The Ideal Day Pack for the 2013 National Jamboree

Exciting to open boxes with new gear inside

REI Flash 22 Day Pack & Go Bag

Yesterday the box from REI arrived and inside was two new ultralight day packs, the REI Flash 22, one in Parrot and one in Titanium.  We believe that these are our day packs for the 2013 National Jamboree. (Update: to add sale link to REI, $33.99 (regularly $49.50) sale on until May 27, 2013)

Two packs in a box: The
REI Flash 22 in Titanium and Parrot

 We have lots of packs and a couple of favorite packs we use most often.  Kimberly's favorite is a 2010 Camelbak (in about the 30L size) and Steve's is a REI Lookout 40.  The size of the lookout is great and with heavy straps and waist belt any load is well managed.  However, the idea of hauling the heavy 3 lb. 3 oz. pack around in the WV heat during the 2013 National Jamboree is unbearable. 

The 18 bag and the 22 bag on the right showing both
cinch at the top and showing 2 water bottle pockets on the 22

So at Christmas Kimberly got Steve a REI Flash 18 (see the black bag in the picture to the left).  A super lightweight bag (11 oz) that holds 18L, has a hydration port and hydration pocket and reverses to a stuff sack. The straps are quite lightweight and comfortable.  Steve has started using it for almost everything.  The drawbacks include no pocket for a water bottle and no small outside pocket for easy to grab items and the biggest is the top cinches up to a pucker that is covered only by a small slip of leather.  Basically that top of the REI Flash 18 says if it rains, your stuff gets wet.

The 22 has a top "brain" with outside
zipper pocket that covers the cinched bag.

So enter the REI Flash 22 which has all of the great qualities of the 18L and solves all of the problems with it as well.  The Flash 22 is only 1 lb. and the 22L bag is much larger than the 18L, that extra 293 cu inches seems to make a huge difference.  The 22 includes a full flap with pocket to cover the top, shield from the rain and add a much needed outside pocket for small quick to need/grab items.  It also includes two water bottle outside mesh pockets that seem generous in size.  It includes the same daisy chain strapping as the 18L for clipping on gear and includes a tool hook permanently attached, perfect for holding the hiking poles we might want with us.

One neat feature of both bags (18 and 22) is a backing that slides out of the back of the pack and gives you a "sit-upon" or is discardable giving you an even lighter bag, but with out the padding the backing gives you.  The backing in the 22 is heavier and stiffer than in the 18 giving a little more support to the bag, but also not allowing it to roll up to almost nothing like the 18L.  If you want to roll up the 22 and put it in your larger duffel or pack you might pull out the backing first.

Both bags have identical straps, very comfortable
and the sternum strap and waist belt do come off.
The 22 on the right also seems like the "holes" will
add comfort in the heat.

We have encouraged our Venturers and Scouts to maintain Go Bags for camping and for those times you just have to grab and go.  I like the idea of keeping this pack packed and ready to go. You can see a list of what should go in our Go Bags at http://trooponeakron.org/gobag.html.

We may have to create a post on what goes in our go bag too. for now here is the list of what is on page 264 of the Boy Scout Handbook:

1. pocketknife
2. first aid kit
3. extra clothing / insulation layer
4. rain gear 
5. water bottle 
6. flashlight /headlight
7. trail food 
8. matches
9. sun protection
10. map and compass

To that we would add insect repellent and our 1.7 lb. BSA UL Chair (ultralight-camp-chair-1.7-lbs-of-pure-pleasure.

See you on the trails of the Summit Bechtel Reserve
Steve and Kimberly Myers

Love the Platypus Big Zip SL Hydration System.

In today's box on my porch!

Platypus Big Zip SL Hydration System

I love looking out front of our house and seeing a box on the porch.  Today's box included a battery powered razor (to test for Jamboree), 2 more pair of Exofficio Men's Give-N-Go Boxer Briefs (definitely for Jamboree) and the star attraction is the Platypus Big Zip SL 1.8 liter hydration system.  I wanted a smaller system to fit in my REI Flash 18 pack (love it) and to fit in my REI Flash 22 pack which ought to hit my porch in a day or two.  The 3.0L is way too tall and takes up too much volume for the little day pack.  I love using the 3.0 L in the full backpacks.  (Platypus does also sell a 2.0L version, but the bag is the same size as the 3.0 L.

