Crew Practice Hike, Tellepsen

     Saturday October 3rd at 9am we will be having our practice hike at Tellepsen Scout Camp.  That means if you are camping, you have to be ready to start hiking at 8:30am.  If you are only able to be there for the hike, you need to arrive about 8am in order to be ready to start hiking at 9am.  "How could possibly take that long to get ready?" I hear you say.  That's a good question, I'm glad you asked.  You'll be surprised how long it takes to get a patrol-sized group of scouts and leaders to start walking, with gear, all at the same time.  Especially when we haven't done it in a while.

"OK, that makes sense I guess. But how much do I bring? I don't have all my gear yet."

    You are just full of good questions and comments! You make a valid point.  On Saturday the 3rd, you'll get your 2020 Philmont Guidebook (collector's edition) and it will have a detailed packing list.  That will help you fill in the gaps between what you have and what you still need.  

"But I don't have that book yet.  How am I supposed to pack for the Tellepsen hike if I don't have the list I'm supposed to use to get ready for it?"

    You are quick and observant.  Those qualities will be perfect when we are out on the trail.  The answer is that you won't need everything on the list.  Just a few things that I'll list here:

-Backpack

-Boots

-Socks (synthetic or wool)

-Sock liners (synthetic for wicking away sweat)

-water bottles (2 @ 1qt each)

-mess kit bowl/plate (see earlier post)

-mess kit utensil (see earlier post)

-hat (

-compass

-rain gear

-sleeping bag (to get used to it's bulk in your pack)

-pocketknife or multi-tool

-lip balm

-foot powder/gold bond

-personal first aid kit

-whistle

-disposable lighter

-ziplock storage bags

Text, email, or comment below if you have any questions or concerns.  If you are coming from the Bryan, College Station Area please inform as to what gear you do not have so it can be brought to the hike for you.

See you there!

Trivia Game Show *LIVE* After the Court of Honor (update!)*

 Like last time,  our trivia game will be about stuff you read on this "Smart Backpacker Blog".  When we're in person we will be using buzzers to identify who gets to answer first.  We've used them before, sometime last year in a camping menu game if I'm not mistaken.  They each make different sounds and they look like this:

The prizes for the first to get the correct answer are going to be these this time but will not always be the same.  They will all most likely have a camping theme but not necessarily needed for Philmont.

Good Luck!

*UPDATE!  The Court of Honor looks like it will be pushed back a week because all the rain has made our COH location a mud hazard and as of 9/22, still underwater.  Not a problem for rough outdoorsmen like yourselves, but not very inviting for family members.

Your Mess Kit and You (Part 2)

     Maybe you've had your current mess kit since you were a cub scout.  Maybe you have to cobble something together every month just so you have something to eat off of when on a camp out.  Maybe you're somewhere in between those two.  Whatever the case, now is the time to get your backpacking mess kit ready, if you haven't already.  One theme we've started here in this "Smart Backpacker Blog" is whatever you use has to be small, easy to pack, and durable.  We might add to this, easy to clean.  This gives us several options.

    One option is simply to use just the plate or bowl from your current mess kit.  This could work just fine as long as it meets the criteria above. Some are bigger than others. Just be sure that you only take that one piece of your mess kit, not the whole thing.

    Another option is to use a Sierra Cup as your plate/bowl/drinking cup.  This works great and it definitely meets all the stated requirements. 

    A fairly recent option has shown up in the past few years.  The collapsible cup/bowl. The benefit of this is that is very light, durable, and takes up even less space when collapsed.  However there is a downside.  Often it isn't cleaned as well as it could be and it retains food residue.  In this case it would have to be hauled up with your personal bag when hanging the bear bags at night.

    One more meal option is another multi-tasker.  I've heard stories of people using this method for eating on backpacking trips for as long as I can remember.  However I've never actually seen it done.  It's almost one of those stories that starts with "my cousin's brother's friend's girlfriend once new a person  that..." you get the idea.  Anyway, the story is about someone who uses their frisbee as both something to do when they have down time, and their plate.  Yes it would save space and weight but here we have more than one downside.  One: it starts out dirty so you're always cleaning it, before and after each meal.  Two: is it ever really clean?  Three: Since you don't know if it's actually sanitized, it'll have to go up in the bear bag every night.

    I hear some of you out there saying: "Hey, collapsible cups and bowls have been around forever.  I even saw them at the scout shop when I was a cub scout!"  You got me, that is indeed true.  In fact they've been around since at least the 1970s.  I had one myself.  The sad truth is that these things were cup-shaped pieces of plastic that failed miserably to meet the basic requirements of what a cup does.  They leaked.  If I still had mine it would probably still be leaking today.

    If you haven't yet chosen your bowl/plate then please consider what we covered.  Also comment below if you have some suggestions that we didn't discuss here.

Countdown Update!

As of Wednesday September 9, 2020

Campsite Games and Distractions Episode 1

     When we are on the trail we will have some down time for goofing off.  Base Camp, extended breaks, and campsites that have no program are good places to bring out your games.  By games I mean card games, dice games, and more athletic games like frisbee and hacky sack. Like everything you pack it should be small, easy to pack, and durable. Today we're looking at the hacky sack.

    My hacky sack lives mainly in my game bag that I take on camp outs every month.  I got it when I was in middle school so sometime around 1983.  It's all leather but most are made with some type of fabric weave these days.  Or so I've seen recently. They're small and usually filled with plastic beads.  However if you make your own, it's suggested that you fill it with popcorn kernals.  If you're interested in making your own then let me know and I'll include a video in an upcoming post on how to do that.

    They are about the size of a clementine/easy peel orange, in case you're not familiar with them.  You play with your feet by kicking them up into the air over an over again.  You can play alone or with any number of people, often in a circle or across from each other in more competitive versions of the game. 

    Here's a video with a crazy haired Australian demonstrating the basics.  Enjoy!

    If you're looking for a small, easy to transport source of entertainment for the trip.  Give it some consideration.

Countdown Update!

 AS OF WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020