|
|
Vol. 1, No. 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To Receive Future Editions, Please Confirm Your Subscription
The "Be Prepared" newsletter is sent once a month containing news, tips, and other useful information about Scouting and the outdoors. If you wish to continue receiving this free newsletter, please opt-in on your Subscription Center page. If you do not check the box to receive this newsletter, this will be the only edition you will receive unless you opt-in at a later date. We at Scoutstuff thank you for your continued patronage and look forward to serving you.
|
|
|
|
|
Finding The Pack That's Right For You
Any backpack you consider should have a padded waist belt, otherwise your shoulders will bear all the weight and that can get really old really fast.
Frame the Choice
Decide on an external or internal frame.
- An external frame pack is terrific for most backpacking, especially on open trails. In hot weather, air movement between the pack and your back can help you keep cool.
- An internal frame pack features a frame structure stitched inside the fabric bag. The pack will ride closer to your back for better balance while cross-country skiing, scrambling on mountains, and traveling over rough ground.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pick Your Pockets
Think about how you like to organize the contents of a pack, then choose one which has pockets that match your needs. Some packs have inside compartments for sorting your gear. Others have none. There might be exterior pockets for stowing water bottles, a map and compass, a first-aid kit, and other items you'll want in a hurry.
Lift That Load
You wouldn't buy hiking boots without trying them on. That's good advice when shopping for packs, too. Hoist the backpacks of other Scouts during troop hikes and campouts, and notice how each pack feels. At your council's Scout Shop, put weight in the packs that interest you (clerks might allow you to use rolled up tents for ballast), then swing each onto your shoulders and tighten the belt. The right pack will rest easily on your hips.
What You Carry Matters
A pound that's not in your pack is a pound you don't have to carry. Make a list of what you take as you hit the trail. When you return, check off any items you didn't use and consider omitting them next time.
Of course, what matters most is that you get outdoors for plenty of hiking and camping. A good backpack makes that easier, but even if you roll your gear in a blanket and toss it over your shoulder, you're going to have a lot more fun on the trail than if you had stayed at home.
|
To Top
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Happy Feet
Got happy feet? Then you'll never notice them during rugged outdoor travels, and that's good. A couple of blisters, though, and the sad state of your heels and toes can suck the joy right out of your day. Preventing blisters is easy with a little planning ahead of time and some common sense while you're on the move. Here's how.
Before a hike, get:
Footwear That Fits - Boots and shoes for hiking need to be the right size. Wearing new footwear around home breaks them in before you're on the trail.
Socks That Absorb - Expert hikers wear heavy socks over thin liner socks. Made of material that wicks away moisture, the liner socks protect your skin if your feet slide a little inside the heavier socks. Carry spare socks, too, so you can change out of those that become damp with sweat or rainwater, or soaked as you splash through puddles and streams.
Armor That Protects - Have a history of blisters? Use moleskin before a hike to shield tender places on your feet. Some hikers have good luck protecting healthy skin with duct tape, too. The slippery face of the tape slides against boots and reduces friction.
While you're on the trail, follow:
|
|
|
| |
|
Three "No Blister" Rules
These simple rules guarantee almost no blisters:
1. Check for hot spots!
2. Check for hot spots!
3. Check for hot spots!
Stop often, take off your shoes and socks, and examine your feet for redness or tenderness. Those can be warning signs that a blister is starting to form. Reinforce hot spots with moleskin and you'll have a good chance of stopping blisters before they can stop you.
Patching the Damage
Despite your best efforts, a shoe can rub you the wrong way until a hot spot turns into a blister. Take action the moment you notice it.
The classic treatment is to cut moleskin into the shape of a donut and fit the bandage around the blister. That takes pressure off of the injury so that you can continue hiking.
Gel bandage pads such as Spenco® 2nd Skin® can be placed directly over a blister. Used alone or with moleskin donuts, gel bandages offer sterile protection and relief from friction.
If you need thicker padding to protect a serious blister, stack additional moleskin donuts on top of the first one. Or cut a corner from a closed-cell foam sleeping pad, shape that into a donut, and fit it around the injury.
