local1400

Thanks John. 1C Req. 4e. "On one campout..." Do you take that as for the entire weekend? That would kinda circumvent the Duty roster rotation, wouldn't you think? I am all for the duty roster. It works/has worked/can work. I think a large problem is these carports every troop uses these days where all patrols are bunched under one roof. Stuff gets borrowed, knocked around, goes missing. It's real crowded quarters. It all spells trouble for the Patrol method.

It worked good then. But now I recall a requirement (2C maybe?) where a Scout cooks for his patrol for an entire campout to fulfill a requirement. The good old days are gone, we gotta get used to the new Scouting way.

Unfortunately I drive tired all the time, a byproduct of my career choice and it's unpredictable schedule. It is true, when your mind shuts down, it does. There is not much that will keep you awake if you are overtired. Remember, driving tired is the same as driving drunk. Your judgment and motor skills are impaired. I have used smelling salts on those occasions when I have been up for 30 hours straight, then take my 90 minute commute. I have also slept in my car for up to hours. I agree, find closer camping spots and save the longer trips for 3 day-weekends or mini-vacations. But I should think the smell of Scouts enclosed in a vehicle on the return trip would keep anyone awake!

I too love the new neckerchiefs, except for the toned-down colors. Perhaps National will bring back some of the old colors. I bought the red with black, and also the black with red and green with red. Ok, you guessed-I have over 70 neckerchiefs. Now if only they would bring back the Magnus slides too!

If I was a founding member of the troop of my youth or my current troop, I would be long dead!

I am not sure how to take your most recent post Beav, but for a different angle on things, look at Weingarten v. United States of America. Mr. Weingartens daughter was killed May 1, 1994 while skiing at Tuckermans. He sued the USFS for causing her death from negligence. No, there is no sustainable industry here other than tourism, they have all shut down as big business decided to have the Chinese make all our goods for less than a living wage.

The NH Fish and Game Department spends millions each year on hundreds of rescues. Our state, like all states, is broke. We also do not pay any State income or sales taxes, but do enjoy high property, meal, and gas taxes. Our fire departments do not generally charge for fire response BUT you may be assessed a fine if your fire was caused by carlessness or by not following the rules on your fire permit. Ambulances charge everywhere. The Scout, and most every other hiker who finds themselves "knee-deep in it" basically fail to follow common sense. At about 1.5 million residents, NH can no longer afford to spend it's limited resources on S&R missions. Gone too are the days of volunteer efforts. The Mount Washington Valley is a very beautiful place, it's why I live here. But we who live here know better than to go traipsing around the Whites in winter ill-prepared. Heck, I don't like to stand outside when it's time for the dogs to do their business in January because if it's 5 below down here, it's 40 below up there. I can see Mt. Washington from my house, and when I look up, I see tragedy as well as the majesty of it all. If you have never read "Not Without Peril" by Nicholas Howe, pick it up. Your heart will be broken by the end, and you will also notice not many locals have died there- except in a rescue attempt.

Kittle, perhaps your son should find some jobs like snow shoveling and lawn mowing this spring in order to purchase uniforms himself. He should have at least 3 shirts and shorts/pants combinations for Jambo. Hot sun and active youth= a little gaminess. I mowed lawns to do Scout activities, otherwise we would not have afforded it with 5 siblings.

It seems as though this topic comes up year after year on this great site. So I have an idea. Why don't you poll the Boys in your Boy Scout troop and ask them if they would like to have girls in THEIR program. That should end this co-ed nonsense once and for ever.

Well we have heard lots of arguments for and against labor unions. (I am union and pro-union). East manufacturing plants were not shut down due to "high labor costs" but rather to greed. People want to earn a decent living because of the cost of living. I have lived in both the north and the south. I could make $8.00 an hour down south and survive quite well on that. In the north, I make over triple that, and we are just getting by. If you are anti-union, look into the history of labor unions and the USDL laws you enjoy TODAY. Remember back in the early days of labor, when if you complained because you didn't get paid AGAIN this week for the 72 hour week you worked, the company would have you killed? And how about all those manufacturing jobs "gone away" because people wanted to make a living? How much did that Chinese girl earn to assemble your new $40 Scout shirt? 20 cents?

It has been a long time since I last posted, but I had to share in this thread. My favorite patch was not earned but was a gift from an old Scoutmaster. When I was SPL back in the day, our troop needed new manilla rope for lashing. A saturday at the SM's house was planned for measuring, cutting, melting ends, and finally dipping the ends into different colored paint to denote length. I was the only Scout to show up. After the job was done, my SM rewarded me with an OA backpatch from his lodge, Chi Sigma 546 from the Louis Agassiz Fuertes council from upstate NY. (The lodge and council was merged with another in 1975). I have seen similar patches to this go on ebay for 3 to 5 thousand dollars. I will never part with it (well, maybe for a million cash . The next favorite is the troop patch I helped to design for our troops 75th anniversary in 1987. And finally last but certainly not least, is the one on my left arm that says Assistant Scoutmaster, because it truly is a priveledge to serve the youth today.OOOPS, can some moderator please delete this inadvertant double post?(This message has been edited by local1400)

It has been a long time since I last posted, but I had to share in this thread. My favorite patch was not earned but was a gift from an old Scoutmaster. When I was SPL back in the day, our troop needed new manilla rope for lashing. A saturday at the SM's house was planned for measuring, cutting, melting ends, and finally dipping the ends into different colored paint to denote length. I was the only Scout to show up. After the job was done, my SM rewarded me with an OA backpatch from his lodge, Chi Sigma 546 from the Louis Agassiz Fuertes council from upstate NY. (The lodge and council was merged with another in 1975). I have seen similar patches to this go on ebay for 3 to 5 thousand dollars. I will never part with it (well, maybe for a million cash . The next favorite is the troop patch I helped to design for our troops 75th anniversary in 1987. And finally last but certainly not least, is the one on my left arm that says Assistant Scoutmaster, because it truly is a priveledge to serve the youth today.

This young man is very fortunate indeed. We have been blessed with some very July-like weather which may have helped save his life. Despite being encircled with roads, the area is still very remote nad wild. A woman who went missing in 1985 was not found until 1994. Still a few have never been found. I will not condemn this lad for being alone on an adventure such as this, since we have all done it I'm sure, but rather suggest anyone wanting to explore the Presidentials read "Not Without Peril" by Nicholas Howe (AMC books) beforehand. Many hve died from exposure on the nicest of summer days. See you at Pinkhams Pack!

Halfway through this I noticed the date and also the original poster has moved on, but I couldn't help notice one tidbit of information that stuck out. "Nesting Bald Eagles". As a federally protected bird, development around their nests is pretty tough to accomplish.

Pack, when you get to the bottom of Mount Washington, give a shout. I have a shower and food!