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Fall 1993 — #76

The Chairman's Corner

Summer's 's Over

Summer is over now that Labor Day is past. I hope everyone had an ample opportunity to experience and enjoy at least one high adventure activity. This fall our high adventure team will concentrate its efforts on planning and conducting the Basic Backpacking Awareness and Recertification courses. We're also holding a special fellowship evening for anyone interested in joining the high adventure team.

This summer I made a Philmont Trek and climbed Mt. Goddard. Both treks were new activities for me. Philmont was the longest trek I had ever taken — 12 days on the trail. The Mt. Goddard trek was with a group of mature adults who I met for the first time at the trek meeting five days before departure. Following each trek, I reflected on the principals we promote in our high adventure training courses. Areas needing improvement, in my opinion, center on three main topics covered in high adventure awareness courses — planning, communication, and leadership. See if you can guess which comments applies to which trek, or both.

Planning

1. Consider emotional as well as physical capacities of the group. Layover days are more important that you may think, especially on longer treks.
2. Have the itinerary and work assignments spelled out in advance. Cooking crews of four seem to work best. It also makes gear distribution more efficient and for a lighter load on everyone.
3. Be flexible. Have alternative plans available and be prepared to go with Plan B. Remember, alternative treks can be fun too.

Communications

1. Identify everyone's expectations for the trek. Incorporate all compatible expectations in your trek planning. Try to include at least one expectation from every member of the trek. Communicate trek expectations to everyone and obtain trek member support for the group expectations. Then everyone's expectations will likely be met on the trek.
2. Campfires are great! They allow time for everyone to input on the day's activities, i.e. what they liked, what could be improved, etc. Listen for this type of communication. It may mean the difference between a truly great trek or one where everyone can't wait to get off the trail.

Leadership

1. Set a minimum impact example. Follow wilderness permit rules. If fires are not allowed, don't have them. Stay on existing trails, unless you are following a cross-country route.
2. Maintain group discipline. Keep a neat camp. Hike in groups of at least two or three (you don't want to spend time looking for lost hikers).
3. Encourage respect for alternative points of view. Facilitate discussion of options to solve problems which inevitably come up or to resolve conflicts among group members. Leaders should function as advisors, except in emergency situations; give the Philmont crew chief method a try.
4. Understand the limitations of your group, including both physical and medical limitations. You may need to council with an individual's physical if there is any question regarding a potential health concern.
5. Teach leadership skills. Most individuals are eager to assume leadership roles, at varying levels of responsibility, on high adventure, wilderness treks. Take full advantage of opportunities to delegate subordinate leadership tasks to all members of the group.

Hopefully, my observations from this summer's treks can benefit others on their future wilderness treks. There is always room for improvement in any challenge that we take on as leaders. Keep in mind that our role as adult leaders

on high adventure activities is to keep the risks at an acceptable level while ensuring that the experience is interesting and rewarding for each member of the group. And that's no small task whether the group consists of fully mature adults or boy scouts.

Keep on Trek'en.

— John Bouey

Take Extra Care on Fall Hikes

Already the hours of daylight are less and in a short time Daylight Savings Time will depart and it will be darker even quicker. The nights are longer and cold. That means a little more planning.

Refer your Scouts to pages 28, 29, and 30 in the Boy Scout Handbook. Listed there are what we have in the past called the Ten Essentials, now termed the Scout Outdoor Essentials. These are items a Scout should have with him on every trip. Especially, when the days and nights are colder and darkness comes quickly.

Let us remember, however, that the finest equipment in the world is of little value if the Scout who must use it doesn't know how!

Weather is something that you must consider. It is far more unpredictable in the fall months and the safety margins for error are radically reduced.

On some of the Rim of the Bay hikes, Scouts should carry a day pack and here are some items that should be included —the Outdoor Essentials referred to above. That must include a warm sweater or jacket. Wool or polypropylene are recommended since they retain warmth potential even when damp. A wool cap, gloves, and maybe even an extra pair of socks. When the wind blows, a lightweight wind breaker will help shield against heat-draining breezes.

To keep dampness away and to help remain dry, a lightweight poncho will serve as rain protection and, in an emergency, as a shelter. Stow a couple large sized plastic garbage bags for emergency rain protection.

Food is way down on the list of survival necessities, but a few high-energy, high-calorie items like candy bars or beef jerky will keep up morale in a difficult situation.