To Top
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
|
Outdoor Essentials (Part 1)
For some it's a hiking stick that has set the pace for dozens of backpacking trips. For others it might be a special camp mug for that perfect cup of cocoa, or an old broad-brimmed hat with a hawk feather tucked under the band.
Everyone has an idea of what they can't do without when they take off on an outdoor adventure.
The BSA has a list of items, too-the ten Scout Basic Essentials. Carry them every time you hit the trail and you'll have what you need for making the most of your time in the woods.
The first five Scout Outdoor Essentials are a pocketknife, first-aid kit, extra clothing, rain gear, and a water bottle. (Check next month's issue of "Be Prepared" for a discussion of the rest of the list.)
|
|
|
| |
|
| Pocketknife |
 |
The classic all-purpose camping tool includes a can opener, awl, and screwdriver along with one or two sharp blades.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| First-Aid Kit |
 |
A personal first aid kit has supplies you can use to treat blisters and other minor wounds, and to be ready to help if more serious situations arise. Of course your kit is only as useful as the knowledge in your head. Passing the first aid rank and merit badge requirements builds a good foundation for being prepared to act effectively in emergencies.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Personal First-Aid Kit
The Boy Scout Handbook recommends that personal first aid kits include:
|
| ___Adhesive bandages |
6 |
| ___Sterile gauze pads, 4-by-4-inch |
2 |
| ___Adhesive tape |
1 small roll |
| ___Moleskin, 3-by-6-inch |
1 |
| ___Soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel |
1 small bar or travel-sized bottle |
| ___Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin) |
1 small tube |
| ___Scissors |
1 pair |
| ___Tweezers |
1 pair |
| ___Disposable non-latex gloves* |
1 pair |
| ___Mouth-barrier device for rescue breathing |
1 |
| ___Pencil and paper |
1 |
* Use medical gloves from your first aid kit to protect yourself whenever first aid emergencies involve blood or other body fluids. |
|
|
|
| |
|
Extra Clothing
A few layers of clothing in your pack allow you to adjust what you're wearing to meet changes in the weather, both hot and cold.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Rain Gear |
 |
Carry what you need for the worst conditions you expect. A rain jacket and rain pants are good for almost any season. Add gaiters to keep rain, mud, and snow out of your boots. A poncho can shield you from mild rain, though it tends to blow around in the wind.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
Water Bottle
|
 |
Drinking plenty of fluid helps your body fight off heat exhaustion and heat stroke when the sun is beating down, and hypothermia during days that are chilly or cold. Carry the water you need in one or more plastic bottles that fit neatly into outside pockets of your pack. If you take draw water from lakes, streams, or other untested sources, purify it before drinking by adding tablets, by using a filter, or by boiling.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
Go, Enjoy, And Leave No Trace!
|
|
You've found the perfect backpack, protected your feet from blisters, and loaded up the Scout Basic Essentials.
Follow the principles of Leave No Trace and you can be sure you're also conducting every Scout adventure in ways that respect the environment, protect wildlife, and do no harm to the land.
The Boy Scout Handbook, Fieldbook, and other BSA literature offer detailed discussions of Leave No Trace principles. Here's a quick review:
|
 |
Plan Ahead and Prepare
|
|
Research your destination. Know the regulations and be ready when you get there.
|
 |
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
|
|
Stay on trails and use existing campsites whenever you can.
|
 |
Dispose of Waste Properly
|
|
There are safe ways to get rid of dishwater and human waste. Use them.
|
 |
Leave What You Find
|
|
Future visitors will want to enjoy the same environment you do. Help them out.
|
 |
Minimize Campfire Impacts
|
|
Follow local guidelines on when and how to use open fires. Camp stoves are always a good option.
|
 |
Respect Wildlife
|
|
Give animals the space and quiet they need to stay safe.
|
 |
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
|
|
A Scout is Courteous and Kind. Be aware of others on the trail and in campgrounds, and show them that Scouts know how to behave.
|
To Top
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
<
Have your say on this article:
<-- Back
- © BSA Troop 133 2009
