[Philmont]: Its Batteries now ...

I too started down the track of standardizing on one battery style, AA, and
then buying the highest capacity rechargables I could find. Works for most
applications, but when I went looking for a compact, lightweight,
video/still digital camera all of the options required a proprietary OEM
battery. In the end I believe that the bulk and weight of these were
probably superior to the equivalent number of AAs. Either way there is a
non-trivial cost. Guess my point is that standardizing on a standard
battery is a great goal, and a valid consideration, but I don't believe that
it should be a cause for compromise ...

Another point worth considering it the devices themselves. I'd argue that a
LED headlamp, using whatever purpose specific battery they use is a superior
solution to a one or two cell AA flashlight. It smaller, easier to use, and
for your ten days at Philmont one set of batteries, the ones in the device,
will do. I still remember to this day our Ranger back in 1974 picking on
batteries during our shakedown (Yes, Bob, they were D's). He had us take
the batteries out of our flashlights, replace them with the spares, and
leave the originals in base camp. Same point applies today. Our '04 Ranger
argued that everyone didn't need a flashlight, or a camera ... that went
down well ... not ... but his point was valid. From a crew perspective,
each tenting group could share a light, the crew could have a photographer
or two or three. Worth considering, but I'll prefer to have my own camera
thanks...

Practically speaking you will have two opportunities at a commissary,
probably about 3-4 days in and about 3-4 days beyond that, don't bank on
them being able to meet your needs battery wise. You really should leave
base camp outfitted for the duration.

And, not being able to let the GPS comment go, sorry, have enough Compasses
and people who know how to use them for this case. GPS' are great, I own
three, but they should never be used in a situation such as Philmont without
a backup, that being the skills to use a map and compass to figure out where
you are.

YIS
Jim
ASM T6
PSR '74, '04, '06
www.troop6bsa.org?cmd=philmont
  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com]On
Behalf Of DTADSEN@aol.com
  Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 12:17 PM
  To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
  Subject: Re: [Philmont]: Batteries, was jet boil stove

  It is my practice to make all the battery operated devices that I bring on
the trail at Philmont be of the same battery requirement, usually, AA
batteries.
  When looking to purchase something for camping, even beyond Philmont, the
type of battery required is a consideration for me, as I try to maintain the
my one-type-battery concept.
  Almost all of my "stuff" is AA battery powered, and AA's are usually
available at the commissaries in the back country.
  Then, if needed, in a an emergency I can take batteries from device and
use them in another device.
  I encourage this approach with all crew members, so that the battery
sharing is possible with everyone. Usually somebody in the crew has some
spare AA's they know they will not be using.
  I even gone so far as to use some rechargeable AA batteries and have a
solar powered AA battery re-charger that I take on the trail.
  It may get down to establishing priorities. Is it better to take a
picture, us the flashlight, or the need to operate the GPS to figure out
where you really are?
  It's about acting/operating as a crew, not just one person.

  Darrel T
  St. Charles, MO

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Received on Sun Feb 5 15:23:21 2006