You are going to love the large
opening and easy to use big blue clip

I have used a Platypus Big Zip 3.0 Liter system for over a year (possibly two) and absolutely love it. The other bladder(s) I had in the past suffered from one or more of the following maladies:  the mouth valve leaked, some did not have a turn off setting and still leaked, the flow was so hard I was working to suck water in, the hose did not detach, and my biggest peve is they were difficult for my old fingers to open or were hard to fill.

The 1.8 L is 7.5 x 13 inches and weighs 4.0 oz.
The 3.0 L is 18.75 x 7.75 inches and weighs 5.8 oz.

None of that is true with the Big Zip.  Filling it is a breeze with the top clip sliding off, the zip-lock bag like opening easily open and spread leading to few spills and messes.  It locks by first zipping the bag and reapplying the big blue clip (which is tied on so you don't drop it in the mud while you are filling up).  The printed instruction on the bag says "slide shut to secure, invert to test."  Testing is a great idea. I have never experienced a leak under that blue clip.

Older 3.0L bite valve on the left and
new 1.8L bite valve on the right

The hose detaches with only a drop or two of leak, if that.  Once detached there is no leaking. Detaching helps thread the hose through the pack hydration port and means you do not have to pull out the hose to pull the bag out and fill it up.  the hoses are identical in length between the 1.8 L and 3.0 L systems.

Once difference seems to be the bite valve is redesigned.  Gone are the ON and OFF words and a plastic stop keeps you from rotating it the wrong way.  (The new bite valve is on the right of the older one)  I expect the bite valve will be as comfortable on the new as it is on the old one.  You can't go wrong with this system.  Buy it here at REI or check out our store for each model available via Amazon. 

You can get a cleaning kit here.
Steve

A Glorious Weekend for Beginning Backpacking

Troop One Backpackers on the trail at Ohio Pyle State Park
(picture by Bob Biggs)

Can 11 year old scouts go backpacking?  A few intrepid souls from our favorite troop just did.

Our patch for the
first backpacking trip.

On the first weekend in May it was beautiful in the Ohio Pyle area of SW Pennsylvania.  While it was a perfect weekend for backpacking there and possibly everywhere, a few scouts set off on their first backpacking experience. They joined a few experienced scouts and set off to walk their first 9 miles with packs that were too heavy or didn't fit their small frame just right.

The patch we would like to make
design by Gabe Hunt, all rights reserved)

Welcome to the Akron based "Troop One Backpackers."  About a year ago we recognized a problem:  The Boy Scout Troop had essentially left the high adventure to our close sister Venturing Crew 2001.  After all, all of the troop trips to Philmont and elsewhere were Crew trips since the older scouts and the coed Venturers would make up the participants.  This means that no one backpacked until they were 14 and while there are a lot of good reasons to have scout's wait (such as expense and upper body strength), it is a loss not to get the youngest excited about this fabulous sport. And excited they are.

About a year ago, Eagle Scout Sam Hyde and backpacking "pro" and assistant scoutmaster Bob Biggs helped plan out a way to engage the youngest in hitting the trail.  Our idea is that each young scout that wants to sample carrying a pack should get a chance and when they are older they will enter the Venturing Crew raring to go.  This trip represented our second trip in recent years with young scouts. Listening to the scouts we will be doing this again very soon.

Perhaps, in the future, we can engage our pocket crew (see our story on the pocket crew) so the girls will also be ready for the backpacking lovers in our outdoor Venturing Crew.

On the way back from Ohio Pyle, these scouts were very attentive to the presentation on choosing the right backpack when they visited REI in Pittsburgh.

Steve and Kimberly Myers
 

Summit CamelBak® Podium Bottle - an excellent addition to our stash

Summit CamelBak® Podium Bottle

We love this bottle.  It is branded for The Summit (@BechtelSummit) and made by Camelbak.  Picked it up on a lark since we like to review gear and have a room full of gear, this bottle has surprised us. Not only is it unbreakable, it is truly leak-proof even when open.  That needs some explanation, you can see in the image of the top, you can dial it from closed to open.  When open it is still hard to spill.  You can squeeze and it will come out, but the bite valve works to keep the water in your mouth and not one everything.  Turns out we have used these on our night stands.  Sure beats knocking over a glass in the middle of the night! Water does not taste like bottle from these which is a real bonus.

The shape is comfortable and the size fits in the side pockets of our day pack and the side cargo pocket on our scout pants.  (That is why we have cargo pockets isn't it?  Steve has a 16 oz Stanley leak proof coffee mug that is usually there.) These bottles might make the cut for water at the jamboree, but we are not yet sure. 

