GernBlansten

Ok Ed. Whatever you think.

The moment the south seceded from America, they ceased to be Americans and their flag became a symbol of the rebellion. We should honor it as we would any enemy nation's flag.

"to be considerate in the outdoors" That means being quiet. Especially after others have gone to bed.

How would you treat a Nazi flag after a WW2 reenactment. Or a Japanese Rising Sun flag? They were vanquished opponents. Treat it as you would any other article of conquest. Keep it as a souvenir.

Simple. Dawn and not a moment later. As the great Duke said, "slap some bacon on a biscuit and lets go were burning daylight!"

BSA Outdoor Code: "As an American, I will do my best to - Be clean in my outdoor manners Be careful with fire Be considerate in the outdoors, and Be conservation minded. " Seems these leaders need to brush up on the basics of scouting and follow the code. How about asking them if they can recite it?

I think I've come across your group at Philmont! They were banging pots together as they hiked. Shouting to each other and really creating a commotion. We asked them what was up, and they responded they had seen a bear were making sure the other bears heard them. So when your unit recites the Outdoor Code, do you just leave out "considerate in the outdoors"?

"As an American, I will do my best, to be clean in my outdoor manners, to be careful with fire, to be considerate in the outdoors, and to be conservation minded." BSA Outdoor Code. We recite it at every meeting right after the Oath and Law. By applying LNT ethics, we are practicing the outdoor code. "clean in my outdoor manners" - proper wilderness hygiene and human waste management "careful with fire" - fires only in existing fire rings, burn only dead fall, keep fires small and manageable. "considerate in the outdoors" - be quiet. Blend in. Don't impact others enjoyment or disturb wildlife. "conservation minded" - use only what you need. Leave it as good or better than you found it. Keep it wild for the next generation. Despite what many here think LNT is, its more than just leaving your campsite better than you found it. What's wrong with being quiet in the woods? Whats wrong with blending in? Whats wrong with truly leaving no trace? What's wrong with the BSA Outdoor Code?

Free solo climbing. Ah, those were the best of times. Haven't done that in 25 years. But I tell you, its the most clarifying thing you can do with your clothes on. There are old climbers and there are bold climbers. But there are no old, bold climbers.

If the Lilys of the field were 6 ft diameter blaze orange or neon blue blossoms, you might have a good point. The issue is to minimize impact. That includes temporary visual impact while you are there. Running around in your hunter orange vests is not LNT. There are times and places that wearing hunter orange is pure self preservation. If you want to follow LNT, it requires making decisions on what you bring. My REI half dome tent is a pale yellow and gray. It blends in. I think it qualifies.

Buddy system is good. Nothing wrong with it. Critical when we send the younguns out. But I too tire at those who think that those of us who venture into the wilds without our buddy are being a bad role model and irresponsible. Kinda like riding motorcycles and skydiving. We don't need to do it, but with proper training, skills and equipment, we mitigate the risks. Sometimes, things happen. Sometimes you just don't make it. Those who poo poo our risk taking will be the first to point out our irresponsible traits. Tell others we should never allow anyone to take the risks. But I'll continue to do it. I'll mitigate the risks. But if I don't make it back, so be it. Rather die in the wilds than in some hospital bed of swine flu. And if I do expire in the wilds, I'd rather do it alone than take a few with me.

I honestly don't know how school teachers cope. A new dad who is a V22 Osprey engineer, wanted to teach the aviation badge and recruited me to help him teach it. I work aerospace and am a pilot. He's much more qualifed, but hadn't taught a merit badge before. So we tagged teamed it. We just finished up a three night, one hour, before troop meeting, merit badge session on aviation. 6 scouts showed interest. We went out and purchased the books and sold them back to the scouts who wanted to take the merit badge. The first two nights, it was mostly classroom work, went over the requirements, gave them some theory and war stories. Played with models and simulators. Gave them assignments that they could fullfil just using the book and the worksheets. Second night, we went to a local airport and did all the hands on requirements. Last night (3rd night), they were to have completed all their written assignments and show us so we could sign off the blue cards. I was shocked that most every scout barely did any of the work. What work they did was disappointing. Zero scouts got the badge. If this is what our future is based on, God help us.

