le Voyageur

So too the L.A. Times.....Berhow now joins the ranks of Charles Whitman, Eric Harris, Ted Bundy, and Arthur Gary Bishop. Non of us are above reproach, we all have our flaws and shortcomings that feed our inner demons. Sometimes our better angels aren't enough to keep those demons in check....

The battle of Pollilur took place on 10 September 1780 and was waged between two armies commanded by Tipu Sultan of the Kingdom of Mysore fielding a force between 2 000 to 3 000 men, and Lt. Colonel William Ballie of the British East India Company having a 3 to 1 advantage. In short, the British per their tradition of the mass advance didn't fare well in this fight due to an advance in weaponry they weren't prepared for . Being out numbered, Tipu countered Ballie with modified Mysoren rockets, primitive self propelled pipe bombs on bamboo shafts with a two kilometer range, sending

If there is one question that I’ve never asked in our Muzzle Loading Instructor course is what motivated the ancient Chinese to invent gun powder (aka…black powder). Generally, we just tell the class who created black powder, then quickly moving on to the next topic. So, the question is….What motivated these ancients to create gunpowder? The short answer is, is gunpowder was invented while trying to create a potion for immortality! The “Golden Elixir”. https://www.goldenelixir.com/publications/eot_jindan.html

From the time of it's founding (1830), only males are allowed to hold a priesthood commission. Women are excluded. This separation is easily seen in this video....

My take (and yes, I endured this production to the end) is this...that their program is an exclusive for members only in house program that is purposely crafted to insulates and protects their youth from the real word, as well as to divide the genders into two separate and unequal classes. The direct opposite of the Scouting USA program for inclusiveness. At least now, I thank I can sit around the campfire in quite discussions and ponder this with my fellow cohorts (but overall, still somewhat baffled as to this wrong headed direction that I feel the LDS community is tacking into due

For those interested.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vylJt_4NeVs

There are a number of water colors done by John White (1584) that can help. But, suggest starting with a Three Sisters pottage (a stew) ...hundreds of variations, serve with flat bread (easy to make....it's okay to use either APF, or masa harina).

Yes...but with Bean Holes. However, I've plans to introduce into our MM program the Green Corn Ceremony which predates our Thanksgiving holiday....

"Packing out personal waste is not a new concept. Climbers on Mt. Rainier started using "blue bags" in the early 1980s, and mandatory carry-everything-out programs later spread to popular peaks like Shasta and Denali, as well as to environmentally sensitive Utah canyons like Buckskin Gulch and the Virgin River Narrows. But the addition of Mt. Whitney to that list signals a new willingness by land managers to use this tactic on trails where backcountry toilets are impractical to build, and the routes are too trafficked or rocky to absorb the impact of numerous cat holes...." https://www.ba

"I think everyone should mention their definition of cold weather camping. For us, the 20's are considered cool for September, but not that unusual. Cold is below 0." Cold is always in the negative numbers - the coldest to date, - 45 C working the King's Route on Mt. Logan.... however, for Scouts, it depends on their location, I'm sure Scouts in Texas would find the temps of Michigan's UP a challenge, just as Michigan Scouts would consider a Texas winter little more than a chilly fall day...

Recalling some of the MB's I tackled, the hardest was Fruit and Nut Growing - took three years. Others included Dairying, Signaling and Surveying....however, the difficulty rating of today's MB's is no more than the reflection of the changes now taking place in our society. The 4H type MB's of my era is simply knowledge and skills of rural America that are no longer needed...

As long as it ain't leaking I'll wrap the water bottle inside a towel with a couple of Hot Hands, then place it in the bottom of the sleeping bag ....

Over the years, I've had the sad duty of terminating staff members due to both drugs and alcohol infractions....sometimes, it takes some Scouts a little longer to understand not only the Scout Oath and Law, but how important they are to the team, and the Scouts in their charge. As I see it, if a Scout can't walk the talk, it's time for that Scout to retrace his/her steps to see where they lost the trail

Begin with the end in mind

Seems it's time for the older Scouts and a mom to take lessons from the younger Scouts....as I see it, tents are a Scouts home for a week, so make it homey ....

You've hit the nail square on the head....spent several hours with the NCAP team last season detailing improvements...now, it's a wait and see. On reflection concerning MHA, use of stoves, yes they do carry. They are small backpacker stoves, one per crew (9+2+1) and are used simply for making morning coffee...meals require the traditional campfire, rain or shine...the only meal the crew dose not prepare is at the end of the trek which is prepared by Base, being a Bean Hole supper.....

Having worked MHA I'm a bit confused that they are now using stoves on the treks....must be a new policy shift. I'll touch base with them for clarification.... The Mountain Man program at BRMC has been running now for over 20 years and was an off shoot of their High Knoll program. It's more of an enrichment program instead of high adventure, blending the Eastern long hunter era with the Mountain Man era. There are You Tube videos of the program, but those are dated and poorly done.

Some thoughts on and suggestions for your "leave at home" items Sunblock - two lightly soaked 4x4 gauze pads stored in a small zip lock bag will cut the weight. Easily stuffed in a personal First Aid kit. Cash - can be left in the vehicle and not carried. After the hike, be assured your Scouts will be wanting some extra calories from a Fast Food cartel. Other items that can/should be left in vehicles....several gallons of water, a small cooler with ice, additional snack items, and a more comprehensive first aid kit. Flashlight - never assume you won't be out after dark (consi

January 2002!!!!!! hmmmmm... well, it is what it is

My down bags are first soaked in cold water in a weak solution of Dreft liquid baby laundry detergent for several hours before chucking them into the washing machine (more Dreft, cold water, gentle cycle). Drying is done in the dryer (air only, no heat) along with a dozen tennis balls to beat them into a state of fluffiness.....

" Do you know of another summer camp where patrol cooking lives? Please tell me about it!" Blue Ridge Scout Reservation's Mountain Man camp.... Maine High Adventure Base....

hmmmmm.....no Plan B!.. Reminds me of the poorly prepared Church group we had to pull off of the Chesuncook lake. Failed to take into account that the weather could go from bad to hideous.

16 for junior staff...have need for an NRA certified Muzzle Loading Instructor/RSO, and a person skilled in leather working.....

Been volunteered to Booshway the Mountain Man program at our Reservation... so, we got room for one or two more souls on the staff. If interested, google Blue Ridge Mountains Council, and put in an app... thanks

Hopefully by now, your session has been a success........ If I may, For the past month or so, been working on an inclement weather program for our outpost climbing program which includes a lot of thinking outside of the box. The reason being, is that the Climbing Merit badge offers nothing in the way of self rescue, as well as a number of critical climbing skills. I'll toss out a scenario for folks to ponder on for a while.... here's the problem ...your solution? - Five man team consisting of four novice climbers with limited experience - Last pitch of a multi abseil retreat requ