dcviper

Thanks for all your help. I was kinda worried there for a while... YiS, dcviper

I too have a MSR Wisperlite Internationale Combo (Awesome price @ Galyans in Cols. OH --10% to scouts). I love mine, but wouldn't recomend it for younger scouts. At the troop level, we use the Coleman Apex backpacker stoves, with Adults filling and carrying the gas. The boys all know how to light it, and must have adult supervision (not a prob since we are keepers of the flame so to speak). Doesn't your troop issue stoves? -dcviper Assistant Scoutmaster, BSA Troop 3 PGP KeyID == 0xA81C9DCB

Ok, I'm gonna sound like a total n3wb, but I recently joined a Philmont contingent from another troop, and unfortunatly, my old troops backpacking practices left ALOT to be desired.... I have owned my internal frame Kelty Redcloud [kelty.com] for a number of years, and this just hasn't come up before. When putting my unloaded pack on a pack rack or pack line, I am concerned that the weight of anything left in the top portion of the bag will weight down on and bend the stays. They are supposed to be the kind that you can bend back and forth to the correct shape, but I am worried about losing that shape and finding out about it on the trail when my pack doesn't sit right (I've had it long enough that its set up perfectly for me). Any comment/suggestions/advice is welcomed. -dcviper Assistant Scoutmaster, BSA Troop 3 PGP KeyID == 0xA81C9DCB