[Philmont]: Bear Bags and Rope - and Weight Reality Check

 From the FWIW Category: With the polypro rope that we bring, also note
that we use a small stuff sack to hold the bear-bags and rope - much
easier to keep track off, and you can fill the stuff sack with a pair of
sneakers, tie it to the end of the rope, and throw it over the cable.
Much easier than the "softball" method taught by Philmont, and a lot
safer than having Scouts tie rocks or sticks to the rope (the usual
solution when they get frustrated at some of the more challenging
cables, like Upper Bench).

Weight Reality Check - Jason makes some excellent points below. It is
important to keep in mind that Philmont gear is perfectly adequate to
the job. Unless your Troop does LOTS of backpacking, or money isn't an
issue, or you happen to have a bunch of willows in your Crew, you should
think twice about spending a fortune (and a lot of time) to save weight.
  Philmont gear IS rather heavy-duty, and therefore rather heavy. It
has to be - they want 2.5 months of continuous use out of it, for a
minimum of 3 summers. Certainly you can beat it for weight with just
about any substitution of current backpacking equipment. But you should
not try to do in 3 months what I have done over 15 years.

Does that mean give up? Of course not! But you should prioritize your
efforts. It is senseless to save two pounds on bear-bags and a bear-bag
rope when everyone in the Crew is carrying 3 or 4 (or more) pounds of
clothing that they don't need - simply because they put zero thought or
effort into picking the lightest weight stuff THEY ALREADY OWNED. It is
pointless to save 2 pounds on titanium cookware and ultra-light
backpacking stoves when every member of the Crew is carrying a personal
camera, knife, watch, compass, map, tube of toothpaste, bar of soap,
bottle of shampoo, and on and on and on. You don't crow about cutting
your toothbrush in half when your camp shoes, daypack, and therm-a-rest
weigh 2 - 3 pounds each. It is pretty silly for an Advisor to pat
himself on the back for saving 2.5 pounds by spending $250 on a state of
the art backpacking tent - but has 40 extra pounds hanging out over his
belt.

The point, I hope, is obvious - pretty significant weight reductions are
possible without spending a lot of money, just by thinking your way
through where bulk of the weight is, and how to reduce that, FIRST.
Those that make the effort can probably get down to the mid- to
upper-40's for average Crew weight even using Philmont-supplied gear.
That's already a hell of an improvement versus most Philmont Crews, even
including those that bring their own gear. After that, then it gets
tough to get down to the mid- to upper-30's, and requires money and
resourcefulness. Necessary to have a great trek? Not at all. Please
maintain a proper perspective on weight - don't get lost in trivialities
while ignoring the herd of bulls in the china-shop.

- Dr. Bob

Jason A. Cotting wrote:
> I would recomend just using Philmont bags and rope. They work. If you
> don't already own any alternatives, it makes no sense to go buy anything
> else. My only addition would be a waterproof stuff sack to put your
> personal items in the bear bag. This keeps all your items in one place so
> you never forget any smellable items and it keeps them dry when it rains.
>
> The food is packed in plastic bags (with small holes in the bottom) and
> the food stays dry when hung in the plastic bear bags Philmont provides.
>
> The rope is heavy yes. But the heavy rope is durable. You would be
> surprised how much weight you put in those bearbags. Also, heavier rope is
> easier to throw over the cable. I remember obsverving one of my Ranger's
> crews who was using parchute cord for bear rope. They had a difficult
> time throwing the rope over the cable. It was too light to get the rope
> thrown high enough. The solution was to fill a bandana with dirt and tying
> it on to the end of the rope for weight.
>
> Duct tape is a smellable, but not a rewardable. This topic has been
> discussed before (the difference between smellable and rewardables).
> Philmont is very very anal about smellables. I convinced the powers that
> be last summer that duct tape did not need to go up in the bear bag. It
> only needed to stay out of the tents and in the bearmuda triangle. Now
> what they decide on this year there is no telling. The bear researchers
> had a roll of duct tape that a bear had chewed on, so it does attract a
> bear.
>
> Jason
>

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Wed Jun 11 17:18:17 2003