A Note From Miss New Hampshire


After weeks of planning, Eileen and I will be heading into the White Mountain National Forest for an Adventurous Journey this weekend to fulfill the final requirement of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.  We will be camping, hiking, climbing, building bridges and working on trail repair in the beautiful woods of Northern New Hampshire.  The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award — Young American’s Challenge was first established in 1956 in the United Kingdom and was introduced to the Miss America Program in January 2009.

I am honored to help bring this program to New Hampshire in 2012 and look forward to an annual tradition of team building, exploring the natural world, and completing a demanding journey while learning preparation, self-sufficiency and self-reliance.

Make your life an Adventurous Journey!

Love, Megan
Miss New Hampshire 2012

“There is pleasure in the pathless woods." - Lord Byron


Fun Videos

http://youtu.be/lG9qld-bLkU

http://youtu.be/nFADDi2HVG0

http://youtu.be/rSdSOoCf248

Thank you to the Kelley Family

A huge THANK YOU to the Kelley Family for hosting our Adventurous Journey.  Kathleen and Eileen are working hard to organize and prepare for our arrival on Saturday, October 27, 2012.

Confirmed participants:
Megan Lyman, Miss New Hampshire 2012
Eileen Kelley, Miss New Hampshire's Outstanding Teen 2012
Jillian Granucci, Miss Monadnock Region 2013
Skylar Wood, Miss Strafford County 2013/Miss Littleton 2012
Caroline Carter, Miss Strafford County's Outstanding Teen 2013
Emily Curtis, Miss Greater Derry's Outstanding Teen 2013
Mallory Columbe, Miss Berlin-Gorham 2013
Autumn Brown, Miss Berlin-Gorham's Outstanding Teen 2013

Kathleen Kelley, Host/Advisor
Pattie Lamontagne, Chaperone

Everyone is invited!

This Adventurous Journey is open to EVERYONE!  If you'd like to participate, please email Sarahjayne_Howland@hotmail.com by Wednesday, October 24 so we can bring enough food for everyone.

Important note about safety during Hunting Season

http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/hiking/hiking-hunting-season.cfm

Updated Packing List

Backpack Packing List: 
  • Sleeping Bag/Pillow that is rated to 30 degrees
  • Towel
  • Seasonal Clothing.  Bring warm polar fleece clothes and think "layers" - jeans are not a good idea, they absorb dampness and can get cold and heavy when wet.  
  • Woolen or polar fleece cap and gloves
  • Water proof jacket
  • Two pairs of socks and shoes in case one gets wet (wool or smart wool socks)
  • Work gloves (for trail work)   
  • Journal (we will Journal each day) 
  • Two refillable water bottles
  • High energy food like trail mixes, power bars, fruit, dried fruit and nuts
  • Waterproof matches and a fire starter 
  • A compass, flashlight (check batteries ), whistle (in case you get lost), first aid kit  
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm 
  • Bandana
  • Duct Tape
  • Pruning Clippers (if you have something that will cut a "green 1 inch in diameter branch")
  • Camera
  • Prepare to lead a short team building exercise (each member of the group will take turns leading) 
  • An item of blaze-orange clothing (visible from all directions).  For instance, an orange cap or an orange jacket encircle the wearer in color. Inexpensive, orange, vinyl vests are easy to come by in outdoors shops or department stores.

Important note from Kathleen Kelley


Twelve Essentials for a Safe and Pleasant Hike
By Rob Burbank and Kathleen Kelley

If your goal is to be safe and comfortable in the outdoors, it can be tough to come up with a short list of essentials. What follows is not a comprehensive hikers' checklist, but if you want to pack light, pack smart, and be prepared, here are 10 things you can bring, or things you can do, to help ensure a safe and pleasant day hike.