The other items on the Scout Outdoor Essential list are pretty much understood. Shelter is top priority and a good fire, in a safe spot, can supply shelter and needed emotional uplift.

Be sure to get a Tour Permit and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back.

A few thoughts about each trip will do a lot to make it a "round trip for all" and one with adventure and fun with a purpose.

The woods are not bare at O Boy Scout Camp, Mather, California.

Black Bear Attacks

You may have noted in the news recently, articles about attacks by black bears on campers. There were two in Southern California and one in Yosemite National Park near Tuolumne Meadows.

Whenever we camp in the wilderness in California, with a few exceptions, we will be sharing that space with black bears.

In my years of camping and backpacking I have had a number of contacts, at a distance, with black bears. At Dimond O camp in the thirties, it was not uncommon to see a black bear lumbering through the camp. A method for the disposal of garbage, in those unenlightened days, was to put it in a "bear pit" for the bears. This was done at Dimond O and by the families at the Peach Growers tract just above the camp. It was also the practice at Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks. My bear contacts were also made in Yosemite National Park at White Wolf, Tuolumne Meadows, Glacier Point, Little Yosemite and in the Valley itself. Other places were Calaveras Big Tree State Park, Lassen, Crater Lake and Yellowstone National Parks. In none of those instances was there any aggressive behavior displayed by the bears.

In the recent attacks, evidence shows that the aggressive behavior was related to food. With regard to the youth in Southern California, news reports alleged that food was scattered about the campsite. No mention of food was included in the report of the injured Scout, however I have been advised that the Scout involved had taken a bag of beef jerky into his tent. The Ranger investigating the attack in Yosemite National Park blamed the camper because of improper food storage.

A clean camp is a necessity to prevent bear aggression. An excellent "standard operating procedure" to insure clean campsites is one used by Ed Davis and his Troop. When the Troop arrives at a campsite, the S.P.L. makes a tour of the area. If it is not clean, if there is trash and food left around, the Troop forms a skirmish line and walks through the area BEFORE the camp is set up. It is then necessary to maintain that cleanliness and the proper storage of food, both during meal preparation and after.

Too often, at Los Mochos, I have seen both Scouts and Scouters cleansing utensils at the faucets. There are no bears there, but the practice draws small mammals to the wet garbage and it is "dessert" for the Yellow Jackets. It also ingrains bad habits that are hard to overcome in the wilderness.

In 1986 there were some unfortunate encounters with black bears at the Philmont Scout Ranch. A thorough and objective evaluation of each incident was made and it was established that all incidents related to injury were identified with carelessness and forgetfulness. A few examples: Scouts were sleeping in their clothing which had been worn continuously for six days and had been worn when cooking meals; In another case, Scout had removed his shirt but was using it as a pillow. Another case; Scouts involved were wearing clothing that had been worn for 11 days. One Scout applied heavily, a musk scented deodorant. At each camp where an incident occurred, there was wet garbage in the sump and in pit latrines. Procedures have now been established at Philmont that have eliminated bear problems. All are related to the maintenance of a clean camp, proper storage of feed, personal hygiene, etc.

John Bouey has given me a copy of the Information on Bears issues at Philmont Scout Ranch. It is a full page in small print so I am using here the section on "Avoid Encounters With Bears".

How Can Encounters with Bears be Avoided?

Adhere to good Scout camping practices including:

Cooking - Prepare food and cook close to a fire ring. Sleep away from areas where food has been prepared or eaten, including the cleaning of fish. Never eat food in a tent; the odor remains, even after the food is gone.

Cleanup - Put wet garbage and uneaten food in plastic bags and hang them in a bear bag. When the crew reaches the next staffed camp, consult with the staff on what to do with the wet garbage. Use a sump to dispose of dirty dishwater and cooking liquids.

Food Storage - Store food and other smellables in a properly hung bear bag at night. Smellables include soaps, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lip balm, sunscreen, insect repellent, unused film cartridges, and first aid kits. Hang your bag(s) on the cable that is provided in every camp. The weight of the rope will enable it to be tossed over the cable —a serious injury may result from using a rock. If you leave your campsite or pack during the day, hang your food and smellables. Do not leave your packs unattended.

Personal Sanitation - Scented lotions, soaps, deodorants, and shampoo may attract the attention of bears. Wash early in the day (before 2:00 pm) so that residual smells will dissipate before night. Avoid using hair tonic, perfume and deodorants. Brush your teeth as you usually do.

