Here’s some advice from Wade Bastian on the Appalachian trail gear he carried on his hike. Wade set out onthe 2200 mile trail withfellow Eagle ScoutBucky Kellorgin February. As planned, Wade interrupted his hike to spend the summer employed as a peak steward in New York’s Adirondack mountains (he’s stewarding a peak in the photo above). Bucky completed the trail in July, here he is on Katahdin with fellow hiker Brightside...
Proper outdoor clothing is comfortable but, more importantly, it keeps you safe. It’s surprising parents sometimes don’t seem to give much thought to what Scouts wear to a camping trip. If your troop is like mine they will be rained on and experience unseasonably cold temperatures on just about every camp out! Without the right clothing, Scouts will be cold, wet, have a bad experience, and be reluctant to go camping again....
Who is Kevin Callan? Kevin Callan is the author of thirteen books, including the best selling “The Happy Camper”, the incredibly popular series of paddling guides, and most reviewed “Wilderness Pleasures: A Practical Guide to Camping Bliss”. On a regular basis, he presents across North America and has been a key speaker at all the major canoe events for over 25 years. Callan is also a frequent guest on radio and television, and field editor for Explore....
: Portage pack and day bag (the waist or lumbar pack) The canoe never gets lighter, but the packs do. Pack with paddles. Triumph! The end of a five mile portage. Any high adventure canoe trip requires selecting the right gear and clothing. I am pretty specific about what we carry on our trips because I know one thing for sure; in the case of where we are going:...
Don’t assume your Scouts know how to sleep warm while camping, it’s important to instruct them and be sure they are properly equipped. In especially cold weather changing clothes before getting in a sleeping bag can make a big difference, as can having a pair of loosely fitting wool or fleece socks just for sleeping. Sleeping bag insulation will be compressed when it is packed ss fluffing it up and redistributing the insulation is important....
1. Go to bed Warm Jumping jacks, push ups or something similar – just enough to warm yourself up but before you start sweating. If you getin a sleeping bag when you are cold you’ll likely stay cold. 2. Fuel up If it’s going to be a very cold night consider a pre-bedtime snack that will keep the furnace burning. Slow burning fatty snacks like cheese; avoid refined sugars or caffeine....
Kevin Callan tells a great story about a canoe hat: I didn’t give it much thought at first when my paddling buddy began handing over his sleeping pad, rain jacket and canoe pack to his nephew. I just considered it a nice gesture; after all, we had finished our trip – 27 days paddling Quetico park – and his nephew was just beginning his – a summer spent working as a canoe guide for Scouts Northern Tier Camp....
Picture from George Griffin at BackpackingGearTest.org The Tilley LTM6 Airflo Hat is quite a piece of engineering. I have worn one now for a few years and I recommend it highly. My faithful, cheap,(ten bucks at a hardware store) straw hat gave up after three years of canoeing in Canada, summer camp and carpentry. In searching for a replacement I decided to check out the much touted Tilley hat. After some research I decided on the LTM6 Airflo and hoped it would be equal to the rather steep ($70....