le Voyageur

I understand what you're saying....but, with 22 years of military experience in Intell/SpecWar I'm no stranger to firearms. Additionally, as a historical re enactor I've considerable experience with blackpowder. In a nutshell, I've more experience than than the 20 something year old Shooting Sports Director. That's the first befuddlement, the second is the newhire who will run the program that I've oversaw for three seasons...a kayaker with no experience leading or guiding crews downriver in canoes on a week long trek. With none of the old crew returning to handhold the guy for the first couple of weeks, it'll make for a very interesting summer for a lot of folks. However, Week One, Day 2 is the concern....2.5 miles of CIII's through a boulder garden in loaded canoes.... Well, as I've said before, it's a befuddlement...

Since I rarely use a tent, the weight of my ground cloth is not much of an issue, being nothing more than a lightweight piece of canvas made into an oilcloth. Takes a beating, stays dry, and can be repaired.....overtime and use thin spots will happen and may leak a bit. However, it's an easy problem to cure with a rubbing of bees or candle wax...

Thanks all... been in contact with another high adventure base that may have an open slot on their staff. However, it's still a bit of befuddlement of being offered such a position, while the camp is still short several senior directors needed to fill out it's staff, and stay in compliance with NCS requirements for those programs.... It is a befuddlement???

Well, looks like I won't be returning to my old haunts this summer. For some weird reason I've been offered a staff demotion. So, instead of running a white water expedition program the powers that be wants me to serve as a shooting sports assistant at one of their base camps. Great job for an 18 year old with no staff experience wanting to learn the ropes, but..... Needless to say, I'm not interested. So I'll either be looking for another camp, or just maybe say the heck with it this year and head out on the Pacific Crest Trail for a month or more....

ooops....typo, try this http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3511678.stm

A most interesting read.... http://news.bbc.com.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3511678.stm

Hey Red Feather, Per your question, the answer is no, once the linseed oil has dried, it's permanent. Just waiting for better weather before starting since a newly oiled garment has to dry outdoors for a good week or so...

Turn em n2 knickers....a much more dashing, and outdoorsy look than shorts...

fotoscout.... Before going the Gore Tex route take a look at Lowe's Triple Point Ceramic rain gear...the material seems to work better than Gore Tex

You can also use a small pumpkin....besides the rice, add some corn, beans (pinto, and Northern), onion, and squash. Coat the bottom, and the sides of the pumpkin with mud, and sink it down into the embers...

One of the problems with keeping uniforms clean in the backcountry is, is that the majority of scouts have little knowledge on how to do laundry by hand....seems to be something that could, and should be taught on campouts... My method is to use a dry bag...add clothes, a few fist sized rocks, a bit of water and the sudsy stuff and simply shake for about five or so minutes....

In a few short days, I'll be making my own rain gear. I've got a good piece of canvas that will be boiled in a walnut dye. And afterwards, cut and sewn into a hooded capote. Several coatings of boiled linseed oil, plus beeswax for the seams will waterproof the garment. Plans are to make it a size larger than my blanket capote so that it can serve as an overcoat for added protection....

Try this..... You'll need a bit of canvas with a tight weave....first, mix a batch of mud thick enough to roll out like dough. Form a small bowl (about 1/2 to 3/4 thick walls), as well as a small lid with a few added perforations (to let steam escape). Line with the canvas, add your rice and liquid and set on the coals, banking the embers part way up, and around for even heating....as always, you'll need to experiment a bit to get it right...

Clam Chowder in sourdough bread bowls.... Spice Blend... 4 tsp oregano 4 tsp parsley 2 tsp marjoram 2 tsp dill 4 tsp thyme 4 tsp basil 1 tsp sage 4 tsp rosemary 2 tsp tarragon Chowder.... 1 slice hickory smoked bacon, minced 1/2 tsp butter 1 cup onion, minced 1 med garlic, minced 1 tbspn Spice Blend (from above) 1 tbspn All Purpose flour 1 1/2 cups half and half 1 cup bottled clam juice 1 can (6 1/2 oz) clams 1/4 tsp white pepper 2 med potatoes, boiled, peeled and diced In a heavy bottomed kettle (Dutch Oven), saute the bacon, butter, onion, garlic, and 1 tablespoon of the the Spice Blend over low heat. Do not brown... Drain the clams,reserving the juice. Add this juice plus the bottled clam juice to the sauted mixture. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Add the Half and Half, simmer 20 mins.. Add the white pepper, potatoes and reserved clams. Heat to serving temp. Do not allow to boil, as this toughens the clams. Serve in sourdough bread bowls good for 6 normal souls, or 4 starving scouters after a week of trail food...

