoid having a Support
(Safety) Stop.
Hiker Tracking: Units will check in their hikers the afternoon
of the hike, are responsible for picking up any of their hikers that
quit, verifying all their hikers make it through the various Support
(Safety) Stops, verifying that all their hikers are accounted for when
the last one(s) have either quit or have completed the hike, and
ensuring all hikers get to their homes. It is each Unit’s
responsibility to contact the “SAFETY STOP LIAISONS” (Cell number to be
provided later) to confirm the status of all the Unit’s hikers as the
hike progresses.
Cell Phone Lists: All primary staffers will receive a list of
cell phone numbers for all the other primary staffers. All hikers and
support personnel are encouraged to carry a charged cell phone, but
hikers are cautioned to avoid distracted hiking on the route. You are
hiking along roadways and vehicular traffic may be present.Medical Records: Each
Unit is responsible for designating a Medical Liaison who is
responsible for maintaining their medical records. The Medical Liaison
must have physical possession of the records for all the Unit’s hikers
and support personnel, and must be available by phone for as long as
any of the youth or adults are engaged in this event in any capacity.
Organizational Meetings: There are two major meetings – all
participating Units should send at least one adult who is involved in
the Unit’s hike planning (2-people would be better). The first meeting
is at 8:30 p.m. June 3rd, at the CSC (Council Service Center) following
Falls District’s monthly Roundtable. The second meeting is Thursday
July 9th at 8:30 p.m. also at the CSC. The meetings should last from
1-1.5 hours. This last meeting will be to resolve any last minute
issues and finalize any changes or additional information.
Trail Signage: Signage will be set up the morning of the race and
will include surveyor flags, arrow signs, etc. All participants will
also receive a sheet explaining the course. It’s important to become
familiar with the route, don’t depend on a sign or arrow that may have
been removed by someone or blown over by the wind etc. Hike Friday:
Each participating Unit must have a Unit Registrar/Designee on site
before the hike. As the hike begins at 4:00 p.m. final registration
confirmation will begin at 2:00 p.m. and continue to 3:45 p.m. Hikers
need to be present thirty minutes before the event (3:30 p.m.). Once
the hike has commenced, the Hike Coordinator and others, will shift
their location to the event’s ending location, however, they may also
be found checking on hikers and at Support (Safety) Stops throughout
the race, so Leadership must have cell phones if they wish to
communicate.
Support Stop Shutdown: It is the responsibility of each Unit to
ensure their Support (Safety) Stops give notification that the Support
(Safety) Stop has shut down. This “Shut Down” indicates all the Units’
hikers have passed that specific point or dropped out. This
notification is to be phoned into the “Support Stop Liaisons.” Cell
numbers will be provided at a later date.
Awards: All hikers will receive a 50/20 Certificate of
Recognition and those hikers that complete the hike in the allotted
time will also receive a 50/20 patch. It’s expected all awards will be
handed out at the end of the event (just past 1200 p.m. on July 10th,
not necessarily at the end of the time you complete the event.
|
Camping 