As of April 9, 2013 it was $7.99 at http://www.scoutstuff.org/bottle-podium-21oz-sbr.html.  Non-BSA versions can be had at amazon here.   From scoutstuff: "Stay focused to maximize performance when you hydrate with the ultimate insulated bike bottle! High-tech Zeroloft^® insulation makes the bottle ultra-lightweight while keeping water cool four times longer than standard bike bottles. Also keeps beverages warm for your cool-weather rides.

Made of BPA-free TruTaste™ polypropylene with HydroGuard™ so all you taste is fresh, clean water! Innovative, self-sealing Jet Valve™ eliminates splatters and spills.

Great-looking 21-oz. bottle features the new Summit logo, so carry it everywhere! It’s a great way to start conversations about the Summit Bechtel Reserve™—Scouting’s exciting, new high-adventure base."

As of April 9, 2013 it was $7.99 at http://www.scoutstuff.org/bottle-podium-21oz-sbr.html.  Non-BSA versions can be had at amazon here.

Try it, you will like it.

Steve and Kimberly Myers

Ultralight Camp Chair - 1.7 lbs of Pure Pleasure

This BSA Ultralight Camp Chair is Going to Jamboree!

The Lafuma next to the BSA chair.

Update (4/18/2017):  Scoutstuff.com  now offers a 2017 Jamboree Version. Rated at 300 lbs. I cannot say how it compares, but it looks like the original versions we love so much. It is slightly heavier at 2.25 lbs and more pricey than the 2014 version at $75.99.  Here is the link

2017 Jamboree® Travel Chair—Red

Item: 636658
We took our original chairs to the 2013 Jamboree and they were the single best piece of gear we had for the duration.

Big Agnes / Helinox have really expanded their chair line from the ultralight to larger car-camping versions and even a rocker. Do check out Big Agnes / Helinox at this link. 

Update (3/31/2014):  The Chair is back at Scoutstuff.com.  We have no idea how long it has been there, but it was there today. Here is the description.

"BSA® Backpacking Chair

Item: 618758

Availability: In Stock

$49.99

This BSA-exclusive, top-quality design combines affordability with strength and durability. The sturdy frame-with 250-lb. weight capacity-is made from anodized aluminum tubing with reinforced aluminum alloy joint hubs for added stability. Seat, back, and arms are made of 600D PVC with mesh inserts. Lightweight and portable, chair folds up quick and easy, and weighs just 1.9 lbs. Black. Imported."

These were the greatest comfort at the National Jamboree and has been on most of our camps and trips since! 

Update (5/6/2013):  We took the BSA UL chairs to the NE4VOA Summit in PA and toted and used these chairs in a number of instances.  We can assure you that these chairs are worth it!..

Our review of the LaFuma Micro Popup Chair from REI last July is our second most popular blog post.  We still like those chairs, but two new chairs from the Boy scouts of America are now here in our house and part of @scoutingcouple's favorite gear.  We first saw them in the jamboree catalog and you can see them at scoutstuff.org where they currently sell for  

Even holds a Jamboree
Scoutmaster comfortably!

$59.99.  We showed these at our Jamboree Troop and Crew meetings and there were a lot of promises to run out and buy them.  The fit in a duffel or a backpack and while 1.9 lbs packed is heavy by ultralight standards, it is so worth it to have a back and a comfy spot when you stop moving.

Turns out that Kimberly's National Jamboree crew (F610) will be camping about 2 miles from my Troop (B326) at Jamboree and it will be great knowing that when we meet in her camp or mine or at Summit Center or a ton of other places we can "sit a spell" in the beauty of those WV hills and watch the action of scouts and venturers having fun. (Or we might just find a quite spot in them their woods and sit and visit in solitude. Wondering if it is possible to visit in solitude when 40,000 youth as so near... ).

carrying case in the seat

As the ad in scoutstuff.or says this is "The ultimate camp chair!" It features "the same aluminum pole technology used by DAC in their trekking poles and tent poles, this camp chair is light, strong, and comfortable. With a carrying bag and breathable mesh backing, this chair is one to always keep on hand in your pack or gear bin."  While they list the weight as 2 lbs, I pulled out the backpacking scale and packed the chair is 1 lb 14.2oz and without carrying case it is 1 lb 11.2 oz.  Seriously ultralight - 1.88 lbs packed and 1.7 unpacked.

