le Voyageur

I agree with Forever Young. However, Joan Baez does a much, much better rendition then Rod.... Also, the Circle Game (Buffey Saint Marie) The Gael is also great....maybe even Ahoskan Farewell

Been using Zipp stoves for the past 25 years, and I'm now on my third. Very easy to use with a fast learning curve. A few pinecones with the little fan twirlling like a Dervish on steroids will boil a quart of water just as fast as a Whisper Lite, or even a Pocket Rocket. Just follow the same guide lines used for open campfires.

A thought about first aid......having WFR's or even W-EMT's is always a big plus in the backcountry. However, I'm in agreement with NOLS which is that more focus should be on risk management. As such I would highly recommend the NOLS Wilderness Educator course. Pricy, but worth the training in risk management..... For those considering upgrading to WFR's, or W-EMT's, SOLO is outstanding....

For first aid kits I say build your own. Do a study (NOLS would be a start) on common and frequent injuries in the backcountry, then go from there as to your needs. Also, check out the book Ditch Medicine for some radical ideals to deal with problems should you ever get into one of those rare "to do or die" situations.

For climbing gear, google Moosejaw. They charge a little less for their gear then REI. For bombproof anchors for repells consider using a DOT Grade 70 Transport Chain (3/8" min). With a WLL (working load limit) of 6,000 lbs it'll take more abuse then webbing, or even a 13mm Bluewater static...

If you think about it there's no need to identify the tree. A dead tree is a dead tree and matters little if it's a hardwood, or a softwood unless we're putting up wood for a long winter. Yes, a hardwood fire with it's glowing embers is nice, but for backpacking, and where open fires are permitted, I just want to warm up a bit, and boil a pot of water before putting the fire out for the evening, thus it matters little has to the type of wood being used.... However, in the backcountry I prize cedar bark for it's tinder, or any living pine oozing pitch which makes starting a fire with wet wood a lot easier...

It seems quite clear that if you were to have a state religion it would be Christianity . TheScout Problem is, there are too many sects within Christianity. So, again the question is, which version of Christianity gets to be the top dog? For myself, I will always prefer the level playing field of secularism to keep all religions, including Christianity equal in rights per the First Amendment....

Just a few bandaids, and some anti-biotic cream....

Another nail in the coffin for secularism. The big question..... Who's religion will dominate as the offical State religion.

No matter the position hired for, in every camp staff app there is a clause which reads "other duties as assigned". Be prepared to accept these assignments, some can be miserables (cleaning out rotted garbage in the bear proof trash barn), and some can be downright fun (filling in at another program area, and learning new stuff). It's all about attitude, and turning every task into an adventure of gaining new skills...just remember, your Director, the CD, and the PD will be watching. Getting an invite from them at the end of camp to be on staff for the next year tells you you've done good.... Have fun, the best of luck your way..

Most young scouts when considering Eastern Woodland are not aware of the amount of cultrial destruction committed during both the colonial era, then followed by Manifest Destiny. It's easy for them to get steered into the wrong direction with a lot of mis-information. What I've seen, and butted heads against, is that Eastern pow wows borrow far too much from other nations. Eagle feathers, grass dancing, war bonnetts, and teepees are not Eastern Woodland. Truthfully, I prefer Eastern Woodland over Great Plains since there is much greater diversity. Here's a site that has excellant photos of the Eastern Woodland cultrue.... http://www.the-tree.org.uk/TreeTalk/PicturePages/RGriffing/griffing.htm

The problem with using Pow Wows as a source is that most tribes are doing pan Indian with a lot of Great Plains tossed in. To stay historically correct for Eastern Woodland pick up a copy of "Indian Clothing of the Great Lakes: 1740 -1840" by Sheryal Hartman.... You can order it from Smoke and Fire.... http://www.smoke-fire.com/

Having gotten tired of busy bodies, and the uniform police, now the only thing on my uniform is the Council Patch, and Silver Tabs....keeps folks guessing as to what my job is:)

on edit.... I was responding to this suggestion by Pappy.... if you can swing it, a boy in a deep hole or canyon that needs to be pulled to rescue (right out of Follow Me Boys.)

This would be a great activity as it's an element of alpine climbing, and one that I would enjoy greatly doing....but, and a big but. You'll need to work with your Council's Climbing Director, or another BSA Climbing Director who is experienced in crevase, and/or high angle rescues for this one.....

In your state, an 18 year old is classified as a teenage dirver. Therefore, before turning to the Guide for Safe Scouting, you need to ask the 18 year old if he holds a provisional license, or a full license. Then you need to contact your DMV for additional clarification for a teenage driver transporting minors. If he's allowed to transport minors, then I also suggest written permission from the parents....

hmmmm....the siege of Acres; raiding the King's forest for firewood; sacking the church; burning heritics; bring out your dead; Gregorian chanting....

"do you know where you were on June 12, 1967, and how to contact da witnesses to confirm that?" I was third seat in a RA 3B photo bird shooting photos of the Ho Chi Minh trail... However for a witness, sorry - both the pilot, and photo/nav on that flight would later buy the farm... However, good point. 40 plus years makes for a lot of very fuzzy memories. Going to be a tuff court case if the judge dosen't toss it.....

As I often camp near water, the exceptions being a few trails out in California/Arizona, dry bags work great. They allow food, and smellables to be stored underwater letting the current carry any scent downriver....

I've connections with the Greater Yosemite Area Council as a former staffer at Mensinger; this will no doubt come as a shock to these good folks since they are so heavily invested in backcountry high adventure. My condolences to the family who lost this young Scout, very sad....

Use a canoeist's dry bag, size small.....not bear proof, but they are air tight when rolled up properly. I would also keep it outside of the tent.....however, on the John Muir I've never had problems with bears when using dry bags (I would give them a squirt of skunk urine to mask the possibility of any food orders). As a heads up, bears have a keener sense of smell then Blood Hounds.

These shootings are nothing more then a venue for a fleeting moment of fame for society's underdogs. Time for the media to consider some self censoring to starve this trend to death..... Additionally, banning guns is not the solution. It's the opposite, an armed society is a polite society, and training in the use of firearms and competive shooting should be brought back into the school system.

Option# 4 - Education, and information on nut allergies for Scouts and Scouters.... My "Boss" has a wheat allergy, but I'm still able to enjoy my sourdough pancakes...

First, there are two Souths. The one as seen in Gone with the Wing, and Gods and Generals. The second, the Appalachin South, think Brave Heart. As for culture wars, Manifest Destiny still keeps us an invisible people. However, this thread is nothing more then another cut and paste rant by Pappy...

Sure....if you don't mind walking around in a harness tied into 60 meters of rope....