[philmont] Advisors learning curve

Jim,
  When I read the post below about canister fuels being favored over re-fillable fuel bottles (white gas), I had many of the same thoughts. However, you took the time to put into words the position that I would have taken had I chosen to write. And, you did it far better than I would have.
   
  I agree 100% and can't add anything more.
   
  Pete Swiggum
  Green Bay, WI
  Philmont 2005
   
  

Jim Moss <bsa.rec.law@gmail.com> wrote:
  The first part many of you have probably heard before........

1. Don't take the pumps out of the bottles. You save weight by caring
the pumps inside the bottles and you can leave the lids at home. You only
need lids for the bottles without pumps. Keeps the pumps in the fuel
bottles cuts down on fuel spills when you are taking lids off and putting
the pumps in and you do not have to let off the excess pressure when you are
done cooking. This is where most stove fires occur.

2. This also protects the pumps form wear and tear and breaking. No
better protection then inside the bottle.

3. Carry your stoves and fuel in a separate bag on the outside of your
pack. Every pack manufacture makes them and you can find one that will fit
your set up. You can find one that will fit every set up no matter what pack
your are carrying. That way you know where you stove is and any spill is
fairly contained outside of the bag. I have a heavy cordura bag that holds
the fuel bottle/pump and my stove on the outside of the pack. If I am
worried about protecting the stove I put it in a small OR padded box inside
the bag on the outside of my pack.

4. Only transport fuel bottles upright. Stoves really don't matter.

The second part.

I find your reasoning for using non-reusable fuel canisters to be weak and
best and short sighted. I find it to be very un-Scout like in its approach
to teaching future generations responsibility.

Of course a youth is going to leave the cap off or allow the fuel to leak
out. Of course that is going to happen. We are dealing with youth. You are
going to deny this youth the learning opportunity and the unit the
opportunity to be creative.

More importantly you are saying is that the earth and the future of those
youth is less important than your desire to have it easy at Philmont.
Yesterday five conservative, very right wing supreme court justices even
said the earth is in trouble and we need to watch global warming.

Recycling is good, but reusing is better. It takes minimal energy to refill
a fuel bottle. It takes energy that warms the earth to recycle a spent fuel
canister.

I seriously doubt, that anyone who is going to argue for fuel canisters is
going to recycle them anyway. You are going to pitch them at Philmont and
leave for Philmont to deal with.

I wish I had John's grace in responding, but as many of you know, there are
some things that send me to the roof and choosing to be lazy or cheap in
deference to cleaning up the earth is one of them. Choosing to teach
impressionable youth the wrong way, when they are looking at you for
guidance, to help them set the groundwork for the future by choosing the
easy way over the right way is not Scout like.

Jim Moss

-----Original Message-----
From: philmont@troop47.com [mailto:philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of
vowelldk1@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 6:25 PM
To: philmont List Member
Subject: [philmont] Advisors learning curve

That's one view. Another is a careless scout (and I don't care how much you
train them; human beings make mistakes) who fails to tighten the cap on the
fuel canister. A ruined pack, soaked clothes, and an environmental problem.

I opt for the canisters. It IS possible to mail them home and recycle them
there. UPS ground can take propane/butane.

Denise Vowell
VC 574
04 & 08 (if the knees hold up)

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Received on Tue Apr 3 22:45:27 2007