If fits sideways in my day pack,
yes completely inside.
I have it sticking out for scale.
It is a 40L REI Lookout Day Pack

We will be testing these out at the NE Region Area 4 Venturing Summit and will let you know how they worked out, especially in and out of our day packs and how they fit with all the other items we may want to carry daily at the Jamboree.  I can already tell you that setup and take down is a snap.  I even handed our two packed chairs to two scouts that had never seen them and asked them to set them up and they did so pretty quickly.  then didn't want to get out of them.  There is no way to set it up incorrectly since the pole structure is ONE PIECE where every link is shock-corded.  The joints seem very heavy and strong plastic.  The "feet" seem on tight and secure. I did worry when some of the scout leaned back in them, but while I was worried the chairs seemed to take it.

The BSA chair is 13.5" off the floor
compared to the Lafuma's 8.5"

Sitting in the chair is very comfortable, at first it doesn't seem firm and then you realize it is flexing giving you a feeling that is moves a bit with you almost like a bit of rocking.  Not sure I am explaining that well, but the flex moves from worrisome to comfy very fast.  The other night I sat in it for an extended time during a meeting (when I could get one of my assistant scoutmasters out of it). I love the Lafuma Micro Popup Chair, but this one wins hands down for me for two reasons.  First is its smaller size (14" packed vs, 29" folded) and lighter weight (1.9 lbs. packed vs. 2.5 lbs folded).  Second, the seat height of 13.5 inches vs. the Lafuma's 8.5 for me makes all the difference in how gracefully one can get up out of the chair.  One of my 6'5" friends agreed, the seat height really helps.  If the Lafuma gets better points, it has to be in the feet.  If the ground is mushy, I think the rounded feet of the Lafuma will hold better than the sharp points of the legs on the Lafuma. 

Specifications from ScoutStuff:

The BSA UL chair in its bag.

Best Use: Backpacking Chair
Frame Type: DAC Aluminum Pole Technology
Pack Weight: 2 lbs / 900g (actually 1.88 lbs packed 1.7 unpacked)
Pack Size: 14" H x 4" W x 5" D / 35 × 10 × 12 cm
Assembled Dimensions: 26" H x 21" W x 20" D / 65 × 52 × 50 cm
Seat Measurements: 13.5"/ 34 cm from ground; 13.5"/ 34 cm deep
Load Capacity: 300 lb/ 136kg

Here is a puzzle, the BSA chair looks exactly like the Big Agnus Helinox, but the specifications seem to be a bit different, for example the BSA chair is rated for 300 lbs, the Big Agnes at 350 lbs.  I have included a link to the BigAgnus Helinox so you can see for yourself.  Also, my favorite store REI carries a REI branded Flex Lite Chair that looks just like the BSA chair, but is rated for 250 lbs.  It lists 1 lb 12 oz weight which is consistent with ours.  I think a road trip to REI is in order to try theirs out.  The REI and Big Agnus Helinox are both more expensive than the BSA chair.  Good job BSA!The advantage of spending more is you can get them in their offered colors.  For example here is the red one at our store.

Steve and Kimberly Myers

@Scoutingcouple goes Bridgewalk-ing in the New River Gorge

What is the best 1.25 mile hike we have taken?  Well most of the trail was steel and what we missed in having our @lowaboots Renegades in good clean dirt, was made up by the awesome view and our great bridge walk guide Doug.  Doug took us on a private look on the underside of the bridge and was quite the historian about the structure. (Who knew Homeland Security regularly inspects it, who knew that those massive beams are all hollow, who knew that you can zip line off the underside of the bridge on Bridgeday?)  We loved this trip and it was worth every dime of the $69 we each had to pay.  In fact, Steve thought he had his money's worth about 100 feet onto the bridge.  The remainder of the 3,031 feet length of the bridge cat walk was pure free fun.

@ScoutingCouple on a cold March Saturday high on (and in) the New River Gorge

From the Bridge Walk webpage:
"Walking on the catwalk through the interior structure of the New River Gorge Bridge gives visitors a whole new perspective of what an engineering marvel it really is. Spanning the New River Gorge required great design, engineering, and construction skills. It is truly amazing to be so close to the very bolts and beams that came together to form the Bridge." Head to their website for the story of the engineering and construction of the bridge.  That bridge turned a 40 minute drive through the gorge on mostly one lane road into a 4 minute 4 lane trip and connected two halves of WV that rarely saw each other on a daily basis.  Living in Mount Hope meant trips to Fayetteville to the west was possible and across the gorge to the east nearly impossible or impractical.