Sleeping - Wear sleeping clothing at night that is stored inside a sleeping bag. Store trail clothing (clothing soiled with spilled food) and containers that have or have had drink mix or fuel in them away from the tent at night.

There's more, but that covers avoiding encounters.The bears are there and we have to learn to live with them. Here are the methods that are suggested both by Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks.

Use counterbalance method to hang food —do not store food in a tent or tie the food sack rope off to another tree. Make sure no solid objects or branches are under food for bears to stand on. Pots and pans hanging from food sacks will sound an alarm if the sacks are disturbed.

You are advised to sleep 20 to 30 yards from the hung food bags so that you can hear bears and scare them away as quickly as possible. Keep rocks available to throw at bears. (Note - this does not give carte blanche for anyone to throw rocks at bears who are not threatening food supply.)

Use quality 1/8 or 1/4 inch cord, and heavy duty nylon stuff sacks to store food. Make sure the bags are evenly weighted with not more than 8 - 10 pounds per bag.

This indicates that backpacks should not be used. They are to be left on the ground with all pockets and flaps open. This does not always protect them but it is recommended.

If a bear approaches your camp, act immediately to scare it away. Yell and make as much noise as possible. Throw rocks toward the bear (don't hit other campers!). Make more noise and chase the bear(s). You may need to do this more than once, but the more vigorously and longer you do it the first time, the less likely the bear is to return. More than one person chasing a bear greatly increases the effectiveness.

Maintain a safe distance. Do not advance on a bear which appears to feel threatened or cornered by you. Do not attempt to retrieve food or gear from a bear until the item is abandoned.

A real great reason for your group to maintain a clean camp; to practice all methods to protect your food, is that you are responsible for any clean-up of messes left by the bears who capture your food, and they do leave a mess! You must also report bear damage to the closest ranger.

You must be adamant and forceful in the instruction to all members of the trek about bear protection. No food, and that includes candy and gum, is allowed in tents or on their person while sleeping. Camp must be kept clean, and dishes and pots cleaned promptly and stored properly. The clothing worn during the day should not be worn to bed.

Bears are not supposed to be able to think and reason, yet they have somehow learned to outwit man in many instances. The "Kamikaze" bear who climbs above a counterweighted food bag and drops the 10 or 12 feet to the ground, without any damage except to the food bag while doing so, has been experienced and witnessed.

The Sequoia Kings River Canyon National Park publication Back Country Basics, lists 57 backcountry camping sites where the steel bear-proof storage boxes are located. These boxes are for storage of food bags, not packframes, which some unthinking hikers store. They are to be shared with campers. As these boxes may be full, you should be prepared to use alternative methods for the protection of your food from bears.

The Garcia Manufacturing Company has created a plastic tube bear-proof container that has been tested and approved by the National Parks. Ed Davis has conducted tests on a mock up and we will publish his results in a future edition.

Plan - prepare - perform the recommended bear protection procedures and you should reduce the likelihood of problems. Remember, a clean camp is the first order of priority.

Book Review:

Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (Available from Amazon.com)

Bear Attacks

Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance by Stephen Herrero, Lyons and Belford, N.Y., 1985

This rates four stars as a resource on bears — grizzly and black. Herrera is not a "pop writer", he is a Ph.D., a professor in Environmental Science and Biology, and is recognized throughout the world as a leading authority on bear ecology, behavior and attacks.

You should be able to secure a copy from your local library and through the inter-library exchange if they do not have it. It is highly recommended for those of you who would like to have more reliable data on black bears.

Book Review:

Return to the Summit of Scouting

Return to the Summit of Scouting: A Scouter's Midlife Journey Back to Philmont by William F. Cass (Available on Amazon.com)

Return to the Summit of Scouting: A Scouter's Midlife Journey Back to Philmont by William F. Cass, Wilderness Press Books, Fowlerville, Michigan, 1993.

Part of the midlife journey is retrospection —memories of his life as a program counselor, Ranger and camp director and his experiences as he returned with his son as an expedition director.

Fond memories will be evoked by those who have experienced Philmont and the book is an excellent resource for those who plan Philmont expeditions.

I purchased my copy from Wilderness Adventure Books in Fowlerville, Michigan. They are moving so you should contact them at 1-800-852-8652. Ask for Erin Sims Howarth. Cost of the book is $12.95 but Scouters can secure it for a special price of $10.95 plus $1.50 per book shipping.