Anyone who voluntarily gives up a week of their life and some coin for advanced training gets my salute. I don't disparage WBadgers, but I also do think its a panacea. How many of those WBadgers go on to get wilderness first aid? Or climbing instructor certified? Those skills are directly related to outdoor adventures. WB doesn't do that. I'm in the sunset of my BSA volunteer career. I regret now that I did not take WB 5 years ago. I think it would have made me a better leader. But I have at most 2 more years in the unit and I have no desire whatsoever to go through WB and continue volunteering after my son ages out.

We have a freshly minted Woodbadger in our unit. Before WB, he was your typical active parent, helped out when necessary but didn't really stand out. After WB, he is full of enthusiasm and purpose. Haven't seen him be a better leader with the boys or get them into the woods more, just more motivated to work on some our problem areas like website development and communications. He is a bit of an WB evangelical now, that kinda wears thin.

But OGE, LNT isn't always about leaving no trace after you've gone, its about reducing your impact even while you are there. Visual impact. Clearing a ridge that overlooks a beautiful meadow only to see colors not found in nature dotting the landscape diminishes the experience for the observer. I suggest natural colors, then carry a fluorescent signaling cloth for the times you need to be seen.

I'll just hang them off my pack as a warning for those who dare venture away from their comfy suburban landscapes.

I just got a PLB. Problem with it is if I lose the ability to activate it, it does nothing. Think of another Eagle scout named Fossett. But if I have my wits and am able to activate it, helicopters should land nearby.

If y'all secede, we'll just setup an embargo.

I like to climb Colorado 14nrs solo mostly because I can set my own pace. I hike fast. Pretty common here. In fact, you usually share the summit with more solo climbers than paired teams. Typically, most of our peaks are day hikes. Hit the trailhead before dawn, summit by 10am and back down below timberline by 2PM. After 2PM, the thunderstorms roll in and it gets real nasty up there. Often, on my way back down, I pass flatlander tourists on their way up, in flipflops or tennis shoes and cotton tshirts trying to get to the summit. I warn them about the weather, they ignore me. Who's foolhardy? Me a fast solo climber who is usually enjoying an adult beverage back at the trailhead when the storms roll in, or the touristas who are hunkered down behind a boulder shivering, waiting for the lightning to subside.

We have a third party, the Libertarians. However us Libertarians have as many moonbats as the Republicans have. Once we kick the moonbats out and send them to the nation of Texas, we might become a viable challenge to the democrats.

Yeah, and Ralston also was tranformed from a minimum wage retail clerk to a multi-million dollar motivational speaker because of the ordeal. Who wouldn't give their left arm for such a gig.

If I'm not mistaken, churches pay no property taxes. Property taxes are used to provide public services like police, fire and local government. Churches use those resources but don't pay for them. Churches are getting a free ride on those who have to pay property taxes. So yes, I agree with both Ed and Merlyn. BSA got a real sweet deal with the city, but all churches do too. Personally, I'd like to see nobody get sweet deals on my tax coin. Pay your fair share, I don't care who you are.

Yeah, its best to go into the wilds with a friend. He was a bit young to do this, but I don't blame him for wanting to do it. The serenity and satisfaction of solo treking is very seductive. Modern electronics make it much safer now, give you a bit of a technological safety net. I bet this scouts parents buy him a SPOT. Got mine last week. Works great, my new electronic buddy.

What would the buddy system have provided to avoid this situation? Having a buddy along wouldn't have changed situation one bit. You would have just had two hikers stranded by swollen rivers and deep snow. Buddy system works when one gets hurt, but not when you get lost or stranded.

What? Scouting is going to stop in the Cradle of Liberty because they (the council) have to move their office? In Denver, they just recently moved from their downtown office to a suburb. It didn't stop scouting in my council. Why would it be any differnt in PA?