Mt. Baldy 60th Anniversary Memorial Hike
On November 15th, 1958 a tragedy unfolded in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson when six Boy Scouts embarked on a hike with the goal of reaching the summit of Mt. Wrightson, known at the time as “Old Baldy”. Only three of the boys survived the night when an unexpected and unprecedented snow storm overtook the area, dropping seven feet of snow in the mountains and a blanket of snow in Tucson.
A hike will be held on November 17th, 2018 to mark the 60th anniversary of these events.
All Boy Scout units are invited to hike the same trails used by the boys to honor their memory. We will be joined Ralph Coltrin, one of the boys who survived that night and now a man in his 70’s, to hear the story as told by him. Representatives from the Southern Arizona Rescue Association, founded as a result of the tragedy, and Pima County Sheriff Department Search and Rescue will be present.
The are four levels of participation to choose from:
1. The Send Off and group photo. Meet the group at the Old Baldy Trail Head in Madera Canyon to wish the group safe travels and see them off. The trail head is located at the extreme end of the road into Madera Canyon and is approximately a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Tucson. The group photo will be taken at 7:45 am sharp. Please plan your drive time appropriately to arrive no later than 7:30 am at the trail head. Class A uniform shirts are required of Scouts and Leaders for the photo. The hike will commence promptly at 8:00 am. 2. Josephine Saddle. Hike to the Josephine Saddle to view the Memorial that has been erected there and hear Taps played in the distance from the location where the boys were found. The hike to the Josephine Saddle is a five mile round trip hike with a 1640’ elevation gain from the trail head at 5440’ in elevation and is rated on All Trails as “Moderate”. A good strong pace should have the group arriving at the Josephine Saddle at 9:30 am. 3. Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony. Only four scouts will be allowed to complete this segment due to the dangerous terrain in this area, the risk of injury on the steep slope, the sensitive environment, and out of respect for the location. Each Troop may nominate one Scout to lay a wreath or act as buegeler by submitting the Nomination Form. Four scouts will be selected from all those nominated. Three of the selected scouts will lay wreaths at each of the crosses that mark the location where the departed boys were discovered over two weeks after the storm and following the largest man hunt in Arizona history. Taps will be played by a selected Scout from the slope above as the wreaths are laid. This ceremony should take place at 10:00 am. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Scouts will rejoin their Troop and continue their hike. 4. Hike to the Summit of Mount Wrightson. This segment should only be attempted by those who have trained and are prepared for an all day excursion of nearly a 4000’ elevation gain and a 10 mile round trip to reach the summit at an elevation of 9456 feet. This hike is rated on All Trails as “Difficult”. Troops should bring their troop flag to be unfurled at the summit where Taps will be played again in honor of the Scouts who lost their lives. Troops may elect to continue to the summit without stopping at the Josephine Saddle for the playing of Taps at that location. All groups participating in this segment should attempt to make the summit by 12:00 noon. A group photo will be taken at the summit at 1:00 pm. Guidelines:
Each Troop and Pack will be required to have at least two properly trained and registered adult leaders present with their Scouts at all times and must be in compliance with all Youth Protection policies.
Non-Scout family members are welcome, but all non-Scout youth must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who will be fully responsible for their youth during the hike.
Each individual Troop’s and Pack’s leadership will be responsible for their own Scouts during the entire hike, must be aware and confident of the abilities of the participating Scouts, and bring their Scout’s BSA Health Forms.
Every participant must have the ten essentials (listed in the BSA Handbook) with them at all times.
Class A uniform shirts are required for the photos and ceremonies, but may be removed and carried in packs during hiking for comfort.
To faciliate emergency or critical comunication on the trail, it is encouraged for walkie talkies to be brought by leaders and set to channel 3.
Please contact with all your questions.
Please contact me via email to register. Include the number of Adult Leaders and Youth from your Troop or Pack plan to participate. Also include the name and mobile number of all Adult Leaders so I may create a group text to facilitate communication on the day of the Hike.
The Special Addition Catalina Council Patch shown above is available for purchase for $10 at the Scout Shop.
Getting To The Old Baldy Trail Head:
The Old Baldy Trail Head is located in Madera Canyon. This is approximately a 1 hour and 15 minute drive south of Tucson. Head south on I-19 from I-10 to Exit 63 at Continental Road, then drive east 1.2 miles to Whitehouse Canyon Road and follow for 7.3 miles, then turn south on Madera Canyon Road and follow 4.8 miles to the parking area at the very end. Carpooling is strongly encouraged as parking is limited and drivers must bring $5 in cash for the self-pay parking permit. It is also encouraged to have participants dropped at the trail head by a driver who does not need to park or leave a vehicle throughout the day to ease the load on the parking lot of just 50 spaces.
Driver advisory: this is the same date as the El Tour De Tucson race attended by 10,000 cyclists. This may impact traffic and drive times on the morning of the hike. It is advised to avoid the race route on your drive.
Training Hikes:
I recommend that all groups train for their hike.
Everyone is invited to join me for training hikes every Sunday morning starting September 30th at 7:00 am departing from the parking area at top of Alvernon Way (north of Skyline Drive) and the Finger Rock Trail.
September 30, October 7, 14, and 21: I will be making the hike on the Pontatoc Ridge Tail to the cave and horizontal mine shaft at the top of the trail. This is about a five mile round trip and 1600 foot elevation gain which is very comparable to the Josephine Saddle hike.
October 28, November 4 and 11: I will be taking the Finger Rock Trail for more miles and more elevation gain to prepare for my hike to the Summit of Mt. Wrightson.
Please let me know if any of your group would like to join me. Two deep leadership will be required for each group who attends the training hikes.
Tim Harris Eagle Scout, Troop 100, 1985 Assistant Scout Master, Troop 007 BSA Catalina Council Board of Directors [email protected] 520 977-0554
The Lost Boys of Old Baldy
By Tim Harris
On a grand adventure, six boys were bound.
More than two weeks later: three deceased were found.
Their departure from base camp was too late.
The oncoming storm would seal their fate.
A wrong turn made at the Josephine Saddle
Was to determine this as a losing battle.
The snow would fall, first in inches then feet.
A tragic end these boys would meet.
Before they felt the grip of cold and fear
Their adventure was filled with joy and cheer.
The echoes of the group’s gleeful play
Can sometimes be heard to this very day.
Three of the boy’s adventure was never done
So in our hearts they stay forever young.
Mount Baldy Memorial Honor Guard Nomination
Name of Scout:______
Rank of Scout: ______Age of Scout: ______Years in Scouting: ______
Troop or Pack Number: ______Name of your Scoutmaster: ______
Email and phone number of your Scoutmaster: ______
List all leadership positions you have held in your Troop: ______
______
Indicate the number of Eagle Scout Projects for which you have provided assistance: ______
What books or articles have you read that describe the events of November 15, 1958?
______
Have you achieved The Arrow of Light: Yes No
Are you a member of the Order of the Arrow: Yes No
Have you earned the First Aid Merit Badge: Yes No
Have you earned the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge: Yes No
Have you earned the Search and Rescue Merit Badge: Yes No
Scout: Please attach a two or more paragraphs describing why you would like to be a part of the Wreath Laying Ceremony, and why you feel you should be selected.
Scoutmaster: Please provide a few sentences describing the nominated Scout and why you feel he would be an appropriate selection to participate in the Wreath Laying Ceremony.
Please submit completed Nomination Form and attachements to me no later than November 1, 2018.
Email completed form and attachments to: Tim Harris at [email protected] Call with questions: 520 977-0554