GernBlansten

Boots are like cars. Both have features and issues. Some are cheap, some outrageously expensive. You will probably have fewer problems with a new expensive car. And your Volvos, Lexus and Mercedes will probably outlive your Ford Tempo or Chevy Aveo. Likewise, expensive boots are probably going to be more comfortable and give you better performance right out of the box and last longer the cheapos. But if you like the cheap ones, and they are comfortable and get the job done, have at it. But given my druthers, I'd rather drive cross country in a 10 year old Volvo than a 10 year old Tempo.

To further complicate the issue, the day/night camping formula fails to consider allowances for daylight savings times, camping on or near time zone demarcations, and leap years. b)

No sympathy for the overweight scouter who was rejected, my sympathy goes to the boys he disappointed by leaving them short changed. On both the Philmont medical form and the Philmont guide book, both of which the prospective trekker received, there is an easy to follow weight chart with admonitions on not exceeding your max weight. A scouter who is not within his weight band, should not even show up and arrange a replacement.

My credit rating is great and I'm not using it right now so someone else might as well use it. Just don't abuse it. Never know when I might find that perfect one man tent and need to whip out the plastic. I keep waiting for the ad at the top of the page to promote that guy who puts his SSN on a truck bragging about how his identity is protected. LifeLock isn't it?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for verifying the worthiness of adult leaders. I'm just not convinced BSA will actually do the background checks or be vigilant with my SSN. Kinda like having the drivers license numbers on tour permits. My council doesn't verify or check them. They just stamp the permit and file it. The information provided is not used for any productive purpose. My wife is a volunteer volleyball coach. The league she coaches in has an agreement with the local PD. She had to go downtown, show ID, they did the background check and faxed it to the league office. Seems like a secure system. And how about drug and alcohol abusers? What's next, pee in a cup?

Well that's obvious. But why the push now? I thought they always did background checks. I guess it was just a scare crow, designed to scare away any convicts from even finishing the application. Kinda like companies verifying your references or diplomas. Few do.

I don't have a problem with the presentations at unit meetings, however, I want them focused on the 75% of the parents who aren't scouters. We scouters give our time, blood, sweat, tears and money because those parents are just too busy with work schedules to donate their efforts. Let them dig into their wallets. Scouters should get a pass on FOS.

I wonder what the motivation for this effort is? Response to a growing problem of criminals in the BSA ranks, or a fear of a loophole allowing criminal infiltration of BSA ranks.

Calico, timing is everything. That corn flake was hot because Obama is from Illinois and he has the O-mentum right now.

I'd be leary of that stuff. Lots of Chinese knock offs on Ebay. I'd look for the genuine items at Walmart instead.

Around here, there are three types of land, private, USFS and parks. The parks are most restrictive (usually no fires at all), followed by the USFS and hardly any land owner welcomes strangers camping on their land. The issue with fire bans and cooking with natural fuels is the ability to extinguish the flame instantly. If you can't just turn it off, it usually is banned during those times. Yes, even charcoal BBQs are banned here during those times. So a contained natural fire using charcoal or wood in a #10 can does not meet the regulations. Another issue with using liquid fuel powered backpacking stoves for patrol cooking...doesn't the G2SS recommend only propane or butane? I suppose to avoid the inevitable flare ups and spilled fuel.

GW, I think a better solution would be to build a small reservoir and float the tent on an air mattress. It would then weather-vain to its most stable orientation. Moderators, please close this thread. I was informed this morning by my better half that "our" economic stimulus bootie will be going to the Maytag corporation. The quest for the perfect solo tent has ended. Any further discussion would be as useful as discussing which sports car should I buy next, the Ferrari or the Maserati? Just dreaming and it ain't gonna happen.

In our neck of the woods, wildfire season starts around May and goes until first snow in October. Usually accompanied with campfire bans in all national forests.

Now you guys are talking. What I found with the quarter dome, wasn't that it was flimsy, but presented a broad flat side the wind would just roll it over. I suppose all one man free standers would do the same. how about this bad boy? http://www.bdel.com/gear/oneshot.php $300, 4 season, just under 3 lbs. No vestibule though. But I have a pack cover to do that. Only 4 season one man I've found.

Technically, its labeled incorrectly. It should be 100 nights camping, period. Not days and nights. You don't camp during the day. That's a day hike. What makes it camping is spending the night. Ok, they do have day camps for kids, but is it really camping? Lets take this to the logical extreme, shall we? A typical single night camping would be two days camping wouldn't it? One before the night, one after. So 33.33333~ nights of the camping would be 66.333333~ days. We could round off the partial days camping by not counting those days where you arrive after sunset which would technically be night. I doubt you would see only night camping without days, unless you arrive in your car to a camp after dark, get up and break camp and get back in your car before sunrise. But what would be the point of that? That's just crazy talk.

