This summer, we took our first family multiday rafting trip. We were not lucky enough to pull a lottery ticket, so we went on the Lower Salmon from White Bird, Idaho, to the confluence with the Snake River, where you don’t need a stinking lottery ticket to have fun. Rafting is an equipment-intensive sport. LivingContinue reading “Family Rafting Adventure on the Lower Salmon River”
Author Archives: Chris Smith
River Safety: Why I think strainers are the most dangerous hazard for scout river trips on Class II or lower rivers
This is a follow-up to my earlier post, which looked at the AWA accident database. One distinction is that AWA database includes all whitewater accidents from Class I to Class V – and may not be representative of a typical scout trip. By “scout trip” I mean a river trip in canoes or kayaks, onContinue reading “River Safety: Why I think strainers are the most dangerous hazard for scout river trips on Class II or lower rivers”
Why Canister Stoves Beat White Gas Stoves (or why White Gas Stoves suck)
I don’t understand the continued use of white gas stoves, such as the iconic MSR Whisperlite, on wilderness trips. White gas stoves are the standard at Philmont, Northern Tier, and among many scout troops. As far as I can tell, there are only two advantages of white gas stoves: Outside of these rare scenarios, canisterContinue reading “Why Canister Stoves Beat White Gas Stoves (or why White Gas Stoves suck)”
Canoeing at Northern Tier High Adventure Base
For me this is the summer of scout canoe trips. Last week my oldest daughter and I went on a week-long canoe trip in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota with a crew from Troop 19 in Austin. Instead of using a private outfitter, we booked our trip with the Northern Tier High Adventure Base.Continue reading “Canoeing at Northern Tier High Adventure Base”
Top Multiday Canoe Trips near (not in) Texas for Scout Troops
A multiday canoe trip is one of the best high-adventure options for scout troops. River canoeing can involve excitement, the fun of getting wet, fishing, wilderness, and freedom for the scouts to learn skills without a strict itinerary or program requirements. This post describes two awesome multiday trips reachable from central Texas. Although the discussionContinue reading “Top Multiday Canoe Trips near (not in) Texas for Scout Troops”
Family-Friendly Backpacking in Big Bend National Park
Just after the New Year, the Smith family went on a two-night backcountry trip to the High Chisos in Big Bend National Park. This was our first family desert trip, and it was a lot of fun. Most Big Bend backpacking trips are challenging because you must carry your own water. There are a fewContinue reading “Family-Friendly Backpacking in Big Bend National Park”
Understanding River Risks: Insights from 20-Year Whitewater Accident Data
Recently, I have been perusing the American Whitewater Accident Database, which includes data on whitewater river accidents in the US and Canada. I have been thinking about river-related risks for my personal trips (mostly Class III) and for trips where I may lead other adults and youth (Class II). The data are interesting and notContinue reading “Understanding River Risks: Insights from 20-Year Whitewater Accident Data”
Guide to Disney Madness
Years ago, when our oldest turned 5, we went to Walt Disney World in Orlando. Somehow, that precedent turned into a tradition. We have now been to WDW four times, most recently in January 2024, I am not a “Disney” person. I hate crowds, abhor waiting in lines, don’t like hotels, and like to beContinue reading “Guide to Disney Madness”
Packrafting fun in Costa Rica
I took my Gnarwal on our family trip to Costa Rica this summer to paddle a few miles of the Rio Chirripo Pacifico near San Gerardo de Rivas. On this trip in the middle of the rainy season, the section of the Rio Chirripo I intended to run was way above my skill set toContinue reading “Packrafting fun in Costa Rica”
Philmont: Our Trek Report
For information on Philmont “how to,” check out my prior posts: Philmont Overview, Registration and Itinerary, Fitness Prep, Skills Prep, Gear Prep, Youth Leadership, and Top Tips. This post is simply a trip report for Crew 714-9B-1. Day 0 (travel day): We flew from Austin on an early morning flight to Colorado Springs, where weContinue reading “Philmont: Our Trek Report”
Vamonos Baby! 