October 9th - 12th, 2020

Massawepie October OdysseyProgram Guide

Massawepie October Odyssey

Introduction

The Adirondack Park is a 6 million acre national treasure, with many natural and

historic wonders to explore. At the Massawepie October Odyssey, take on the

challenge to experience as much as possible in a Park-wide scavenger hunt! Using

Massawepie’s Camp Pioneer as a base, Scouts have the opportunity to complete over

one hundred of activities and challenges spread throughout Camp Mountaineer and

Pioneer, the Massawepie property, and the Adirondack Park. Each Troop will be

challenged to go above and beyond to create their own ultimate Adirondack

experience and take home the title of champions!

Contacts/LinksTo register:

https://scoutingevent.com/397-moc1020

For help with registration:Seneca Waterways Camping Department (585) 241-8545 camping@senecawaterways.org

For program/facilities questions:Ben Geiger, Massawepie Property Superintendent (518) 359-3900 ben.geiger@scouting.org

Massawepie Scout Camps on Facebook

Massawepie Outdoor Challenges on Facebook

Want more Massawepie? Check out the Massawepie Arctic Challenge (Martin Luther King Weekend) or Summer camp at Camp Pioneer in 2021

Massawepie October Odyssey

General Information

General Schedule

Friday Evening Check-in (Maintenance Shop), Campsite Setup

Saturday Morning, Afternoon

Troops complete in-camp and out-of-camp challenges

Saturday, 5:30-7pm Dinner Pickup (Gannett Lodge)

Sunday, 8:30-10am Breakfast Pickup (Gannett Lodge)

Sunday Morning, Afternoon

Troops complete in-camp and out-of-camp challenges

Sunday, 5-5:30pm Troop point total turn-in due to Staff (Gannett Lodge)

Sunday Evening Trail Days Campfire, including Award Presentations (Campfire Circle)

Monday Check-out, departure

NotesTroops will be responsible for all their own meals except for Saturday & Sunday

Dinner.

Specific schedule of staffed in-camp challenges will be available at the event

In case of emergency…

Call the Massawepie Ranger at (518) 359-3900Alternate contact: (518) 359-2828

Staff is available at the Gannett Lodge all day, and at the Massawepie Health

Lodge overnight

Massawepie October Odyssey

Camping InformationCampsites in Camp Pioneer will be assigned prior to the event at the discretion of the

Property Superintendent. Troops should bring their own tents. If planning to camp off of the Massawepie property, please note the maximum group sizes listed in the

hiking information.

Packing List ❏ Sleeping bag.❏ Change of clothes.❏ Long Underwear.❏ Rain gear.❏ Towel.❏ Mess kit & utensils/in addition to troop cooking equipment.❏ Water bottle (full.)❏ Pocketknife.❏ Flashlight(s.)❏ Necessary toiletries.❏ Tarp❏ Tent

**List may be subject to change up until the day of the event**

Massawepie October Odyssey Out of Camp Challenges

The following are challenges to be completed out of camp. Do as many or little as you’d like! Please be sure to record when your troop has completed each taskand take lots of

photos! Upload to the Massawepie Facebook page with the #MSCOO. Be safe, have fun, and bring back your stories! Final points will be tallied at 5:00 on Sunday.