Standing 851 feet above the river is a truly awesome experience and everyone should do this. Watching the falcons and the pigeons was also lots of fun.  (... so few pigeons because of the park service introduction of falcons and you have to ask Doug why that is a great thing for the Bridge.)

Follow @WVBridgeWalk and get your boots up in the air...  851 feet up to be exact!

Looking south to Fayette Station Rapids and the old bridge on the 40 minute trip through the gorge.

The shadow of the bridge on the North Side

See lots more pictures after this jump...

Our top 8 posts of the year based on your views

Our little blog is growing.  Started in June 2012, we had 1400 hits by early December and 300 in the last month alone.  so what were our highest viewed posts?  Here are the top in order with the labels used with each.

#1 with 287 views
Lafuma Micro Popup chair
gear review, Jamboree, Lafuma, Summit Shakedown

#2 with 169 views
Area 4 Conference for Central Region BSA - What's Ahead for Venturing
BSA, Jamboree, Mount Hope, Summit Bechtel Reserve, Venturing
(Thanks to our number 1 referrer: www.sageventure.com/venturing/informed.html 

#3 with 158 views
Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 UL Tent Review
backpacking, Big Agnes, gear, going light, product review, REI, review, Ultralight

#4 with 119 views
Our 100 Liter Duffel Bag by REI
Osprey, product review, REI, review

#5 with 111 views
Search and Rescue with Troop One Akron
backpacking, hiking, SAR, Search and Rescue, Wilderness First Aid

#6 with 99 views
Post summit Shakedown thoughts (and Photos) Part 1
hiking, Jamboree, Mount Hope, New River Gorge, Summit Bechtel Reserve, Summit Shakedown

#7 with 73 views
Customize Your Griptillian - And We Both Did
Appalachian Outfitters, backpacking, Benchmade, CVNP, essentials, gear, gear review, hiking, Knives

#8 with 53 views
First Entry and About Us
Introduction

Why 8? Well primarily there is a massive "tie" for entries from #9 to #12, and if you read this far we are grateful and know you will see more on your own.  Thanks to all who are reading and we hope you continue to find value.

Customize Your Griptillian -- And We Both Did

Updated with pictures of both of our knives.

A very few weeks ago we reported reported on our trip to the Medina Gun Show where we held and fondled for the first time a Benchmade Mini-Griptillian EDC knife.  Steve ordered one that evening for Kimberly (in Pink of course) at "Customize Your Griptillian" on the Benchmade website.  All along he had hoped to give it to her for Christmas, but when it came he had to give it right away and see her reaction.  She was thrilled with the plain edged sheepsfoot/thumb hole blade with the pink handle.  Turns out Kimberly was looking for an orange one for Steve and had not found what she knew he wanted. When pointed to the Customize You Griptillian website she placed a custom order for Steve.  And now it is here and Steve's turn to be thrilled! It is a thing of beauty and balance.  It is exceedingly sharp and fun to open and close.  It cut through some reinforced cardboard boxes like a "hot knife through butter."  Clearly the finest knives we have ever owned.  Steve's knife is a drop point thumb stud plain edged blade in 154CM steel. We were both able to designate the color of the screws, that axis and the liner, as well as choose the type of clip.



And the best part, if we misplace or lose it, the words on the blade can have it speeding back to us.  When we ordered it we had to designate a warranty service center and our own excellent outfitter here in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Appalachian Outfitters came up and we selected it.  They have Benchmade knives.  Go take a look.  Tell them we sent you.

Here is our customized mini-griptillian EDC (everyday carry) knives by Benchmade.

Search and Rescue with Troop One Akron

Kimberly and I have been certified in Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid.  This 16+ hour course is incredibly important for all leaders who go out into the woods camping, hiking and backpacking with youth, but can pay off for couples off on their own in the wilderness as well. It is based on the BSA Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and doctrine Guidelines. Our boy scout troop and venturing crew has 9 youth and 8 adults certified.  Some of the youth have served on staff of a subsequent W&RFA course as have Kimberly and Steve and 5 or 6 of our youth have taught the first aid sessions for Outdoor Leader Skills courses where Steve has been the Course Director.

