Introduction Last week I spent four days in the Bob Marshall Wilderness with Scout Leaders from around the country training them in the art and practice of ultralight backpacking techniques for the Backpacking Light / Montana BSA course. Our goal is simpler, yet more profound, than just playing with gear: thinking about the best ways to impart the knowledge [...]
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Are You Stealing Opportunity for Character Development From Your Scouts?
“It’s too cold!” “Trekking is a summer activity!” “Sleep in a snow WHAT?” When I bring up the prospect of a ski trek, I expect these sorts of reactions from some mothers, a few fathers, and certain types of boys. I don’t expect them, nor do I hear them, from the types of boys that [...]
Scout Leader Training: Ultralight Backpacking
In May 2010 I had the privilege of teaching one of the most exciting courses ever to Scout Leaders from across North America. They came from Alberta, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Washington, and other faraway lands to little old DuPuyer, Montana at the foothills of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Their [...]
Cliffhanging: Bear Bagging Above the Treeline
On the Arctic 1000, we slept with our food. This gave me a little bit of trepidation, especially when our camp was usually surrounded by some combination of wolves, muskox, and grizzly bears. I’m sure that’s what Andy will be doing as well during his traverse of the Brooks Range this year. Otherwise, sleeping with [...]
GoLite Shangri-La 6 & 8: Lightweight Crew Shelters That Meet Standards of Storm Protection, Simplicity, and Group Dynamics
We use GoLite Shangri-La 6′s and 8′s for our advanced (WT3) Wilderness Trekking School courses, and when I outfit Scout High Adventure Programs going into hostile environments. There are three primary reasons. They are light enough. Between the shelters, poles, and a big set of robust stakes, shelter weight comes out to around a pound per [...]
Give a Boy a Map
Harry Potter couldn’t cross the Beartooth Range, or be a thru-hiker, because of character attributes that are not compatible with long distance wilderness travel. You see, Harry Potter suffers from arrogance (he’d think he knew where he was when he really wasn’t), impatience (he wouldn’t evaluate all of his route options), and anger management (he’d [...]
Back from the Beartooths: A 50-Mile Traverse With Scouts
Self Portrait at Green Lake LEICA M9, ZEISS BIOGON C 35/2.8 I am back from a traverse of the Beartooth Plateau with BSA Troop 676 of Bozeman, and am getting caught up, so can’t provide much more than teasers right now. The good stuff (photos and gear list) will appear when this blog is [...]