❏ Visit the Wild Center in Tupper Lake [Outdoor Exhibits Open!]. (10 pts)❏ Visit a lake that a Pioneer campsite is named after. (3 pts awarded for each)❏ Climb one of the 46 High Peaks. (Points awarded for each peak)(25 pts)❏ Reach the highest point in the state. (25pts)❏ Eat at or get take-out from a local restaurant. (5 pts)❏ Camp outside of Massawepie. (10 pts)❏ Complete the Tupper Triad. (20 pts)❏ Complete any 3 of the Saranac 6 mountains. (30 pts)❏ Take a group photo in front of a dam. (5 pts)❏ Visit the Olympic Museum. (10 pts)❏ Collect a cup of water from the Raquette River. (5 pts)❏ Collect a handful of sand from the Long Lake Beach. (5 pts)❏ Visit the ghost town of Tahawus. (15 pts)❏ Take a group photo in front of another scout camp’s sign. (15 pts)❏ Take a group photo in front of the sign of a college campus in the park. (5 pts)❏ Visit one of the historic Adirondack Great Camps (take a picture). (10 pts)❏ See a waterfall. (5 pts)❏ Buy an ADK bumper sticker. (2 pts)❏ See the Hudson River. (5 pts)❏ See the source of the Hudson River. (25 points)❏ Visit 5 Adirondack town halls. (5 pts)❏ Visit an historic train station. (5 pts)❏ Play a round of miniature golf. (5 pts)❏ Sign in and out at a NYS DEC trail register. (2 pts)❏ Find 2 fire towers. (20 points)❏ Light and cook on a lightweight stove. (5 pts)❏ Treat and purify a reliable water source. (5 pts)

**List may be subject to change up until the day of the event**

Massawepie October Odyssey Out of Camp Challenge

B Be sure to upload to the Massawepie Facebook page with the #MOCOO.

❏ Visit the Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage in Saranac Lake. (5 pts)❏ Find a hiking cairn. (5 pts) ❏ See Avalanche lake. (5 pts)❏ Get an ice cream cone. (3 pts)❏ Sleep in a lean-to. (10 pts)❏ Hike at least 5 miles of the Cranberry 50. (15pts)❏ Find the monument to David Henderson along the Calamity trail in the high peaks. (5 pts)❏ Find the where Teddy Roosevelt stopped on his way to take the oath of office. (3 pts)❏ Find the torch from the 1980 olympics. (3pts)❏ Hike to the Great Camp Santanoni. (20 pts)❏ Find our state’s gemstone at Garnet Mines. (8 pts)❏ Get a business card from an ADK business that’s not a restaurant. (2 pts) ❏ Visit the ADK room at the Goff-Nelson Library in Tupper Lake. (8 pts)❏ Take a photo in front of a ski resort sign. (5 pts)❏ Find an ADK Easement that’s not located at Massawepie. (4 pts)❏ Find the grave of ADK hermit Noah John Rondeau in North Elba. (8 pts)❏ Find Addison Child’s cabin located on Bancroft Rd in Childwold. (3 pts)❏ Bring a pamphlet back from the Adirondack Observatory. (3 pts)❏ Get a milk card from a Stewart's gas station. ( 2 pts)❏ See all three Saranac lakes. (8 pts)❏ Visit the Adirodak Loj. (5 pts)❏ Go to High Falls Gorge. (15 pts)❏ Use a thunder box or latrine on the trail. (2pts) [DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH!]❏ Climb Ampersand Mountain. (15 pts)❏ Visit Ampersand Beach. (8 pts)❏ Find John Brown’s statue. (5 pts)

**List may be subject to change up until the day of the event**

Massawepie October OdysseyIn-Camp Challenges

❏ See + take a picture in front of tree of girth. (10 pts)❏ Stay at a Massawepie outpost site. (20 pts)❏ Catch a fish on property. Please review NYS Fishing Regulations, including special

Massawepie Easement regulations (10 pts - 10 bonus pts for the biggest fish all weekend)❏ See all 9 named ponds/Lakes at Massawepie. (25 pts)❏ Find the geological benchmark at Highview. (10 pts)❏ Visit all four camps (Points awarded for each camp). (20 pts)❏ Find two climbing/rappelling towers (Pioneer not included). (10 pts)❏ Find the old chapel on Catamount Pond (5 pts)❏ Find all three lean-tos on property. (10 pts)❏ Find out an interesting fact about Massawepie nature from a staff member ( 5 pts)❏ See at least one beaver dam. (5 pts)❏ Find the inlet of Massawepie Lake. (2 pts)❏ Find the lake’s outlet. (5 pts)❏ Find and hike along the Carriage Road. (5 pts)❏ Log seven miles on Massawepie trails. (20 pts)❏ Hike the Massawepie esker. (5 pts)❏ Set up a bear bag. (5 pts)❏ Find & identify at least 10 different types of plants. (Record where and what they were). (5