So the introduction of the Search and Rescue Merit Badge (requirements link) was very welcomed and created excitement and we have just complete our first highly successful Troop One Search and Rescue Weekend.  We tried to follow the Incident Command System that is offered by FEMA and required to earn the SAR MB.  The story of the scenario is told in the slide show pictures and below.  Three scouts were discovered to be missing and a search ensued and a rescue was needed.   
* *

A scout's tent buddy interrupts the SAR MB class and says "Has anyone seen my tent partner?"  Discussion ensues and an Assistant Scoutmaster says he sent him to the Campmaster earlier that morning.  The scouts decide that it would be fun to try out the search techniques under the incident command system (ICS) that they have just learned about. After a hasty search they learn from the Campmasters that there are actually 3 scouts missing. 

So what was the story?

1. One scout (Scout 1) tried swinging on a vine and suffered a bad fall. He is immobile and he could not get up and be assisted by his buddies. He is drifting in and out of consciousness, mostly from the pain. He has a broken right lower leg and a collar bone break. He is in a lot of pain and weak from his injuries, from yelling and the pain. 
2. Scout 3 goes for help while Scout 2 remains with the first scout.  Scout3, sets out alone and is seriously scared, starts running the wrong way, is medically fine but wandering aimlessly lost and not able to get help.
3. Scout 2 decided it has been too long and (not thinking clearly due to the cold) sets out to seek help.  He has left his coat over Scout1 so Scout 2 is getting very cold.  He doesn't make it too far before he is balled up shivering on the ground unable to think and motivate himself to go back for his coat or on for help.

Look at the slide show and let us know what you think about our SAR morning. in the afternoon we hosted the Ohio Search Dog Association and will have a report on that later.

Benchmade Mini-Griptillian EDC Knife (and it's pink)

Awesome find for us.

The @scoutingcouple went to the Medina County OH Gun Show yesterday and were overwhelmed at the choices including seeing the knife we have both lusted for, the Benchmade Mini-Griptillian.  This knife is a pleasure to hold in both Kimberly's small hands and Steve's larger ones.  It has an assisted opening action that is amazingly smooth and very easy.  Kimberly loved the feeling of it and feels it is perfect for the small hand.  The tip is tucked in nicely and the blade is firmly seated when closed and there is no fear it will come open in the pocket or as clipped which has happened with other blades Kimberly has owned. 

The picture included here is from the Benchmade website and you may click on it to go directly to their site.  If you want to see the choices available click here for Amazon's listings for the Mini-Griptillian or go to the product page at Benchmade.com.  This pink version supports breast cancer research and is a great match for Kimberly's collection of pink outdoor gear.

This 2.56 oz knife is a great EDC and we believe might be a great all purpose knife for the go-bag and for backpacking.
Update:  You can customize yours, we did.  

A couple of video reviews after the jump.

Bouldering at Cucumber Falls

While the scouts, venturers and frontier girls were safely underground at Laurel Caverns with their professional guides and our willing adults, the scouting couple was off to nearby Ohio Pyle State Park (the scene of our May 2013 adventure) and spent most of our time at Cucumber Falls.  While the Autumn leaves were somewhat past the peak, the view was outstanding and the natural wonder that is Cucumber Falls made for a perfect Saturday playground.  Nothing says it better than the slides below.  It was nice to add to our collection of waterfalls. Enjoy them.  

Be safe in hunting season

Here is a good idea... be safe hiking in hunting season

Backpacking in the Fall

 Summer officially ended and we haven't been on a single backpacking trip and my pack and boots are anxious to change that this fall. The leaves will change soon and standing on a ridge overlooking a red, gold, and brown valley would be splendid. Even better is combining that ridge line view with the up close view of an amazing waterfall or standing on the banks of a running stream will put the hurried world where it belongs for a few hours.  Where do you like to go this time of year?

Pictures are from our Backpacking trip in the Cuyahoga Valley National park last October.  We stayed over night at the Stanford Backcountry campsites after a day on the Buckeye Trail.  

