Austin Troop 33 has a rugged tradition of heading to West Texas every January over MLK weekend for a mini-high-adventure. This year, we were back at Big Bend NP. The national parks rules and regulations increase the complexity of scout adventures in Big Bend. For this trip we needed to obtain a “Special Use Permit”Continue reading “Scout Packrafting Boquillas Canyon”
Category Archives: Scouting
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”
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”
Philmont: Top 15 tips and things I wish someone told me before the trip.
No. 1: Start Early: The activities are first come, first served, and thunderstorms occur almost every afternoon in July. The Crew Leader should set an early start to ensure that the crew gets to complete activities and to avoid setting up camp late in the day in a storm. No. 2: Tie sticks directly toContinue reading “Philmont: Top 15 tips and things I wish someone told me before the trip.”
Preparing for Philmont: Gear
The foremost rule for gear is to go as light as possible and not take unnecessary stuff. Your base weight should be 21-22 lbs or less, equating to 30-35 lbs once loaded with food, water, and crew gear. If your pack is more than that, it is too heavy. Philmont recognizes that people bringing tooContinue reading “Preparing for Philmont: Gear”
Philmont: Registering and Picking an Itinerary
Warning: this is a paperwork and planning post, not an adventure post. Philmont offers 7-, 9- and 12-day treks of varying difficulty. This post outlines how to choose the appropriate trek for your crew and get through the registration process. This explains how the process works for individual scout units, not council contingents. In summary,Continue reading “Philmont: Registering and Picking an Itinerary”
Philmont Overview
I just returned from a nine-day trek at Philmont Scout Ranch with my son’s scout troop (Austin Troop 33). It was great fun. This is the first in a series of posts on what to expect, how to prepare, and vital tips for a successful Philmont trek. At the end of the series, I willContinue reading “Philmont Overview”
BTSR: A West Texas Gem
West Texas is my favorite part of the state. The crown jewels of Texas backcountry adventure, Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks, are favorites of mine (and everyone else). Recently, I had the chance to explore a third, less popular but no less spectacular corner of West Texas: the Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch inContinue reading “BTSR: A West Texas Gem”
Vamonos Baby! 