pts)❏ Find the foundation or remains of a building from the Hotel Childwold. (5 pts)❏ See the campfire circle of each camp. (Forester, Mountaineer, Voyageur, Pioneer). (15 pts)❏ Grab an endangered species pamphlet from the Welcome Center (2 pts)❏ Take a picture of the camp’s mailbox (10 pts) ❏ Walk the deck of the bog. (5 pts)❏ Find the pitcher plants at the bog (5 pts)❏ Eat a meal at an outpost. (5 pts)❏ Find the remnants of the log cabin at Blueberry Marsh. (5pts)❏ Find your troop’s plaque at Mountaineer. (5 pts)❏ Hike a canoe carry in its entirety (Blue marked trails). (5 pts)❏ Find a person who was a camper or staff member at Massawepie in each decade since its

founding: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, 10’s, and 20’s (this upcoming summer) (1 pt per decade)

❏ Find an outpost on each lake and pond on the property (except Round - 8 in total) (20 pts).

Complete any of the following challenges. Complete any of the following challenges. Points will be awarded for each that you complete as a troop. Please be sure to record when you

completed each task. Also be sure to take photos! Upload to the Massawepie Facebook page with the #MSCOO. Be safe, have fun, and bring back your stories!

**List may be subject to change up until the day of the event**

Massawepie October OdysseyIn-Camp Challenges

❏ See a loon at camp. (5 pts)❏ Find a section of camp that has been logged. (5 pts)❏ Hike to a pond that is unnamed on the property map. (8 pts)

❏ Come up with an interesting name for it (10 bonus points to the best name)❏ Talk to the Massawepie Program Director about joining the summer camp staff (5 pts)❏ See the floating bogs at Long Pond. (5 pts)❏ Collect a doodle from a summer camp staff member. (5 pts)❏ Collect 20 pieces of litter from around camp. (1 pt per piece of litter)❏ A stick longer than the shortest member of your team is tall. (3 pts). ❏ A note signed by an Eagle Scout who is not a member of your troop. (4 pts) ❏ Have Ben Geiger, the camp ranger write down a fun fact about Massawepie. (2 pts)❏ Hike to Pontiac Point. (5 pts)❏ Take a picture of an easement sign (1 pt)❏ Find the dust bowl. (2 pts)❏ Find Dead Creek (Can be accessed from Carriage rd). (8 pts)❏ Make a hand drawn map of the Massawepie Property. (2 pts; 5 bonus pts to best map)❏ Find someone who was a staff member at Camp Mountaineer (10 pts)❏ Find two people who were CITs at Massawpie (3 pts)❏ Record an interesting fact about Massawepie history from a staff member (5 pts)❏ Get a straw from the kitchen crew. (1 pt)❏ Get a nail from the Massawepie shop or a ranger (2 pts)❏ Bring a bottle of water from Lost pond. (2 pts) ❏ Take a picture of every outpost site you visit. (3 pts for each)❏ Gather wood for the campfire and bring to the Pioneer campfire circle. (5 pts)❏ Attend the Odyssey campfire (5 pts)❏ Perform a song or skit at the Odyssey’s campfire. ( 15 pts)

**List may be subject to change up until the day of the event**

**The following are manned events, times and locations will be announced upon arrival**❏ Show your first aid skills! Find Sean at the Health lodge to practice several scenarios. (10 pts) ❏ How fast can you climb? Stop by climbing wall to see how long it’ll take you? (15pts)❏ Want to know more about Massawepie? Stop by the MSC museum! (10 pts)❏ Compete in the Massawepie Lumberjack Games (15 pts)❏ Play on the Pioneer Frisbee Golf Course (10 pts; 10 bonus pts to the best score)❏ Canoe carry rally! (15 pts)❏ Visit the Outdoor Challenges Trading Post (10 points)❏ Learn different types of water treatment and treat water. (8 pts)❏ Complete a service project at Massawepie approved and directed by camp ranger. (15 pts -1

hour/25 pts-2 hours/ 35 pts-3 hours)❏ Test your map skills! Play a compass/orienteering game. (8 pts)❏ Find out what Mountaineer was like as a scout! Get a tour of Camp Mountaineer. (8 pts)❏ Compete in the Team Shoot at the Pioneer Shotgun Range (15 points - 10 bonus points to winner)

