SWScouter

Most every UL pack setup these days is based on Jardine's Ray-Way pack. I haven't checked here for awhile because I was off hiking the Pacific Crest Trail this year. My base pack weight was around 10 pounds. I used two different Ray-Way packs that I sewed myself. One was ~39 liters and the other was ~44 liters so a bear can would fit in it when I went through the Sierra, both weigh only 10oz each. One really doesn't need much gear, especially when you're out there to hike, not sit around in camp. To keep this scouting related, here's my vlog for the day I summitted Mt. Baden Powell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x84J8Pp4JZk

I've never heard of the OA performing a ceremony at an Eagle COH. I have heard of, and seen, an OA member performing an Eagle Dance at an Eagle COH.

I've been using these Umara Z-Trail sandals. they're great. I run in them and hike in really rocky terrain with them. A bit pricey, but very nice.

These responses crack me up. The red jac-shirt was replaced with the green jac-shirt a few years ago. I guess if they still published a catalog people might know...

A lot of "National BSA Policy" really is just your local camp policy, or just somebody repeating what they were told from somebody else who was repeating what they were told from somebody else who was repeating what they were told from somebody else, ad infinitum. There are a lot of policies that really are nothing more than myth.

Personally, I do not think an adult leader being a facebook friend of a scout is against the G2SS. Basically, every "friend" of said scout will see anything the scout posts or anything the leader posts on the scout's wall. I would not, however private message that scout and if the scout private messages me, I would either not respond, or bring another in on the conversation.

To me, this is why. The OA enlarges a scout's scouting world and provides opportunities for the scout to grow that world, not only as a participant, but as a leader.

What's the ripoff? Usually the price is commensurate with the cost to provide the activity.

The OP seems to belong to an expensive lodge. My lodge: Dues: $10 Banquet: $15 Spring Fellowship: $15 Ordeals: $25 for members, less for elangomats and ceremonialists. $55 for ordeal candidates (includes sash, handbook, flap, etc.) Brotherhood: $25 (I think, might be $20 but the cost of the sashes was recently increased) Also, the lodge offers an "Ididerall" for $100 that includes two plates to the banquet, Spring Fellowship, four ordeals, and a special patch. It's a good deal

One thing that hasn't been brought up but I think is worth mentioning, is that pictures of people outdoors, such as the scouts, tend to be much nicer when they are wearing bright clothing.

That is wrong. 80L = 4881.89953 cubic inches.

I'm just gonna say, please don't buy your sons huge backpacks! The Alps Redtail 4900 is 80 liters. I have no idea why anyone would need or want an 80L pack unless maybe they were doing winter mountaineering and had to carry ropes, crampons, ice axe, etc. That Osprey was 75 liters. Again, that's huge! Those packs weigh a heck of a lot too. Would you really want to weigh your 12 year old son down with a 5+ pound pack? There really isn't much of a reason to ever need more than 60L. Needing large, heavy packs is pure myth and should be avoided. REI really is doing a disservice selling these packs to the unknowing public. It's really sad. The pack manufacturers too. Another thing, large packs tend to get filled up with more stuff which just means more weight to carry. Here's something, I sewed my own backpack. It weighs only 9.5 oz. I've taken it on a five day backpack with all the food and gear I needed fitting in it just fine. Total weight at the start was maybe 27 lb. and that was with group gear I normally wouldn't carry. If you want to enjoy backpacking with your family, then go light and avoid all this heavy stuff that will just turn them off from the activity.

My 23 year old daughter just bought a pair of crocs. I have a friend that hikes in those Keens all the time. We've done many trips in the Grand Canyon and the rocky desert. He loves them. I quit using hiking boots and am using trail runners now (Altra Lone Peak). I've backpacked probably close to 600 miles with them in the past year and hiked probably 800 more. Love em. Boots suck comparatively speaking. I hike on very rocky terrain and have found that boots are a hindrance. I have a couple friends that hike in Chacos. They hiked the PCT in sandals and the CDT and the Arizona Trail. Of all the long-distance hikers I've met, none wear boots. Philmont literature says hiking boots are required but they don't seem to have any issue with people using lighter foot-wear.

Take that up with the camp ranger. The camp ranger should be supplying meaningful projects for the ordeal candidates to perform.

For the tarptent, the netting and floor may be separated from the fly if desired and also may be set up by itself if desired. It's probably more of a hassle than it is worth though. I believe there are some videos on the tarptent site that show set up and such.