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”
Tag Archives: hiking
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”
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.”
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”
Vamonos Baby! 