Memorial Day 2014

Is your camping trip derailed by the Government Shutdown? Pico is open! Contact Michael at camping@svmbc.org and we'll take care of you.

September: A Busy Month at Pico

September has been a very busy month at Pico. Here's a summary:

August 30-September 2: Labor Day Weekend Scout Retreat - Over 300 scouts, parents, and leaders enjoyed an amazing weekend at Pico. See previous post for full summary.
September 6-7: OA Vigil Honor Ceremony
September 14: "Beaver Party" (volunteer maintenance) - Finished renovation of recognition center, checked water system, seasonal removal of fish ladder
September 13-15: Dad and Lad - "Partners in Crime" weekend for Cub Scouts and their dads.
September 20-22: Mountain Man Rendezvous - Pico Blanco was transported back to the 1840's. Scouts shot black powder rifles, threw tomahawks, lit fires with flint and steel, and dressed and camped like trappers.

On top of those scheduled Council events, several troops had their own campouts at Pico Blanco this month. You can always arrange to use the Camp here: http://www.camppicoblanco.org/files/Pico_Year_Round_Reservation_Form_2013.pdf
You can also reserve a parking permit and use Pico Blanco as a trailhead here: http://fs10.formsite.com/svmbc/form196/index.html
We want as many Scouts as possible to experience Pico and it is our pleasure to welcome you year round.

"A Scout is Cheerful": Labor Day 2013 a Success!

Over Labor Day weekend, Pico Blanco welcomed over 300 Scouts, leaders, and parents for a celebration of the end of summer. Scouts participated in a wide range of activities including swimming, boating, nature hikes, a star trek, archery, rifle and BB shooting, and handicraft activities. In addition, many Scouts participated in dayhikes to Pioneer Camp, Fish Camp, Little Sur Camp, and Skinner Ridge as well as backpack trips to Fox Camp and Mt. Pico Blanco. The late summer sunset from Mt. Pico Blanco was breathtaking!

Saturday night, the Pico staff put on a campfire program that only Pico staff could do. The program consisted a mix of skits and songs from both staff and campers all tied into a central story line. It was great to see the campfire bowl as full as it was.

From the smiles on everyone's faces, both campers and staff, one had sufficient proof that "A Scout is Cheerful."

Plans are already being made for Memorial Day. We plan to expand our hike offerings, including more backpack trips for Troops and Venture Crews, and offer more activities in the program areas.

We look forward to serving you soon.

Labor Day 2013

Register here: https://fs10.formsite.com/svmbc/form183/secure_index.html

Labor Day Hikes

Pico Blanco will be offering guided hikes for Scouts of all ages and abilities over Labor Day! Click the following link for more information:
http://svmbc.org/svmbc/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/LaborDayHikes.pdf

This is part of the greater Labor Day Family Camp. For more information, visit http://www.camppicoblanco.org.

New PBSR Parking Permit System for Hiking

Do you want to use Pico Blanco Scout Reservation as a trailhead? Pico's trailhead provides access to the Little Sur Trail, Circular Pools, Fish Camp, Fox Camp, The Window, Pico Public, Mt. Pico, Launtz Creek, and other great destinations.

Parking in camp is $8/day per vehicle. Parking at Bottcher's Gap, the closest public parking, is $5/day. By parking at Pico, you save an extra 4 miles of road hiking each way with over 1000' elevation gain on the way out.

You can reserve your permit online at this link:
http://fs10.formsite.com/svmbc/form196/index.html

More Trail Work!

On November 10, a crew of 17 volunteers cleared 58 fallen trees along the trail to Fish Camp. This greatly expands hiking opportunities for Scouts and the general public along the North Fork of the Little Sur River. This trail also provides to more challenging destinations such as the Circular Pools and The Window. Once again, Fish Camp and Jackson Camp can be used as a beginners hike for troops.

Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers!

National Public Lands Day

Last weekend, to celebrate National Public Lands Day, the Ventana Wilderness Alliance conducted a trail work weekend based out of Pico. The 23 person all-volunteer effort cleared the Little Sur Trail up to the Saddle, clearing 87 downed trees, removing brush, and rehabilitating much of the tread. A trip report from the VWA can be found here.

