From: Alan Thomson (abthomson@goes.com)
Date: Mon Jun 24 2002 - 10:41:36 CDT
Jim Arthur asks...
How is every one handling shipping their backpacks? I was thinking about having
the scouts carry their gear in gym bags and box the pack backs together. I know
I don't want to give the baggage handlers loose backpacks. How have other groups
handles this in the past?
Comment...
Patriots' Path Council contingents pack the clothes and toiletries for two days
of touring in the Colorado Springs area in a small carry on gym bag (supplied
by the Council) and put all trail gear (including sleeping bags, since they
stay in facilities with beds the nights of the tour) in / on the packs. Packs
are then placed in airline supplied (prior to arrival at airport) clear plastic
baggage bags, with a lot of duct tape to eliminate loose ends, etc. All straps
inside the bag are cinched, ends tucked in, etc. Lids on water bottles are
off / loose to avoid pressurization problems. Have seen a couple of the plastic
baggage bags torn up pretty good - generally those NOT adequately secured with
duct tape - but the packs inside the bags were okay. There is no need to get
into the pack until arrival at Base Camp. Care must be taken at Philmont opening
the baggage bags, since they are reused for the return (carrying a couple extra
to replace possible damaged ones is prudent). Of course, on the return a lot
more duct tape can be used to secure the bag, since it will be the end of the
line for the baggage bag. Mail a roll of duct tape in the box with your stoves
and fuel bottles for the return.
Crews pack the packs in the baggage bags the night before departure, right after
completing the final gear shakedown.
Put name tags both outside and inside the bags, with the Philmont address and
crew number going, home address returning. If you are part of a multi-crew
contingent, each crew using some distinctive arrangement of colored tape, etc.
makes sorting the bags easier.
Packs can also be checked in very large duffle bags. They have the advantage
of straps for carrying the packed pack (the baggage bags can be awkward), and
that small items (like the extra duct tape) can be placed in the duffle.
- Al Thomson
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