[Philmont]: batteries

Many helpful observations so far on the subject of batteries. I would not under any circumstances expect to puchase batteries on the trail. Remember, only commissary (food pickup) camps and those few staff camps large enough to have a trading post would even be possibilities for purchase. Not all staff camps have trading posts.

Think of a backcountry trading post as a Seven-eleven, so far out of the mainstream that it has gone beyond "convenience store" and into the realm of "captive audience". It may be my own personal predelictions, but I buy my batteries in bulk at a Sam's club, KMart, Walmart or similar store. No way do I buy batteries, (or film or other such items) at, for instance, a museum, aquarium, national park, ball park, or other "captive audience" attraction. I don't even buy food at such places, preferring to pack a sandwich.

This is not to say that Philmont backcountry trading posts gouge you. It's just that it is not KMart pricing. Just as you would not buy your AA's at Seven-Eleven, don't plan on buying them in the backcountry.

Remember also that you have to pack out the dead ones, so there is really little savings in weight by switching out halfway. Batteries should not be disposed of haphazardly, as we all know. Also, once I have had my pack on for a while, I would not take one extra step to buy an AA battery I could have had in my lower left hand pocket the whole time. This goes double for a detour to a camp that sells such items.

Again, it may just be me, but I would feel deficient in the "Be Prepared" department if I had to buy anything in a backcountry trading post other than a replacement for a damaged piece of gear. (Or fuel, on second thought. On AA trips they drop us our fuel bottles with our food).

All for now.

Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01.'03,'05, and hopefully '06

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Received on Mon Feb 6 11:57:10 2006