Scout2Eagle: Gaither's Gathering
5 Minute blogs with tips on camping, the outdoors, and Scout Advancement.
1- This last weekend I pulled out a piece of gear that I have had for a number of years. But I have not used it in several years. It had some rust spots on the steel. OUCH! It still worked but the rust showed that I have not taken proper care of it. Today … Read more
1- Please find this Youtube video: Bill Mason’s Path of the Paddle – White Water This video runs about an hour – it 2 combined 30 min shows. I have taken lots of notes from this video. He uses a few different terms: Listen for these: Hay Stack waves, Roller Coaster, Ledge, Chute, Ferry, … Read more
1- H2O, water, Probably the most recognized chemical symbol in the universe. It only takes 3 atoms to make this molecule… 2 Hydrogens (H) and 1 Oxygen. Here is where things get really interesting. The Oxygen (O) atom, in the water molecule, steals some — oops let me back up a step — … Read more
1- You may have heard the term “Black Swan” in the news. A black swan event or just black swan means that unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected. It is outside of the normal day-to-day routine. This event is hard to predict and therefore causes instability. It is probably devastating either … Read more
This is the double nickle Sit. Rep. 1- Some of my favorite music: Handel’s Messiah – The Hallelujah Chorus. Beethoven’s Fifth and Ninth ( IV Movement – Ode To Joy ) Symphonies. J. S. Bach Brandenberg Concertos ( #3 & #5 esp.). Copeland’s Hoe Down & Fanfare For The Common Man, Count Basie’s “Straight ahead” … Read more
Down a water hole we go: 1- Every continent has many miles of navigable waterways. And each design of a canoe is made for that particular waterway. As each river has it’s own personality so does every canoe design. The different designs are: Inuit kayak, Dogrib, Malecite, Montragnais, Slave, Ojibwa, Algonquian, Interior salish, Umiak of … Read more
More white water and canoe notes: 1- If ever in doubt about what is ahead on the river; put ashore and walk to scout out what lies ahead. Be safe not sorry. 1B- Please do not scrape the canoe keel or any part of the canoe while beaching the canoe. Hop out and get your … Read more
More Canoe hints: 1- Before you go on a water trip, get a map, survey the section that you plan to go on, and talk to folks who have transversed that section. Local tour providers and guides, white water clubs, canoe groups, fishing buddies all know about the water. Also talk to the Army Corps … Read more
1- As we prepare for the canoe trips we must learn to read the river sign posts. So – first – new words: Eddy: The swirling of water (horizontal to stream surface) just down stream of an obstacle that causes the current to flow backwards (up stream) to fill the void behind the obstacle. … Read more
1- Canoe parts names: Port is the left hand side of the boat when you are facing the front (bow) of the boat, Starboard is the right hand side. Bow is the front and stern is the rear. Some canoes have identical seats – but some canoes have the bow seat with leg … Read more