Post Summit Shakedown thoughts (and Photos)

Last month, July 13-17, 2012, we were lucky enough to take 8 Venturers to the Summit Bechtel Reserve.  This fabulous new high-adventure base and permanent home to the BSA National jamborees (and host of the 2019 World Scout Jamboree) is over 10,000 acres of wild wonderful West Virginia in Steve's hometown of Mount Hope.  We got an awesome peek at parts of the plans for the 2013 Jamboree and got to pay for the privilege of being test subjects for their processes and plans.  Some when as planned, some didn't, but the 2013 National Jamboree will be so much better since we were there.  With about 2,000 attendees we saw and participated in camping at subcamp C, hiking to Action Point, Adventure Valley and Garden Ground mountain.  At Action point there was canopy tours, zip lines, challenge rope courses, climbing towers, skate boarding, BMX biking and more.  At Adventure Valley at low gear and high gear there was mountain biking.  On the last day the Venturers and Scouts went whitewater rafting. We were paired with new friends from Kansas and Virginia and nightly heard from the folks at the top of the great enterprise that SBR represents.  You can see much of this in our pictures below. 

Enjoy these photos taken on our trip to SBR


Clicking on the above photos should take you to the Picasa Album.

UltraLight Backpacking for Scouts

Mike Dubrall (miked@50miller.com) brings us a good read on scouts getting into ultralight backpacking.  (HT http://www.scoutingnews.org/2012/07/10/ultralight-backpacking-for-scouts/).  He says "The only way to significant lower your pack weight is to replace your backpack, tent/shelter, and sleeping system – often called the “Big Three of Backpacking” and pay the price at the cash register."

I will never get my pack weight down to 15 pounds, but he is right that significant changes can be made in the sleeping system, pack and tent.  Elsewhere, we have reviewed our Big Agnes tent (4.6 lbs), our small sleeping systems (mine is 2.47 pounds) sleeping bag, pad and pillow, Kimberly's is 3.4 pounds), and my pack is an REI flash pack (REI link) (3 pounds) and Kimberly's Gregory Jade (REI link) is 3.97 for a total of 7.7 lbs for me and 9.7 for Kimberly -- that is tent, sleeping system and pack.  Not so bad for a couple of aging scouters.

Here is Mike Dubrall's chart from his blog for your comparison.  Where does your stuff fall?

Source:  50miller.com

Best Purchase(s) Ever

Earlier in this blog, Steve told you about his small sleeping system. This post is about my system.

After spending a 4 day camping trip laying on rock in the early 2000's, I had decided camping would require cots and a very large tent to accommodate them. The large tent then begged to be filled up with more and more gear. On scout trips the scoutmaster was easy to find because all you had to do was look for the largest tent in the group. It wasn't long before our camping accommodations were referred to as the "Taj Mahal". We had all the comforts of home, but being the last ones to set up and the last ones to tear down was getting old.

Repair, even Gore-tex(r) or have your down re-lofted.

I was reading Brian's Backpacking Blog and found a link to Rainy Pass Repair, Inc.  The examples of repairs made there are amazing and while we have not had need for their services, when it comes time they will be high on my list.  I had no idea this fine company existed.  If you have Gore-tex(r) or down (or any other) items in need of repair check them out.

JOGR Ultralight Backpacking Stove

Seriously, I was just looking at backpacking equipment and I see this stove (see the JOGR advertisement at the left).  I could not pass it by and another item falls to our Amazon one-click ordering.  We are huge fans of the Jet Boil cooking system, but little stove might be just the thing for a backup or primary stove.  After all we cannot fry good eggs on a Jet Boil. Now we need to look for cooking gear...

Review of the JOGR UL stove:

It arrived in a surprisingly small package and you can watch the unboxing below. It is truly small and seems fairly well built.  I like its compact size and that it includes a piezo lighter build in. It weighed in at 3.4 oz by itself and 4.0 oz in the plastic orange protective box.  It holds a pot fairly stable (I used a Snow Peak 600 titanium).  I don't think you can beat this stove for the money, buy two and have a back up.  The stove can be regulated to a low flame and as such beats the Jet Boil for anything except for boiling water. The story in pictures.  If you get one let us know how you like it.
**

Hunting Waterfalls in WV

On our last trip to the New River Gorge we did the Timber Top Canopy tour at Adventures on the Gorge and in the gift shop found a book by Ed Rehbein and Randall Sanger with the most beautiful and inviting pictures of waterfalls in the New River Gorge.  However, the handy insert in the back listing all the GPS coordinates of the waterfalls was the reason for the purchase.  With that  our plan to do some hiking faded as we grabbed our day packs and cameras and headed to find as many as we  could find on one day.  The result were falls from Dunlop Creek, Mill Creek, Glade Creek and more as you can see in the embedded slideshow after the jump. Enjoy.