Two-legged Varmits Steal More Than Food

You carefully complied with all regulations and recommended procedures in "bear bagging" your food bags.

Next morning, however, you awoke to find your food bags on the ground, knots untied and items selectively removed. There were no footprints of bears. A new "varmint" has appeared in some areas — not our usual four-legged adversary Ursus Americanus but a "two legged varmint", Homo Sapiens.

When reported to the ranger, you were told that thieves, mounted on mountain bikes were now raiding unattended campsites and taking items of value, including some food, and making a fast get-away on the bikes.

What should you do? Before setting out, first check with the rangers in the area in which you plan to camp. Find out if this pest has invaded their areas. If so, it may be necessary to have a guard mount to alert all if suspicious intruders are noted. Banging pots or bells on your hanging ropes may be a substitute. Or, if any of you have had success in thwarting this new threat, we would like to publish your method.

This incident does suggest that each in your party mark your possessions with your name so that they can be identified if stolen and recovered.

* Webster defines VARMINT as 1. A bird or animal regarded as undesirable or troublesome. 2. An obnoxious, contemptible person. These two definitions make the heading appropriate.

The Reason For Leader Certification

"A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been wrong, which is but saying in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday."

— Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

That's going back a few years to justify my acceptance and a change from these words from Boots & Blisters # 20, November 1978.

"There is no rule, nor has there ever been one, that requires a Scouter in the San Francisco Bay Area Council to be certified by the Trails and Awards team to be eligible to lead a Troop of Scouts on a backpack trip."

The inference there is that there never would be one —yet today it is a requirement. What changed my mind?

In 1985 the Forest Service made major changes in the National Forest Service Policy on "Outfitters and Guides." Although primarily directed toward professionals, Boy Scouts, among others such as the Sierra Club were included in the policy dictates.

As a result the Inyo National Forest issued a list of Minimum Leader Qualifications (see below). An entry permit would not be granted if those qualifications were not met.

MINIMUM LEADER QUALIFICATION

INYO NATIONAL FOREST

Leaders must..

1. Have a current standard or multi-media first aid card or better.
2. Be capable of effective control of the group during the trip.
3. Be aware of, and practice, minimum impact techniques when in the wilderness.
4. Have an emergency plan and be in sufficient physical condition to handle emergencies.
5. Have demonstrated ability/experience to lead the proposed trip.
6. Have basic navigation skills (i.e. the ability to read topographical maps) and must have the necessary maps in possession.
7. Have current specialized training and experience in recognition of hazards specific to the trip and/or locations; for example, avalanche conditions, water crossings, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.
8. Be able to put together a suggested equipment list and insure that each participant has the proper equipment appropriate for the trip.
9. Be able to prepare a simple trip plan. One copy of the plan to be given to the Forest Service and one copy given to a responsible person at the home base with instructions on procedures to notify the proper authorities (County Sheriff) in case of emergencies or overdue party.

The plan should include:

1. Name of group leader name and organization.
2. Vehicle locations, descriptions, and license numbers.
3. Planned trailhead entry point and date.
4. Planned trailhead exit point and date.

As Inyo National Forest contains a number of trailheads for entry to the High Sierra by Scout units, the inclusion of Scout units indicated, on the part of the Forest Service, that some were lacking.

Joe Hearst, a member of the Area III High Adventure Team, wrote to Inyo and sent them an outline of our Basic Backpack Awareness Training for Scout leaders in Outdoor leadership and pursuits. Mr. Warren of Inyo responded and advised that graduates of that training would meet their requirements and would be granted permits.

When this information was acquired by the SFBAC Camping Committee, along with incidents of tragedy involving Boy Scouts in other Councils without training and with untrained leaders, the Camping Committee voted to require certification. This resolution went to the Council Executive Committee, where it was thoroughly discussed and finally accepted. The High Adventure Team was charged with the responsibility to supervise and conduct the training phase.

My change of heart was induced by this development and the deaths of Scouts due to lack of training of trip leaders.

It is difficult to claim that our Council's Policy is responsible for the excellent safety record on long-term moving camps where certification is required. Other Councils in Western Region, who do not require certification have had tragic incidents recently.

The objective of the Council H.A.T. is to encourage and support High Adventure treks. There are emergency provisions to temporarily certify deserving, experienced and qualified leaders who were unable to attend training, upon application.

