le Voyageur

looks like I can't get the link to work..... sorry.

This is Double Shoals on the New River north of Fries, Va. This section is about a mile and a half of Class II's and III's through a boulder garden. Best entry is just a little left of river center (the New runs south to north)... http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=12&Z=17&X=630&Y=5082&W=3&qs=%7cFries%7cVirginia%7c Best put in is in the town of Fries near the school's tennis, basketball court. You'll need to frog over to river right for the best water. Passing under the bridge, stop, snug up the PFD, put on the helmet and enjoy. If you need an out or a escape/rescue route go river left. The New River Trail runs on this side...

There are so few places left that have not been impacted by humans. LNT today, suburban sprawl tomorrow. My absoultes to travel the common places with groups. And keep the secret places that I enjoy secret.

On edit - The Circle Game http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/joni-mitchell/75389.html

Yesterday a child came out to wonder Caught a dragonfly inside a jar Fearful when the sky was full of thunder And tearful at the falling of a star Then the child moved ten times round the seasons Skated over ten clear frozen streams Words like, when youre older, must appease him And promises of someday make his dreams And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and dawn Were captive on the carousel of time We cant return we con only look behind From where we came And go round and round and round In the circle game. The Circle Game.....

If you don't mind going a bit more north, consider Maine High Adventure Base on Grand Lake Matagamon, near Patton. Treks are very remote, with well trained guides, and you can show up on your schedule.....

For North Carolina http://www.mtnadventureguides.com/rock_climbing.htm

New River Gorge, West Virginia http://www.nps.gov/neri/climbing.htm

The Base is in South Dokata - somewhere near Yankton. They have two treks with the put ins at Ft. Randall for extra mileage for the longer trek, and the shorter treak near Yankton. And one take out at Ponca State Park in Nebraska...

Been looking around various websites for interesting camps that I could staff at this coming summer.. Anyone been there?....interested in the pros and cons of the program thanks

Good Spirits to all, off to find a Druid tree.... btw...Merry Christmas, and Happy Channuka to all....

I hunt. The differance is, is that it allows me to touch base with my roots, to be a part of something that has longed past, to walk in quite woods with the spirit of my ancestors. I also hunt to put on food the table, and often, to put food on a neighbor's table. Often times hours are spent tracking, stalking and manuevering for the best shot. Getting close quietly is a must, a single shot musket allows for only one shot that must be true to allow death to come quickly. Hunting is truth, and is more honest and honorable than the proxy killing that puts hamburgers, steaks, chickens, and pork products on the dinner table. It forces us to honor life, all life. Not to be wasteful, to take only what can be used......

I agree that a fire is a must have when treking with young'em inexperience in cold weather camping. It's the fastest way to warm them up. Myself, I use a small, packable sheepherder stove inside my canvas tent to stay toasty. And a cloth line strecthed out lets me dry my unmentionables, as well as me boot liners. Plus, to keep from having to melt snow for water, I'll tote along an ice chisel to bust through ice to draw water from a lake or a river... Overall, I think the scouts, if properly prepared will have much more fun taking on the challenge of cold weather camping. It'll hone thier outdoor skills much faster then any amount of summer camping...

Since the snowshoe hike will take place next year, why not nix the klondike sleds, and build either two, or three board toboggans. They'll carry more gear, and track better when being towed in trace. Mine is made of oak, about 12 feet long with 8 feet or so of useable deck, and 18 inches wide....takes about a month to build one

Consider a blanket, or even a meat shoot for the outing. For a blanket shoot, each boy would place an item of a set value on a blanket. Top Marksman gets first shot to choose an item from the blanket, and so on down the list. A meat shoot is just that. The boys compete for a chance to take home a turkey, ham, or etc... Must more rewarding than taking home a target with holes in it...

My WB course was years ago, and far far away, being one of those infamous week long courses with more outdoor skills then the current courses being taught....the Troop was large, lots of patrols including Wolf, Raven, and Catamount....I'm a Raven who cozies up with Eagles.... But times have changed, and so too Wood Badge, and maybe for the better . None the less,it looks like everyone is having fun working thier tickets no matter the changes....

http://www.synthx.com/btw/tr-ctr12.html

Yep..find something that says you without spilling too many beans about you, more so if you're a minor. Lots of pervs on the net, so be careful....

As I recall, the time limit between Ordeal and Brotherhood is 10 months. More than enough time to complete a merit badge. As for impact, I think at first there will be some reluctance, but over the long run you would have a Lodge with very knowledgeable members.

How the times have changed since the founding of the O.A. Over the years, we've rid our culture of Little Black Sambo, and the Frito Bandito, but the trespasses on our culture continue. However,I still think the Organization could be a very viable, and positive enity for the BSA which would serve to help educate non natives. First, every lodge should have an ambassador that works directly with a local tribe. Second, revamping the BSA's Lene Lanape mythology, and characters so that it is appropriate for the area. Third, It's past time to move away from the Plains and Pan Indian motiff. Makes no sense for an East Coast Lodge to dress out as Lakotas when they should be identifying with Eastern Woodlands. Fourth, changing the Indian Lore MB from a craft merit badge to one that requires an extenstive study of an area's local tribe. And, to move from Ordeal to Botherhood, it would be a required merit badge. Library closing, I'll post more thoughts later....

August is a hot month no matter where you live (you didn't mention where you will be treking?), and burning calories under a load will increas the body's heat load. Thus, you will to have to take into consideration also hydration, and rest breaks. Remember too, that water is heavy (about 8lbs to the gallon), and you'll need to plan menus that will provide additional fluid intake... I suggest pre arranged food/water caches to cut the weight, and to maximise the fun....maybe you could get a few adult volunteers to serve as trail angels in this reguard....

If the night sky is clear take them outside and teach them these three key constellations, the Big Dipper, Scropio, and Cassopeia.... Now....when the Big Dipper and Cassopeia are at the 3 and 9 position have them cover these constellations with thier hands. They are now facing north....you can also place a topo map between these constellations to orientate the map. For Scropio, when the head of the scropian stands up, you're facing south. Here again, you can oreintate a topo map with ease... To locate Polaris, use the two outside stars of the Dipper. Measure the distance with the thumb and forefinger, then count up four spaces in the direction these stars point, you'll land on Polaris. Set a compass to North, and aim it at Polaris, it'll give you the declination....

The on going use of the label "Liberal" is simply a cheap shot that has run it's course, and in it's self disrespectful. As such, the author has proved her point. However, we all have souls that experiences life different from others, and we need to learn to listen to those souls even if thier viewpoints are different from our own... LV

Since Blue Ridge was already mentioned, I'll toss in Maine High Adventure Base on lake Matagammon....great wilderness canoeing with outstanding guides.....

One step that could be taken right away, is for the elders to start a rotation where one Scouter has always been there longer and has 'trained' the newer adult ... in other words, stagger their terms of serving. Not the end-all, that's for sure, but a first step while research is being done. wadahoot A good ideal...but, maybe LDS units should consider that when they lack the experience, or the expertise, that maybe they should tap into other resources outside of their Church to find the people with the skills they need...