Boy Scout Backpacking: Lessons-Learned

[Tin Man]

Here are a few lessons-learned points for a boy scout backpacking trip. These are provided for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to actual events that may or may not have occurred this weekend are purely coincidental. If you have a favorite lessons-learned lesson, feel free to share.


Old: We are going on a backpacking trip
New: We are going on a trip without cars, coolers or sherpas where everything must fit in a backpack and nothing is carried in one’s hands.

Old: See attached backpacking list for necessary gear
New: Print out attached backpacking list and carefully check off each item as it goes into the backpack. If an item is on the ten-essential list, that means it is not optional, pack it!

Old: See attached backpacking list for food recommendations
New: The attached backpacking list has some recommended meals. You may want to cook something else, but keep in mind whatever you bring has to fit in a backpack, where every extra ounce equates to that much extra pain when carried. Please make sure you understand how many scouts you are buying for and only buy that much - NO extras.

Old: Secure all gear in your backpack properly
New: All personal gear, patrol gear, food and everything else you bring, except what you are wearing, must be placed INSIDE your backpack -OR- attached OUTSIDE so tight that when an adult gives it a sharp tug it does not move, wobble or come off the backpack. For external frame packs, sleeping bags must be in a stuff sack and strapped to the frame AND pass the tug test. For internal frame packs, sleeping bags must be packed inside the pack.

Old: Bring two bottles of water each
New: Bring 1 liter of water each and only powdered drinks PERIOD. If you want milk, bring powdered milk. If you insist on Mac n’Cheese, bring powdered milk and butter or just substitute water. For additional water requirements, we will collect our own water and purify as needed.

Old: We are hiking in 3 miles on Saturday and out 0.5 miles to xyz parking lot on Sunday. Parents should plan to be at the parking lot at 10 am to pick up your son.
New: We are hiking in for 2 hours on Saturday and we will call the parents to tell them when and where to meet for Sunday pick up. The plan is Sunday between 11 and noon at a parking lot where the bridge on the access trail is not washed out and the trail is passable. [don’t ask! ]

Old: Meet us at xyz trailhead parking lot
New: Parents, when we call you to tell you when and where to meet us, meet us at the designated trailhead parking lot. Do not come down the trail thinking you will just run into us. There are many trails and chances are likely we will NOT be coming down the trail you think (or the trail we might have told you). AND you definitely want to avoid dirty, mud-encrusted, nasty-looking trolls that vaguely resemble your sons before they are cleaned up.

[m_gude]

Old: Tools are provided for campsite amenities and safety only.
New: Do not use collapsible latrine shovel to cut down sapling trees, thus killing the wilderness and breaking the only shovel at the same time.

Old: Plan food preparation accordingly.
New: Do not put a 3L pot half full of cooking oil directly over high-flames fire. The fire will lick over the edges of the pot and ignite oil, creating a 10-foot column of flame.
New, addendum: Do not come over and try to roast pop tarts over oil fire.

[Johnny Thunder]

Old: All troop and patrol gear will be split evenly based on the adult leader's discretion.
New: Your son will be asked to carry essential gear. Remind him that there is no whining!

[Egads]

A blue poly tarp is NOT a sleeping bag. This scout continued on to make Eagle.

[SteveJ]

Old: be sure to bring a tent you can share with a friend, or check out one of the new troop backpacking tents to share with a friend.
New: check out one of the troop's new 8x10 silnylon tarps to use as a shelter for you and your friend.
Addendum: It is NOT acceptable to check out a second one to use as a ground cloth!

[2011_thruhiker]

OLD: Please follow "Leave no trace behind" rules.
New: "Leave no trace behind" does not mean use all the toliet paper designated for the weekend cleaning your behind-on your first use.

[tom_alan]

Old: Be sure that any food that has fluid is stored in a zip-lock bag or a hydro-sealed stuff sack before putting it in your backpack (the hydro-sealed stuff sack is preferred)
New: Dehydrate as much of your food as possible to cut down on weight. Remember most foods can now be dehydrated.

Old: Pack in one tent to share between you and a buddy. Divide parts (ie: poles rain-fly, stakes, ground cloth) for equal weight distribution.
New: Pack in your own hammock, rain-fly, and suspension system providing you are going into an area where there are trees. If not, plan on using trekking poles to support your rain-fly and sleep on the ground with or without the hammock. (You may want the hammock for the bug screen which can be tied off on your trekking poles to support only the bug screen above you)

[littlelaurel59]

Old: Bring a sleeping bag that will keep you warm.

New: Bring a quality sleeping bag that is intended for backpacking- one that will not tear easily and spill the insulatiom; one that has a zipper that will not self-destruct, turning your bag into a quilt in sub-freezing weather; one that stuffs into a stuff sack, rather than requiring the entire main compartment of your pack, leaving no room for anything else. I am SO tired of equipment failure!!!

