Weather update- Be Prepared! It will get down to the low to mid30s tonight, Friday. Bring a knit cap and gloves. Bring enough layers to stay warm but able to remove them into your pack as the temperature rises on Saturday and Sunday.As the old saying goes, “There is no bad weather, just bad preparation.”We will meet at Trailside Middle School at 5:30pm on Friday night to drive to the Great North Mountain Trail. We will take a 2-mile night hike to our first campsite climbing 700 feet (HARD).  Be sure to eat dinner before we leave on Friday.  Then, on Saturday we get up early to hike to a lookout point and watch the sunrise on the top of Little Schloss.  The Saturday hike will be 7 miles to our second campsite.  Finally, on Sunday we will hike to the summit of Big Schloss before returning to the cars. (10-mile round trip).  This campout is STRENOUS, so make sure you have the right gear.  We will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for Saturday and breakfast and lunch for Sunday during the campout, but scouts must carry the food we provide.  Additionally, we will be utilizing the troop’s water filtration equipment and JetBoils.  THERE IS AN OPTION “B” DEPARTING ON SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE YOUNGER, LESS EXPERIENCED SCOUTS.  THEY WILL MEET UP WITH THE PATROL DEPARTING ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND BACKPACK TO THE TOP OF BIG SCHLOSS ON SUNDAYTOGETHER.  PLEASE INDICATE YOUR REFERENCE IN THE RSVP SECTION.  In the RSVP Please indicate your backpacking menu preference – Creamy Mac N’ Cheese (Veg) or Chili Mac W/BeefPacking List BackpackSleeping pad/bag/pillow – Pack based on the weather!!!Tent (small and lightweight and ideally share weight carrying with you tent buddy)Headlight Rain gear (an emergency poncho ($1.99/Walmart) is great and can cover you and your backpack) Water Bottles (Need 1-2Lts for Friday night/Saturday AM needs then filtering in the backcountry as needed)Hiking boots/clothes and an extra pair of socks – Pack based on the weather!!!Toiletries/Toilet paper (2 ft section rolled up)Bug spray/sunscreenGroup gear that will be provided – JetBoil for cooking, water filtration equipment & first aid kitPlastic Spork (for eating oatmeal & dinner pouch) Other 10 essentials – compass, pocket knife, rope, fire starter & hand sanitizer, ONLY BRING WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO CARRY OVER A 19 MILE TREK!!!