The Adirondacks feature some of the most scenic hikes in the country. With six million acres of land, there are many peaks to choose from. Which will you conquer?

The High PeaksThe 46 Adirondack High Peaks are the gold standard of Adirondack hikes and conquering them is the goal of many Adirondack hikers. This makes them by far the most popular mountains in the park. Especially on holiday weekends like Columbus Day, the High Peaks are mobbed. Troops are encouraged to look into other hiking opportunities. If planning on hiking in the High Peaks, plan to arrive early to beat the rush, and check out the links below:https://www.adirondack.net/hiking/high-peaks/https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9198.html

Hikes Outside of the High PeaksThe Eastern High Peaks Wilderness, Giant Mountain and the Dix Mountains are the most heavily used backcountry area in the Adirondack Forest Preserve. There is significant congestion and few opportunities for solitude. Trailhead parking lots and interior campsites reach capacity on many weekends throughout the hiking season.The large number of visitors has resulted in trail erosion and damage to vegetation in heavily used areas. Many nearby areas continue to see relatively light use, less trail damage and improved opportunities for solitude. The following hikes offer excellent opportunities for hikers preferring to seek alternatives to many of the high use trails. They provide a hiking experience similar to a High Peaks hike, including great scenic views, but with fewer people:

More info on these hikes: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9163.html https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/114858.html

Longer Hikes❏ Owl Head Lookout❏ Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain❏ Catamount Mountain❏ Cat Mountain (Wanakena)

Massawepie October OdysseyHiking Information

Massawepie Peak WeekendsHiking Information

The Tupper TriadIn 2015, a new hiking challenge called the Tupper Lake Triad was launched in the Tupper Lake Region of the Adirondacks. The three family-friendly mountains boast outstanding views of the surrounding mountains and lakes from their summits, which are reached via well-maintained and well-marked state Department of Environmental Conservation trails. After successfully hiking all three peaks, register on the official Triad Roster and receive a patch -- and bragging rights, of course. The Tupper Triad consists of Mount Arab, Coney Mountain, and Goodman Mountain.More info: https://www.tupperlake.com/recreation/tupper-lake-triad

The Saranac 6erThe 6ers are a great introduction to hiking in the Adirondacks. Along the way you’ll find rewards aplenty: Gently rolling terrain, bird-filled wetlands, towering pine forests, and steep, challenging ascents that lead to outstanding views of mountains and water.

Not all 6ers are created equal, which can make it difficult to know where to begin. Start by downloading the Saranac Lake 6er map, then try Mount Baker or St. Regis Mountain — they’re the easiest of the bunch and particularly good for people hiking with kids. Work your way up to the more difficult climbs, where higher elevations reward hikers with more expansive views. Once you’ve completed all six, you’ve earned bragging rights — and a 6er patch! The 6er consists of Baker, St.Regis, Scarface, Ampersand, Haystack, and McKenzie.

More info: https://www.saranaclake.com/activities/outdoor/saranac-lake-6

Important Note On Group Sizes

Please note maximum group sizes for hiking and camping on state land in the Adirondack Park. There is a maximum hiking group size of 15 people in the High Peaks (including Ampersand Mt. and Mt. Van Hoevenberg) and 20 people elsewhere (including the Tupper Triad and the remainder of the Saranac 6). Any two groups from Massawepie (a split troop or two troops) that total more than these limits must be at least a mile apart. Camping group limits are 8 people in the High Peaks and 9 people if staying elsewhere on state land off the Massawepie Property.