This trail work trip was desperately needed. Over the past few years the trail up to the Saddle has gotten worse and worse, making trips to Pico Public and Mount Pico take hours longer than they used to. The work done last weekend will make the bakcountry more accessible for Scouts and the general public.

We would like to thank the Ventana Wilderness Alliance for their service. You can learn more about this great organization at http://ventanawild.org

Stay tuned for an upcoming trail work party!

Dad and Lad 2012

Cub Scouts- Come on down to Pico with your Dad for a weekend of BB shooting, slingshots, hiking, archery, crafts, and a campfire! This year's theme is The Great Escape and will take place September 21-23.

More information here:
http://mbacbsa.org/Activities/~/media/Councils/Council025/Activities/Dad%20and%20Lad/Dad%20and%20Lad%20flyer%202012.ashx

Pico Blanco Available for your Group!

Did you know that Pico Blanco is available year round for your Scouting and non-Scouting group? You can rent out all or part of camp for a campout or retreat. You can also reserve a parking permit so that you can use Pico Blanco as a trailhead.
More information here: http://mbacbsa.org/Camping/2013%20Summer%20Camps/Year%20Round%20Camping%20Reservation%20Form%20and%20Parking%20Permit

Labor Day Weekend 2012

This year's Labor Day Weekend Scouter Retreat was one of the busiest on record. This year the Pico Staff served over 180 campers and offered an expanded program including waterfront, shooting sports, slingshots,        handicraft, nature, and scoutcraft demonstrations. The campfire program was filled with great skits and songs  from troops, packs, venture crews, and the staff.

This year, our program expanded beyond the camp into the Ventana Wilderness where Scouts of all ages took part in a wide range of hikes. A group of Cub Scouts went downstream from camp to Little Sur River Camp and enjoyed walking in the river. Several older Scouts went with some staff upstream to Jackson Camp to see an albino redwood and some other Scouts did a challenging hike to visit Al Clark's Lost Silver King Mine and then to Pico Public to take a refreshing swim in the waterfall fed pool

Several units decided to go backpacking over the weekend, using Pico as a base camp. A troop from Monterey spent the night at Fox Camp and took a side trip to the Circular Pools. A patrol from the Los Padres Council hiked to Jackson Camp and spent the night. Two Venture crews elected to do some more challenging treks. One crew hiked to Pico Public and then went up Mount Pico for the night, enjoying stunning views of the sunset over the Pacific. A crew from the Los Padres Council attempted Ventana Double Cone, a 4,852 ft peak above camp with views of the entire Ventana Wilderness, Monterey Bay, and  the Big Sur Coast, spending two nights at Pat Spring Camp.

Scouting was alive and well at Pico Blanco that weekend!

A Scoutmaster reviews packing techniques with his troop before heading out on a backpack trip

A staffer is excited to be at Jackson Camp

And excited to find an albino redwood along the Little Sur River

Crossing the Little Sur River

Hiking to Pico Public

Searching for Al Clark's Silver Mine

The Blue Hole at Pico Pubilc

Swimmers and Boaters Enjoying the Waterfront

Canoeing at the Waterfront

The Nature Director imparts wisdom upon some Scouts

Driving out Palo Colorado Canyon after a fun weekend

Labor Day 2012

Want to end summer the right way? Spend Labor Day weekend at Pico Blanco at the Labor Day Scouter Retreat. Come and enjoy the waterfront, shooting ranges, hikes, handicraft crafts, nature demonstrations, and outdoor skills and, of course, the final campfire of the summer. Come with your family or your unit and camp under the redwoods.

Register here: http://mbacbsa.org/Camping/Memorial%20and%20Labor%20Day%20Family%20Camp

Mom and Me 2012

Hey Cub Scouts! Do you miss camping? Do you want shoot BB guns, perform your favorite skit, and drink bug juice?

...then tell your Mom to sign you up for Mom and Me! This year's theme is "Oh the Places You'll Go". The event is May 18-20.

The event costs $15 on or before April 19, 2012 and $25 after April 19, 2012. A meal plan is available for $20.