[Wise Old Owl]

The worst thing I saw a dad do in Dick's Sporting Goods, Purchased a fleese bag in the winter for his tenderfoot son (he looked all of 10years) to sleep in a tent before going skiing.

[Ramble~On]

Old: We're going on a two day backpacking trip..one night out.

New: Group size is limited to 10 total, two of which must be adults 18 years old or older, campfires are banned. Two Deep Leadership will be utilized at all times. Per Scout Standards the waterfilters must filter down to .00000000001 micron and be effective against nuclear fallout. Anyone using a stove must be atleast 14, completed Cooking merit badge and supervised by an adult at all time. A complete trip plan must be filed with the USFS District Ranger's Office prior to stepping off. Class III Medical forms must be carried for each participant. Each scout must sleep inisde a fully enclosed shelter that provides each occupant with 20 square feet of personal space. Private locations shall be provided outside of view from each other for restroom usage for adults and youth. Firearms will not be allowed. All participants possesing a knife must keep a carrying chit with them at all times. At least one sat phone will be carried by an adult, be in working order and will have the telephone number for "Youth Electronic Gaming Device Withdrawl Hotline" as speed dial #1.

[Rockhound]

Old: Leave no trace New: Does this mean we can't tag every shelter to let the world know that troop 348 was there?

[Don H]

Old: Don't speak to the thru-hikers. They are homeless, dirty, vagrants and should be avoided at all cost.
New: Be nice to the thru-hikers and share your food with them (you brought too much anyway!). If you're lucky they will share their trail stories with you.

[leeki pole]

Old: Canvas tents are smelly, dirty, full of mold and mildew and really heavy. They are part of the backpacking experience, however.
New: Silnylon tarps and single wall tents are nice and light but you can't get the full experience of backpacking with them.

[Tin Man]

Old: We are camping at the Klondike.

New: We are camping at the Klondike if the low temps are equal to or higher than our sleeping bag ratings.

[jlb2012]

Old: This is a water bottle used to hold drinking water.
New: This is a water bottle that may be used for drinking water or for hot water to keep you warm at night in your sleeping bag.

[Tin Man]

Old: This is a water bottle used to hold drinking water.
New: This is a water bottle that may be used for drinking water or for hot water to keep you warm at night in your sleeping bag.

I was going to go with this, but at minus 12 I said, 'nah!'

[jlb2012]

I was at a gear store Monday listening to a Mom trying to get her boy scout a -20 deg bag after the fact so to speak - sales dude was cool however and explained several reasons why the kid was probably cold - full sized bag without the bottom tied off for one, need for good food before sleeping for fuel, etc. - I also put in my 2 cents about use of a hot water bottle which the sales dude also talked about. The sales dude was good - he did not try to sell something that the kid didn't really need.

[Tin Man]

I was at a gear store Monday listening to a Mom trying to get her boy scout a -20 deg bag after the fact so to speak - sales dude was cool however and explained several reasons why the kid was probably cold - full sized bag without the bottom tied off for one, need for good food before sleeping for fuel, etc. - I also put in my 2 cents about use of a hot water bottle which the sales dude also talked about. The sales dude was good - he did not try to sell something that the kid didn't really need.

The kid don't 'need' a -20 bag. Just saying.

I try to keep boys in our troop by making it affordable and fun. The lowest temps we camp is high teens in Nov, Dec and Jan. Colder than that, it is a day trip. Feb and Mar are cabin trips. I advise a one bag purchase, not 3. 20 degrees covers our seasons here well. For hotter months, a light blanket works over the zipped open sleeping bag.

[Bolo]

A rock or biner is intended for use to hoist your bearbag.

Do not use your Scout leader's Nalgene to hang the bag unless you inform the leader and permission is granted.

[MonkeyButtNC]

Old: Always wear a good pair of waterproof boots when you go hiking to protect your feet.

New: Crocs and Tennis shoes are only to be worn in camp, not for a 15 mile backpacking trip. No open-toe flip-flops or bare feet in case of small roots in the ground (used to be called widow makers)

Old: Always have good rain gear, no matter what the forecast says.
New: Hopefully somebody will have an extra trash bag for when you forget your poncho or the $2.00 poncho you got at Wal-Mart rips in half.

Old: When using an axe, saw or hatchet, make sure you have your Tot'n Chit signed off and be careful.
New: Set up an axe yard with a 30 yard radius. Wear safety gloves, eye goggles, steel-toe boots and full body armor. Axes are not allowed - only saws. Make sure you have signed a consent to treatment letter and read and signed the 50 safety rules prior to entering the axe yard.