Tribute to a Man, a Scout Leader

Among my resources I found this tribute, written by Wilfred A. Petersen, editor of the Hoover Sphere, Volume 13 #1, 1949. It was inspired by the 39th anniversary of Scouting. In February of 1994, the 94th anniversary will occur — a juxtaposition of the numerals. At a time when there is so much distress in communications, I hope that this will clarify for many of us our mission as leaders of Scouts.

"Over thirty-five years ago, the boy within a man reached out to the man within a boy. I know, for the man within that boy was me. The man with the boy-heart was my Scout Leader. He died in France in the First World War but his influence on my life has never died. The other evening I was thinking of the many fine men I have met through the years and I endeavored to select the five who had made the biggest contribution to my life. My Scout Leader's name was at the top of the list.

It wasn't that my Scout Leader preached at me. I can recall very few of the things he said. A boy does not have to be shown a mark on the wall to measure up to, when there is a man around about the size he wants to be. While he was teaching me to build a fire without matches, to broil meat over the glowing coals, to flap flap-jacks, to swim, to build a lean-to of pine boughs, to know birds, to find my way by the starts at night, to signal and to do first aid, he was helping me to help myself to be a man.

There was a factory building going up in our town and my Scout Leader observed that it had twelve concrete foundation posts. It happens that there are also twelve points to the Scout Law. So when the Scouts in the troop were told to take a look at those foundation posts and to remember the twelve Scout Laws are the foundation posts for building a worthwhile life, we got the point immediately, I know I did, and I have never forgotten it. I first memorized those twelve laws way back in 1914, yet, through the years as I have met various situations and testings in life, those laws have helped me. I like the positive way in which the laws were presented. It was assumed that a Scout just naturally lived up to them for they read as follows: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

Recently while going over some old papers at home I came across my original certificate of Scout membership. It brought back a flood of memories. I was a boy again taking a pledge I've always remembered: 'On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout law; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.'

This is a long overdue tribute to one man who had the vision of the importance of working with boys. There are many men like him for as Scouting celebrates its eighty-third birthday this month, the records show that fifteen million boys have been Scouts. And there are many old Scouts with graying hair who could write tributes just like this one."

Greater Access to Learning

James E. West, Chief Scout Executive, described as "Scouting's gruff genius" was asked by a new President of the B.S.A. in 1925 to write him about "What are Scouting's three greatest needs?" West wrote: "1. Training; 2. More training; 3. Yet more training."

It is interesting that at the conclusion of the Twin Valley Blue Oak Basic Leader Training, the graduates voiced a need for more detailed training in Scout skills, and how they could teach the Scouts.

The mission of the S.F.B.A.C. High Adventure Team, as a service organization, is to provide an access to learning for the Scout Leaders of our Council in the knowledge, skills and aptitudes necessary to lead Scouts in the back country with competency, efficiency, and in a safe manner to the participants and the environment.

The basic effort has been for the past 19 years, Basic Backpack Awareness. In the past, when there was a sufficient demand, courses have been conducted in Canoeing and Biking.

Because of conflicts with District Training, Camporees, Annual Dinners, Council O.A. Ordeals and Scout-O-Rama, this training has been scheduled in the Fall, which seemed a logical choice. Recently we have had Scouters bemoan this timing. They claim that they are trying to get their Troop program underway after the vacation period and that our program drains their manpower at a time of need. These complaints have been sufficiently significant that in 1995, the Basic Backpacking Training will be shifted to the early Spring. Regardless of "when" there will be some for whom it is inopportune but we will try this timing in the future.

There have been some changes in National's requirements for First Aid Training, and the H.A.T. has a plan to provide a Basic Red Cross First Aid Course for Scouters in our Council, supplemented by additions that National has decreed. Unfortunately, this will not be listed on the Council Calendar but notices will be mailed when the date, time and place has been selected.

Several of our neighboring Council H.A.T.s have specialized training that so far we have not offered. These are in-depth courses on Wilderness Navigation, Wilderness Medicine and Outdoor Safety. If any of our Scouters would like to attend these courses, we will make an effort to list the locations, dates, and other pertinent data. It is possible that our Team will be able to offer such specialized training in the future.

There is always a question about the opportunities for access to learning. The Scouting Program exists for boys and we cannot be guilty of taking away the leadership of those boys and neglecting their needs. To offset that concern, we must weigh the benefits to those boys in safety, improved program and more confident leaders. Leaders whose confidence and absence of "fear of the unknown" will open up new vistas of adventure for them.