  1. Eat a good breakfast. It's true: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A morning meal that includes hot cereal, like oatmeal or Cream of Wheat, will provide carbohydrates for energy on the trail. Keep your energy level up throughout the day by sipping water and nibbling on fruits, dried fruits and nuts.
  2. Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to return. Let family or friends know your hiking plans. If you're overdue, rescuers will know where to look for you. Posting your itinerary on your car in the trailhead parking lot can be an invitation to thieves, and isn't advised. (Learn what information should be in the complete itineraryyou leave with family or friends.)  On Sunday, we will hike to the top of "dome rock" - a great view and a great experience in the woods.
  3. Get a weather report. Weather is always the wild card in the mountains. When you hit the trail, wear or bring clothing that'll keep you warm and dry, even if the skies are clear. Be willing to turn back if the weather becomes threatening. Stay inside and take up knitting if the weather is dangerous. The mountains will still be there tomorrow.  Average high is 51 for October 27th weekend and the average low is 31.
  4. Bring a compass, a map, and a guidebook. I've said it before: A compass is an invaluable navigational tool, but a lousy talisman. It brings you no luck if it sits in your pocket (which is where it's likely to stay if you don't know how to use it). Consider taking a map-and-compass course (walk-on skill workshops are available as part of our Outdoor Explorations program.)  We have all three, and Eileen can explain how to use them.  
  5. Bring a light source. Flashlights or headlamps are essential gear, even if you don't plan on being out after dark. Pop an ankle or wander off trail and, suddenly, your quick hike can take a lot more time. Toss in a back-up flashlight and an extra set of fresh batteries to be truly prepared.  We have a few at the Kelley house, but it might be best if everyone brings one.
  6. Bring a first aid kit. Simple stuff does the trick. Adhesive bandages, adhesive tape, gauze, a small squeeze bottle to irrigate wounds, antibiotic ointment, and pain relievers are the basics. Also, a bandanna works as a cravat bandage or a sling.  Everyone should bring a bandana.
  7. Bring plenty of water. Nobody drinks enough water. And, you need lots when you're exercising. Two quarts per person per day is recommended. Your body functions better when you're well-hydrated, and you feel better, too. Two quarts a day keeps dehydration away.  We have great water, so just bring refillable water bottles.
  8. Carry out what you carry in. It's hard to believe this was a new concept as recently as 1970. Luckily, it's here to stay. There's no trash pick-up in the backcountry, so footprints are all you should leave behind. (AMC is a Leave No Trace Master Educator).
  9. Don't forget the duct tape. Public TV's Red Green calls it the handyman's secret weapon. In the backcountry, duct tape is a repair kit on a roll. Wind a few feet around your water bottle and it'll always be close at hand. A hole in your canoe or a tear in your tent are no fun, but a bit of duct tape can save the day. If you can't fix it with duct tape, it probably wasn't broken to begin with. We have duct tape.
  10. Trail work will consist of cleaning up about one mile of trails that are used for cross country skiing.  The Kelley's have some "pruning clippers" but if you have something that will cut a "green 1 inch in diameter branch", then bring it.  Also bring work gloves.  We will be picking up damp logs and moving them off the trail.
  11. Seasonal Clothing.  Bring warm polar fleece clothes and think "layers". Jeans are not a good idea, they absorb dampness and can get cold and heavy when wet.  Bring a woolen or polar fleece cap and gloves.  It might be as warm as 70 by noon, but will drop to 31 at night.  Bring a water proof jacket.  Bring two pairs of socks and shoes in case one gets wet.  Bring wool or smart wool socks.  Bring a sleeping bag and pillow that is "rated to 30 degrees."  Again we have a couple.  Bring a hammock if you have one.  We have a few places in the barn to hang them.  Bring a towel for clean up afterward. 
  12. Stop and smell the flowers. The summit view you're aiming for is just one part of the hike. The journey to get there holds just as many rewards if we slow down and enjoy them. And, if you have room in your pack, don't forget your camera.

White Mountain National Forest Adventurous Journey


Goals: 

  •  6 hours of purposeful activity per day 
  •  Exploring the natural world 
  •  Completing a demanding journey 
  •  Learning preparation, self-sufficiency and self-reliance 

10/27 Saturday Activities: 
4:00pm Medallion Opera House, Gorham Town Hall:  20 Park Street, Gorham NH 03581 
7:00pm Move-In to the White Mountain National Forest:  98 Randolph Hill Rd, Randolph, NH 03593 
  •  Campfire Build/Dinner 
  •  Team Building Exercises - led by Megan Lyman, Miss New Hampshire 
  •  Outdoor Survival Skills 
  •  Night Sky/Constellation 
12:00am Fire Dark/Sleep 
10/28 Sunday Activities: 
7:00am Rise 
7:30am Breakfast/Pack/Clean Camp 
8:30am White Mountain Hike - led by Eileen Kelley, Miss New Hampshire’s Outstanding Teen 
  • Bridge Building
  • Lunch
  • Trail Repair
4:00pm  Retreat 
4:30pm  Return to Base/Departure 

Preparation/Pre-Reading 

Ready for an Adventure?

We are heading off on our first Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey in the White Mountains of New Hampshire this weekend.  To learn more about this wonderful program, please visit: http://www.usaward.org
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