OK, Fgoodwin, at least its free standing. One of the criteria, but its a two man tent. I have an REI Half Dome, at 5 lbs is a great 2 man tent. I'm really pushing for the one man free standing, under 3 lbs. I don't need any more room than my bag as I hope it has an ample vestibule for my pack and boots. I do like the simplicity and utilitarianism of tents that use hiking poles for support, but they ain't free standing. See, I hate tent stakes. I like to setup my tent, move it around, get just the right angle, then bed down and snooze. Hammering in stakes just makes it so... so.. permanent. And a lot of places I might solo camp is above timberline where the ground is solid rock. I was hoping for you guys to give me other options than the REI quarter dome. Its expense at $175, might really irritate the better half, might only be used on a few campouts this year, is highly unnecessary and selfish, and George Bush really wants me to spend the money on stuff! PLEASE SAVE ME FROM MYSELF!!!!

I posted this thread about 16 months ago. Since then, I've gotten buy in from the CC, the SM, the other ASMs, pretty much every adult in the unit. We offer it at every PLC that patrols should take advantage of it. Initial interest is high, but when push comes to shove, they don't follow through. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE KIDS!!!!!!!????? OK OK, I know that is what I would have loved to do if I were their age. I'm not. Heck, its what I love to do at my age. I certainly ain't gonna plan their adult free campout weekend for them am I? You can lead a horse to water, but your job is to make it thirsty?

Congrats to both you Lisabob and your critter. Nothing brings home "Be Prepared" like a backpacking trip. That's real camping. WARNING>>>WARNING>>>WARNING>>> He will now start looking at his gear and seeing things that he doesn't need anymore, stuff that could be lighter, stuff that could be better made, stuff that could do more than one thing. Hide all the REI and Campmor catalogs! Your wallet will thank me. BTW, I'm a recovering gear addict. Well, not really recovering, but working at it.

I've been on and off CPR certified for over 30 years. Every time I get renewed, somethings changed. I remember when we had to break the sternum with a few quick blows before pumping. Now you got to wear a face condom. Never liked the suck face part anyways. Although my last CPR dummy had a striking resemblance to Mrs. Brad Pitt. I called her Resusci Angelina. I sometimes really wonder how many lives are really saved by it anyways. I've never seen stats on it, I'm sure they exist somewhere on the internets. Unless the victim is fairly young and a drowning or electric shock victim , I doubt it does much more than keep the organs fresher for harvesting. Old men keeling over with massive coronaries, their hearts have stopped for a reason and a little massaging ain't gonna unplug 50 years of cholesterol. Gives you something to do to pass time while the EMTs arrive with an AED I guess.

John, by no means take this the wrong way, but what would you do if the scout responds... "How do you worship?" "How do you pray?" "What's important about your faith?" Scout:None of your beeswax!

Yeah Calico, I've never been too impressed with one man tents, but this one caught my eye. Never seen too so much headroom in a such a small package. The pole arrangement is quite origami. Must have been designed by Japanese graduate students.

No, can't do a 7lb'er. Not for one man. I have several 2 man that fit that bill. Got an REI .5 dome that really is a great backpacking tent at 6lbs. I want something under 3lbs with fly, free standing and something you can sit up in.

If you have the chance to get Wilderness First Responder, I'd do it in a heart beat. If they don't have any prerequisites, I'd bet they cover everything in basic first aid and WFA. I think when I checked, BFA was 8 hours, WFA was an additional 16 hours and WFR was 80 hours. So a two week course of 8 hours a day might make sense. Here's the NOLS reference http://www.nols.edu/wmi/courses/

No can do scotty. I can't sleep in a hammock. Gotta toss and turn all night long. My current one man ultra light is a Coleman Exponent but it isnt free standing and you can't sit up in it. Its really a glorified bivvy bag, and not a really good one at that. Anyone else got a free standing one man tent that they like? Got some free money coming my way and its burning a hole in my pocket!

So I'm out doing some recon on what I might spend my ill-conceived economic stimulus check from Dubya, wandering through REI and came across this gadget. http://www.rei.com/product/761891 Its the first free standing one man tent I've ever liked. Tough little bugger too. Might just have to add this to my quiver, not that my wife would be very happy about it, but hey! its a one man tent!