As your High Adventure Team explores these greater efforts, please realize that we are always in need of more "CHAMPIONS" to teach the expanded curriculum. Those of you who possess skills in these other areas of High Adventure are requested to become a part of our team and share your knowledge with others.

To give you an idea of what is made available to Scout Leaders in other Councils, here is a list of the Los Angeles Area Council's learning opportunities:

• Rock Climbing Field Experience
• Trail Boss Training
• Desert Camping
• Junior Leader Backpack Training
• Winter Camping
• Snow and Ice Travel
• Long-Term Planning
• Cross Country Skiing

A Place to Visit: John Muir Historical Site

The John Muir Trail on Mt. Wanda (named for Muir's daughter) is now open. It is located across the street from the John Muir National Historic Site located at 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez.

It is a 1.3 mile trail and is self-guided. Markers along the trail are related to the printed guide picked up at the start of the trail.

There is no water on the trail, so canteens should be carried. Restrooms are available only at the Visitor Center near the Muir House. It is open Wednesday through Saturday.

This would be a great Patrol activity. Since John Muir plays a part in many of our backpacking treks, a visit to the John Muir House would be in order. Phone (510) 228-8860 for more information.

Lightening Kills Two Scouts

A lightening-struck tree. In most cases the struck tree will die.

It was a small article in our local paper, back in the condensed news section under NATION. It read:

"A lightning bolt that killed two Boy Scouts while they were huddled under a tree during a thunderstorm was so powerful that it knocked nearby youths to the ground, one of the Scouts said."

Two Scouts were killed while they were leaning against the tree.

In Understanding Lightning, Martin A. Uman, an electrical engineer specializing in the study of lightning, writes: "The largest single category of lightning deaths (12 to 15 percent of all casualties) is composed of those unfortunate individuals who seek refuge under trees during thunderstorms and have their sheltering trees struck by lightning."

Taking refuge under a tree is one of the "no-no's" taught at the Basic Weather section of the Basic Backpacking Awareness training.

While at Philmont Scout Ranch in 1983 taking the Camping Course, lightning struck one of the trees lining the road into the camp from Cimmaron. Pictures were taken of that tree and slides are used in the weather presentation to visualize the danger. The picture reproduced here illustrates the tremendous damage done by lightning and would have insured that anyone under that tree would have been in mortal danger. Do not take refuge under a tree during a thunderstorm.

The recommended protective position against lightening is squatting with legs grasped together, sitting on, if possible, your ensolite or dry sleeping pad.

Learn the proper procedure for protecting your group. Spread out — so that if anyone is injured, there will be help for that person. The recommended position is squatting with legs grasped together, sitting on, if possible, your ensolite or dry sleeping pad, as shown in the illustration. If you do not have a pad, use anything available or squat, but do not touch the ground with any part of your body but your feet, which should be together. This is supposed to prevent currents from passing through your body. The advise given is that you should not worry about being wet. The least damage done by a lightning strike occurs with the "flashover" effect, when the charge passes over or around the wet victim without entering the body.

It's a sobering thought that the very unpredictable nature of lightning prevents any recommendation from being a positive one. But you can take comfort that if you follow these instructions, the odds will be in your favor.

Wet + Wind + Cold = Hypothermia

It seems almost obligatory that in an outdoor-oriented newsletter, as the "R" months with colder weather approach, that we should feature an article on hypothermia.

I must confess that it is an abominable task for me to write about that subject. In the early days of Boots & Blisters, I write with vigor on that subject and enlisted the aid of authorities to support the stories. Now it seems that in all branches of the media it appears ad nausea. In spite of that however, the deaths from hypothermia seem to stay at a constant level year by year. Many of the deaths occur to people we should expect to be forewarned and capable of staving off that dire happening.

When people do not plan ahead; when they forego the need for proper clothing; when thy ignore threats of weather; when they fail to prepare for the contingencies of a looming trip, the reason soon becomes apparent. Hypothermia is a subtle, insidious affliction that attacks the brain and the ability to think and reason —it gradually takes over with little hint to the unwary until sometimes it is too late to reverse. The victim does not become aware of the impending doom.

A Scouter in the Monterey Bay Area Council created a course on hypothermia that is excellent. The graduates of his course received a patch, a blue circle with a white cross. This was attached to the outside of their pack and serve as a constant reminder of the latent threat. Somehow that program did not continue but it deserves more attention among Scout leaders.