REGISTER TODAY!

Camporee 2012

The Esselen Lodge is hosting the Council Camporee at Pico Blanco May 4-6.

Does your troop have an award winning dutch oven recipe?

Do you want to show off your troop's mastery of Scout skills?

Do you have a great skit for the first Pico Campfire of 2012?

Do you want to get ready for the summer camping season?

...then your troop should register today. It's only $15 a person if you register before April 19 and then $20 after.

REGISTER HERE

Fire Restrictions Lifted

Effective Monday, November 14, fire restrictions have been lifted and open fires are now allowed in the backcountry. A free California Campfire Permit is still required. Please be careful with fire (it's part of the Outdoor Code) as there are still long periods of dryness in the winter.

CLICK HERE to print out a California Campfire Permit

Forest Order

Summer 2011 #10: The End of Summer Season 2011

This marks the end of the 2011 summer season at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation. Today, we will be removing the seasonal dam and begin to prepare the camp for the winter. It has been a great summer for the camp.

However, camp is available year round. Your organization, company, or Scout unit can rent part or all of Pico Blanco by contacting the Council Office or using the form earlier in this blog. You can also use Pico as a trailhead. The rates are very reasonable. Also, there is a fall campout for Cub Scouts coming up at the end of the month called Dad N Lad which will be great fun for Cub Scouts and their dads.

It's hard to see our favorite season come to an end, but we know that the old growth redwoods will be there for us for generations to come and Pico is always there for the Scouts. We look forward to next summer but know that fun can be had year round at Pico Blanco.

Throughout the year we will update you on any events and news of the camp and we will also continue to provide a look at the facilities, program opportunities, and culture of the camp.

The above picture is the moon over the Bixby Creek Canyon while driving out late Sunday night.

Year Round Use of Pico Blanco

Does your group, company, organization, or Scout Unit want to camp in the Big Sur River? Pico Blanco Scout Reservation is a great place to camp and can be reserved year round. The camp offers facilities such as the newly completed Hayward Lodge and Mazzuca Campfire Bowl, a medical lodge, platform tents, a nature lodge, a chapel, and 12 spacious campsites. Pico Blanco is also located at a Forest Service trailhead, offering opportunities for hiking in the Los Padres National Forest and Ventana Wilderness. Rates vary by group size and facilities used, so it is very affordable.

Please fill out the following form to reserve Pico Blanco Scout Reservation for your Scout or non-Scout group:

Pico Blanco Year Round Use

In addition, hikers who wish to use Pico Blanco as a trailhead and avoid hiking 4 miles on the camp road each way from Bottchers Gap can call the council office in Salinas at 831-422-5338 for a parking permit. The rate is $8/day instead of $5/day at Bottchers Gap, which is a great deal in that it saves 1-2 hours of steep hiking in each direction.

The Hayward Lodge dining hall, photo credit: Jim Bowels

USFS Backcountry Fire Restrictions

It's that time of year again. While we were blessed with a wet and extended winter, the Los Padres National Forest has ordered backcountry fire restrictions. Normally this happens 1-2 month earlier.

The restriction that would really effect you is that there may be no open fires, campfires, or charcoal fires are allowed outside of designated campfire use sites such as a car campground like Bottchers Gap. If you are in the backcountry, you may still use a gas stove as long as you carry a free campfire permit. These are available at any USFS or CalFire facility such as from Larry at Bottchers Gap, Big Sur Station, or the Carmel Hill Fire Station or may be printed by following the link at the bottom of this post.

This order mainly affects you if you plan to travel into the backcountry. At Pico Blanco Scout Reservation, we still allow fires under our special Campfire Use Policy. This will be provided to you upon arrival.

While fires can be a great addition to a camping trip, we also must think back to 2008 when we almost lost our camp due to wildfire. As Scouts, we must do our part in protecting our environment.

The order will remain in effect until there has been sufficient rainfall forestwide (from the Ventura/Los Angeles County Line to Carmel). This is usually in November.

LPNF Order 11-02

Effective August 18, 2011

California Campfire Permit