Packing your pack

Just in case you missed it tonight at the meeting...
Here is John showing some packing techniques.

Have a Great Scouting Day!

Gear Checklist

Winter Camping Gear Check list
This checklist is optimized for winter trips in mountain environments where high/low temperatures will range from 20°F to -30°F. Adjust for the conditions you'll face.
Outerwear
waterproof/breathable jacket
waterproof/breathable pants
synthetic or softshell hiking pants
insulated parka or down jacket
insulated pants
waterproof gaiters
Baselayer 
midweight or lightweight long john top
midweight or lightweight long john bottoms
long sleeve T-shirt NOT COTTON
synthetic briefs

Accessories
wool or fleece hat
balaclava
synthetic liner gloves
midweight insulated ski gloves (2 pair of gloves)
Hat
bandanna
Footwear
waterproof hiking or snowshoeing boots (insulated is best)
wool or synthetic socks (one pair for every day or two, plus an extra pair for sleeping only)
liner socks
**You need to be able to change socks twice a day
Gear
backpack
convertible or four-season tent
sleeping bag
(-30° to 15°F)
sleeping pad
collapsible snow shovel
trekking poles
Stove
lighter and waterproof matches
cookset
eating utensils, bowl, and insulated mug
headlamp w/extra batteries and bulb
32-oz. water bottles (2) water bottle
pocketknife or multitool
compass or GPS (and map)
sunglasses
first-aid kit with personal medications
chemical heat packs
assorted zipper-lock bags
stuffsacks
sunscreen (SPF 45+)
lip balm (SPF 15+)
toilet paper
Consider
metal tray or lid for firebuilding
Extra foam pad to sit on.. small piece of a foam pad to put stove on.
Snow Shoes (if you have them.)
Have a Great Scouting Day!

Establishing your tent platform

In this short video we demonstrate how to get your tent platform established as well as a cold sump.

Have a Great Scouting Day!

Anchoring your Tent

Here is a little Video to help you with anchoring your Tent in the Snow

Have a Great Scouting Day!

Shake Down

Monday 18 January, 2010 at the meeting we will be conducting a shake down of all the winter gear that you will be taking on the next camp out.
Bring everything that you will be taking on the camp out to the Knights Hall.

See you there.

Scoutmaster Jerry

Centennial Merit Badges

From Scouting Magazines Blog...

I will get the details and requirements for the Troop.  Stand by for details.

Scoutmaster Jerry

Historical merit badges help Boy Scouts celebrate Scouting’s past

A merit badge called Computers would sound just a crazy to a 1910 Boy Scout as a merit badge called Tracking sounds to Scouts today. That’s because the BSA’s list of available merit badges has evolved through the years as the interests of boys have changed.

In honor of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary, though, today’s generation of Scouts will get the unique opportunity to experience some of the activities their predecessors enjoyed. That’s possible thanks to the BSA’s new Historical Merit Badge Program, a set of four discontinued merit badges that today’s Scouts can earn.

Boys can earn any or all of these merit badges:

Signaling

• First offered in 1910 and discontinued in 1992.
• Sample requirements: build a simple buzzer or blinker capable of sending Morse code messages, and send a message of at least 35 words; send and receive messages using semaphore flags at a rate of at least 30 letters per minute.

Tracking

• First offered in 1911 (as Stalker merit badge) and discontinued in 1952.
• Sample requirements: recognize the tracks of 10 different animals; give evidence to show you have tracked at least two different kinds of birds or animals, documenting their speed and direction.

Pathfinding

• First offered in 1911 and discontinued in 1952.
• Sample requirements: be able to guide people to important places within a three-mile radius of your home; submit a scale map of your community.

Carpentry

• First offered in 1911 and discontinued in 1952.
• Sample requirements: demonstrate the use of tools, such as a miter and bevel; build a simple piece of furniture for use at home.

Sounds like a blast, right? But there’s one catch: Boys must start and finish all requirements within the year 2010. So if your guys built furniture for their patrol kitchen at last year’s summer camp, they can’t use that product for the Carpentry merit badge. And don’t delay—after Dec. 31, 2010, these merit badges will go back on the “retired” list.

If this is a program you want to bring to your troop, the BSA suggests you track down merit badge counselors soon. For Carpentry, contact a local cabinet-making business. A nearby Homeland Security office could help you with Pathfinding. Signaling would benefit from the help of a local amateur ham radio group. And for Tracking, try your state’s department of natural resources. Those are merely suggestions. Be creative!

For more information, look for a special Web site and a printed guide by the end of the month. That’s where you’ll find the complete requirements for each patch. The BSA also plans to deliver a guide that will help councils and districts host a historical camporee or similar event to offer these merit badges.

The Historical Merit Badge Program gives you the perfect chance to organize exciting activities for your Scouts, while connecting them with the BSA’s rich past. It’s another example of the BSA’s devotion to Celebrating the Adventure, Continuing the Journey.

Layering

OK.. just so you know that I am not making this stuff up.. and in an effort to always keep learning, here is a great article from Backpacker magazine's Web site :

In winter, your comfort–and even your life–depends on savvy layering. Here's how to dress for everything from sun to storms.
Start cool. "People often make the mistake of beginning a hike overdressed, and as a result, start to sweat profusely soon afterward," says Colorado Mountain Club instructor Gyorgy Kereszti. Adjust your layers so that you're cool–even shivering–when you start hiking. You'll warm up quickly as you move.
Avoid getting wet, either through sweat or precipitation. Moisture will chill you as soon as you stop moving, and introduce the possibility of hypothermia later on, when the water freezes. As soon as it starts to snow, put on a waterproof shell to keep other layers dry.
Try a windshirt. "Most days, I wear just a thin, wind-resistant baselayer," says NOLS's Marco Johnson. Key feature: The breathable fabric blocks chill gusts while letting moisture escape.
Pace yourself. When wind or icy temperatures prevent you from removing layers to cool down, hike slower to keep from overheating.
Opt for a breathable fleece or wool midlayer (when conditions permit) instead of a shell, which tends to trap more perspiration.
Wear gaiters, which keep crampons and ski edges from slicing your pants and provide additional waterproofing to keep your feet dry.
"Keep layers accessible," says Alaska Mountain Guides's Eli Fierer, who loads midlayers and jackets at the top of his pack, where he can grab them quickly.
Anticipate weather changes, and layer accordingly. Pull on a shell before emerging onto a windy ridge, and add on a fleece before you become critically cold.

Work first. In camp, complete sweat-inducing chores before bundling up in a down jacket. You'll give moist inner layers time to dry and avoid dampening fragile down.
Wear layers on your feet and hands, too. Use thick wool or synthetic socks and mitts over a thin, quick-drying liner.

Cold Weather Camping and Meetings

We are in the thick of preparing for Cold weather camping.  Remember that the first part of First Aid is Prevention.  We prevent injuries and accidents by being prepared.
It is important that when we plan and prepare for winter camping, that we pay attention and take it very serious.
Simple things like planning for enough fuel, making sure we plan good, warm meals that are easy to prepare and clean up.
It is important to take a look at the clothing that we wear and how we pack our gear.  It is important that we pay attention to our buddies and know what the signs of cold weather injuries are.
Cold weather camping can be some of the best times you have camping, but they can also be the worst of times if you are not prepared.
The next few meetings are critical in your cold weather camping preparation.  BE PREPARED and be at the meetings and pay attention.
If you have questions, never hestitate to ask.
Have a Great Scouting Day!