Listing 91 merit badges would generate one very long post...however... 1st mb was Cooking, had to pedal the bike 15 miles one way to meet up with the MBC for the sign off...it was one less ride that I had to do for the Cycling mb. Hiking...finished off the 20 miler is grand style, Rim to Rim on the Bright Angel trail (Grand Canyon) Fruit and Nut Growing...spent a summer with a crew planting 40 acres of orange trees. On weekends would work on my little plot of Yuma cotton for the Cotton Growing mb. Canoeing... great fun, but the little pond at Camp Geronimo did little for adventures with something as wonderful as a canoe. Those adventures would come later... Dairying....talk about getting up early. Learned quickly not to milk with cold hands though... Horsemanship....taught me that I'm better off walking than dealing with those four legged attitudes...

A belated birthday to you Hops...got any leftover cake, hey? My birthday....wow, what was that year, can't remember if Roosevelt, or Truman was the Pres at the time...well, anyhow I came into the world on the side of a dirt road in Idaho, on a cold late autum day, somewhere south of the Salmon River...been rambling ever since..

If all your efforts in fund raising fails, and your equipement no longer meets the standards, than it's time to inform the SE you're closing the C.O.P.E. course. As the director, not even the SE can override that decision, nor open the course back up without your permission....it's hard ball, but it'll get your point across that safety comes first....

On a side note, found this real cool fabric site should you be interested in making yourself a drop sleeve shirt later on.... www.civilwarfabrics.com

OGE has sent me photos of his new, hand made and very fine looking capote. I'm impressed, and really do like his blanket choice. Now, OGE will have to keep a sharp eye on his capote to keep it from being "borrowed", that, or go into the capote making business for his crew when they discover his new talent. Again, great job OGE, and thanks for sharing....

My take on this subject is the exact opposite of these current zero tolerance standards. The problem with this concept is that teenagers are being punished for their natural tendencies toward aggresive behavior. Let's put boxing, the martial arts such as kendo, and akido, as well as shooting programs back into schools to let males learn to be males within the boundries of sportsmanship, and fair play. Enough of the Oprahfacation of the male gender, time for some balance....

nlds Scout - your post just about set me on my heels....but, unless I'm mistaken, your handle equates you to being a member of the Mormon Church. The Word of Wisdom says coffee is a no-no. However, you seem to be very knowledgeable about the finer points of coffee.....well, if you're ever around my campfire, I would surely be tempted to splash a bit of brandy in your cup of Joe... Now for good camp coffee, I've found that an infant" cotton sock works just fine to keep the brew from being crunchy...of course, you could do as some of my re enactors do for their coffee....they pound the beans to dust with the butt of their musket, stuff it between cheek and gum, and chug hot water....extra crunchy

Aye, so true....but let's not forget Lawrance of Arabia

For the life of me I can't remember the name of the movie, but Anthony Quinn played the role of an eskimo. His mother in law had reached the point where she was no longer a viable member of the family. She was put on the ice for the polar bears to feast on. Could be a solution, hey! :

My post was more tounge in cheek...however, these are very dangerous times for the family. More and more, parents are becoming spectators, being pushed aside while Educators, Politicians, and Theocrats decide nearly from the moment of birth of every child as to what, and what will not fill the minds of their future minons. On reflection, I remember an odd definition of Scriptures being considered as the sacred books of one's holy religion, as distinguished from the false and profane writings on which all other faiths are based. Guess this now applies to not only the books of science, but any other topic the theocrats feel ordain to revise...

I tend to think that the solution to this problem is simple, and could serve as a bit of middle ground....that is,expand this issue out even more by requiring science to be taught in churches. This way, the schools would provide for religious instucions, and the churches would meet the educational needs....