Most of us relate hypothermia to cold weather. It has however, been associated with temperatures as high as 70 degrees. Wind and rain are the "enemies." For those of you who do not know the cause of hypothermia, it occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce warmth.

Contributors:

• Improper clothing —cotton is the worst culprit and several authorities state that there is no place for cotton in the wilderness.
• Dehydration —lack of water intake.
• Fatigue —exceeding the physical capacity with resulting tiredness..
• Weather —fog, rain, snow, and wind all conspire to rob the body of its warmth.ce.

It is important to remember that the power and vigor of wind, rain, and snow cannot be mitigated by weather forecast or depicted on a meteorologist's chart."

Udall further points out that weather should be thought of as another type of terrain through which we must travel. Also, that what we know as normal weather is just the average of many wide fluctuations. Don't expect the weather to be normal. It is safer to anticipate the broad extremes which are always more dangerous than the norms.

Think about the weather, especially on your Fall and Winter treks and be prepared for whatever abnormal conditions to which you may be exposed.

Survival

Although there were fatalities caused by the March 1993 "Storm of the Century" in the South Eastern United States, it appears that none occurred among the hikers and backpackers on the trails. One contributing reason apparently, was the availability of the numerous shelters along the Appalachian Trails.

The one hundred or more students who were involved had extensive survival training and put it to use. The three boys who were lost in a snow storm in Maine, told that their Boy Scout training in survival saved them. Details of that training are not known but the fact that these boys thought they were valuable is important —a positive mental attitude and the will to live are vital to success. In none of these instances was it necessary to employ food gathering of plants or animals.

Famous Last Words: "I Forgot"

Have you ever stopped, two hours down the trail and had one of your Scouts come by to tell you: "Mr. __, I left my jacket hanging on a tree at our last campsite." Or poncho, or sierra cup, or would you believe it, his camera?

Practicing the use of a skirmish line before leaving any camp is one way to prevent this. It can be complemented by having one of your party assigned to the specific job of being the last to leave camp and responsible for a thorough check to make sure that nothing is left hanging from a tree limb or setting on a rock. This is a method of overcoming the "you take it, I got it" syndrome.

If you have a piece of gear that is rotated be sure that the Scout who is to carry it that day has it as you leave every rest stop. On one occasion, the foot care kit of our group was left on the trail. Fortunately another Scout unit following us found it and brought it to the area in which we were camped. That is proof that it can happen.

There are those who say it is the Scout's responsibility to not leave his gear. Optimum and ideal are worthy goals, but most of us know they are illusory. Experiential learning seems a necessary and sometimes repetitious contributor.

Ed Davis' Cookout Corner

Easy Green Onion Bread

Refrigerated biscuits, skillet baked with butter and bits of green onions in only 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsps. butter or margarine
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 2 - 3 green onions, minced
• 2-71/2 ounce tubes of biscuits

Instructions

About 20 minutes before serving time:

In a 10 inch skillet over low heat, melt 2 Tbsps butter or margarine. Into the melted butter evenly sprinkle sugar and 1/2 the green onions. Remove from heat, and carefully pat biscuits into pan, overlapping them slightly.

Cover skillet, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until underside is lightly browned. Carefully turn the bread over with a pancake turner and add remaining butter and the other half of the green onions. Cover and cook an additional 5 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

Serves 8.

Oriental Tomato Beef

Ingredients

• 1 Package Sunbird™ seasoning mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tbsps. soy sauce
• 1/4 cup catsup
• 2 Tbsps. oil
• 3/4 lb. boneless beef, sliced thinly
• 3 medium size tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 4 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 1 medium onion, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/4 lb Chinese pea pods or 1-10oz. frozen pea pods, thawed

Instructions

1. Combine seasoning mix, water, soy sauce and catsup. Set aside.
2. In a Wok or large skillet, heat 1/2 tsp. oil, stir fry celery and onion over medium heat for approximately 3 minutes. Remove from pan.
3. Heat remaining oil and stir fry pea pods and tomatoes for 30 seconds. Remove from pan.
4. Heat remaining oil and stir fry the beef til brown. Add sauce. When sauce thickens, add cooked ingredients and heat through. Serve over rice or Chinese noodles. Sprinkle top with crisp fried noodles.

Makes four servings of 1 1/4 cups each.