Camelback trek 30 mile award
On November 17-18, 1962 I backpacked 33 miles with Explorer Post 360 - myself, John Butler, Mike Smith, Norman Hewitt, Steve Henderson, Noel Parr, Greg O'Leary, Allan Sanford and Mike Fletcher on the Banner-Descanso Camelback trip on the California Riding and Hiking Trail. Click here for information on the Camelback Award available from the Boy Scouts.
Click here for a map covering the entire California Riding and Hiking Trail in San Diego County. This was created from a bike riders rather than a hikers prospective.
The route we took was 15 miles from below Banner Queen Trading Post to Camp Hual-cu-cuish (which has since been destroyed by fire) in six hours on Saturday. On Sunday (Temp. 26°) we hiked 18 miles with side trip to top of Cuyamaca Peak (6,515'), 5 hours.
The name of the award comes from original backpackers who said the recommended trails resemble the back of a camel as it tracks up the mountains and down into the desert and canyons. This version is in preference to the rumor that those who complete this award smell like a camel at the end of the backpack.
This award is intended to encourage long distance backpacking (15 or 30 miles) on trails associated with the California Riding and Hiking Trail (CR&HT) in the Southern California/San Diego County area within a two or three day weekend. Trek Aid No. 103 describes several sections of the CR&HT and feeder trails that may be used to obtain this award.
Originally this award was designed to encourage hiking along the California Riding and Hiking Trail. Over the years many sections of the CR&HT have fallen into disrepair and may no longer be contiguous. This occurred due to changes in private land ownership, lack of state funding and support, trail rerouting, lack of water in some sections and general neglect. Therefore, if you are planning to use several miles of the CR&HT outside of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park or Joshua Tree National Park, check out the trail status before you embark on your Camelback trek.
