le Voyageur

Your day's mileage is a little on the high side....consider some days for more sight seeing and less paddling. And should you get favorable winds you might like using Seda's downwind kite to cover a lot of miles with little work. Also, factor in a bad weather day just in case you get wind bound....bon chance

E. Better than treatment is preventative measures. Just as we plan high caloric/fats type menus for winter activities to stoke our inner metabolic fires: we can do likewise for summertime activites by planning menus and snack breaks that hydrate, and add extra sodium to the diet. Gatorade is often recommended, but the problem is that the majority of folks will mix a batch in their Nalgenes that is just too concentrated, turning it into soda pop. Better to cut it in half, and add extra salt. You'll know that it's about right when it taste a little weaker than one's own tears Besides the menu, there are other stratigies that can be use....here's what I like to do with a canoeing crew in our neck of the woods where we have high temps and miserable humidity....first, is an early start to canoe in the cool of the day, frequent shade breaks, canoeing on the shadyside of the river, swimbreaks, and slowing down, or stopping entirely during the heat of the day to slow perspiration rates.

Just a thought, Pior to running rivers, we go over paddle, hand, and whistle signals with the crews (i.e., Stop, Proceed, River Right, etc.) ..these can be found on the internet. Additionally, in the old old handbooks, a knowledge of hand signals, and trail signs were required for advancement (remember those OGE )...more than likely these too can be found on the internet

DDHill A big thanks for the additional input....as we all know we teach our scouts about dehydration, and other forms of heat related problems per the program, but never about water intoxication. I've seen this problem several times in the field with folks, including ER nurses, who get it wrong. Just thought it was time for an FYI thread for new unit leaders with little backcountry experience... Speaking of backcountry DDH....fall is in the air, great time for a little camping up in Big Bear, hey...

Here's a few good read on this subject... http://www.honoluluclub.com/pulse.php?ID=31 http://www.spinalhealth.net/hyponatremia.html http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2000/05_00/fall.htm

a cyber round of Gator Aid, and a bowl of pretzels your way BW...

.....hyponatremia? hyponatremia, or "water intoxication", is a condition caused by an excessive intake of water without replacing electrolytes, in particular, sodium...

I've no problem with the thread being locked... However, after 13 seasons of working on campstaffs, I thinking about taking a break, and do a bit of backpacking up around Cuberant lake next season, since the AT gets a little to crowded for me...

If the size of your French coffee press is to small for use at a base camp, consider A16's 50oz monster....

That is highly likely....seems to be no mentioning in any of the articles concernig dragging any of the lakes, ponds, or streams. Nor did they bring in divers. It's a good chance that after changing into his dry shoes he decided to try another location to fish at. I'm also curious if this area has mountain lions - seems to be a good habitat for them.

BW I was using the location stated in the Salt Lake Tribune...I'll double check other articles to make sure..

While in Maine discovered a great place to buy some pretty good paddles.... http://www.porterswoodworking.com got a Maine Guide paddle for 50 bucks.... (and I plan to pick up a few more for some of my buds)..

This should correct the topozone link http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=40.73917&lon=-110.9125

Someone suggested this on the Lost Scout thread , so let's put our heads together and talk this over and see if can help a wee bit, hey.... Here's an overview... http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2398744 here's a map.... http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=40.73917&lon=110.9125 Lets begin by thinking like a 12 year old...My thoughts, the area shown by the cliff bands below the 11,340 ft. peak to the southeast of the lake...reason, it appears to be an easy scramble to the summit for a scenic overview of the area... (This message has been edited by a staff member.) (This message has been edited by a staff member.) (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Maybe it's past time for states like Utah to follow Maine's lead, and make guide, and or trek leader training manditory for the back country... Or, better yet, for BSA to revamp their NCS Trek Leader training to a month long course with full certification as a guide...I know for a fact, that I one that I went to, was fairly weak and lacking....

Messed up the link http://www.soloschools.com/wfa.html

Try SOLO http://www.soloschool.com/wfa.html

Welcome to the campfire...guess you're with Golden Empire Council, and maybe spent a summer or two at Camp Pahasti (spelling??) hey....just be careful, Old Gray Eagle likes to cackle, eh, er I mean sing a tune or two around the fire.. Welcome again...

Add some strips of cloth to the kits.... use them to tie off trousers and shirt at the cuffs...this way you can stuff your clothing with dry leaves for additional insulation from the cold....

Well Fuzzy, Looks like I'm not the only one coming out of the closet... However, if I don't watch this bit of yuppiefacation I'm going through, it won't be long before I'll be setting a formal table in the backcountry....now, the big question. When I sip my coffee, should I keep my pinkie raised??

Here's three.... In Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains Council's High Knoll, or New River Adventure - backpacking, and whitewater. Maine High Adventure Area, pure wilderness canoeing at it's best on rivers and big lakes. It once was a National High Adventure Base, but now under control of the Katadin Area Council. As far as I'm concern, it's better than Philmont...but, I'm a canoest. Camp John Mensinger, Yosemite Area Council, Modesto, Ca. Their High Adventure program is starting to come back on line, and soon should be a hoot

As always my list is merely subjective, and reflect the knots that I use for climbing and canoeing. Backpackers, and others may require a different set of working knots. As for tweaks, these knots will allow for z drags, pulley systems, pig rigs, and various hauling and anchor systems...also, the two half hitches is a must in some simple anchor systems, where as the taut line just wouldn't work. The square knot, as well as the boline are just too weak, and don't hold well in modern nylon rope unless backed off with a safety knot.. About the only other knot that I would add would be the Mariner, since it can be released under load....

Thanks for the info...it was enough to get me off my duff and do an internet search on William Dunn. After reading the artcile in the Deseret News, the only conculsion that I could reach was, was that this unit was out of their league...my guess is that young Dunn went off into the bush for a nature call, and on his return the unit had moved on.... geezs, whatever happened to the buddy system, and doing a head check before moving out? Here again is my argument of why BSA should reintroduce tracking, 14 scouts tend to make a lot of footprints, but Dunn, having takened the wrong trail proceeded on without reading the ground. And even with map in hand it was apparent he couldn't read the map well enough to diferentiate terrain...I guess on the plus side, this is an excellant example of how not to run a backcountry trek....

If BSA gave you free rein to teach up to 12 knots for your scouts instead of the current list, what would they be tying? Here's my list.... 1. Clove Hitch 2. Two Half Hitches 3. Sheet Bend 4. Figure 8 on a bight 5. Trucker Hitch 6. Tautline Hitch 7. Grapevine 8. Water Knot 9. Garda 10. Pursic 11. Munter Mule 12. Canoe Painter

It was the last paragraph that got my attention...a 13 year old scout lost for two days with map and compass...WOW!!! My guess is that the Unit Leaders failed to do their job right...sure glad I'm not part of that unit...