I have been in the process of changing out computers and ISP, so this is a little bit past due. Let me comment on three specifics. I'm not going to participate in a "I heard that" discourse, but will stick to the things I have personally observed, whether they are factual or not is up for speculation.
Here goes.
First of all, thank you Ken Martin for the kind remarks concerning my 2000 article about repairing Coleman stoves. Not a week goes back that I don't get at least three emails about that article from the worldwide community, not just Scouters.
A little updated information is in order. Coleman now markets a genuine leather pump cup. I have not seen it advertised anywhere. It is a result of some of us old Coleman users and repairers griping and moaning about the modern neoprene pump cups. They finally listened.
None of my lanterns and stoves which number well over one hundred have neoprene. They all have leather pump cups. Read that how you want to.
Consumer Service e-mail for coolers, stoves, lanterns, tents, flashlights, and other camping gear:
Coleman Consumer Service (consumerservice@coleman.com)
Their toll free number is 800-835-3278
Other sources for Coleman parts are:
http://www.leacockcoleman.com/
and
http://www.oldtownyucca.com/coleman/default.htm
Old Town Yucca has the largest supply of repair parts. Their site also has diagrams of stoves and lanterns identifying the parts.
They also have more detailed instructions than mine for repairing stoves and lanterns.
When I wrote them, these were not available, but are very useful and detailed. I skipped a lot of steps and assumed one knows a little about the process if they attempt repairs.
One bit of generic advise on the current Coleman stoves and lanterns. Some things are repairable on them but not everything. The old models could be completely rebuilt to a "good as new" condition in one afternoon session. Not true with the newer models. Competition has not been a good thing for the quality of Coleman products. Enough said.
Cell Phones
During out trek in July 2002, I carried a cell phone. I did not do so because I felt the need to, but if one has it, they might as well use it. Also I was there with my youngest daughter and my wife was at "home alone" and oldest daughter another thousand miles away in the opposite direction.
I used it, enjoyed it and did not abuse it. I just happen to be married to my best friend and partner and have for over thirty years. I have traveled to places where smoke signals sould not carry a message for weeks at a time with no regrets but am not imune tocouldg new tools. My cell phone is a "new tool".
Timmunese it would have been things like leaving it turned on while on trek. Talking on it wherever I went, etc. When I used it, the conversation was private and I found a private location.
"It" is a Motorola Star Tac Model ST7868W trimode analog/digital phone.
I used it at the following locations successfully. All connections were analog.
Camping Headquarters
The following trail camps: Olympia, Toothache Springs, Miners Park and Lower Bonita. Some locations required climbing a little higher for a signal.
I could not get a signal at: Apache Springs, Crooked Creek, Clear Creek and Red Hills.
I did not try nor did I want to use it atop Clear Creek Mountain which most of you call Mount Phillips. I call it Clear Creek, but that's another story.
One thing to be sure you understand is that in the event of an emergency at Philmont you DO NOT DIAL 911. You call PHILMONT. If you insist on dialing 911, you may get connected to a place in Colorado that doesn't even know where Philmojnt is located. This has happened.
Philmontstaff will go over that thoroughly with you at the advisors meeting the evening before your trek starts.
So much for cell phones.
Now on to GPS
Of all the recent posts, there have been three that need to be read and reread, particularly those from Delano, Hamm and Dr. Bob.
>From the gist of the rest, let me just say there is a lot of misconception about GPS, what it is, how it works and how to use it.
Whether the military has tweaked it at all during the Iraq War is speculation. Don't believe all the news media says.......now or in the past or in the future. They are the worlds best at manufacturing fact that is not fact.
During the past several months use, I have not observed this. Mine works just as it always has since they turned off the system designed to make civilian models less accurate.
BTW, during Desert Storm this was left on so civilian models could be used by the military because the military did not have enough units.
And if you think the US has the only system, think again. The Ruskies have a very good one and they do sell goods and services to Saddam. Problem is Saddam doesn't have anything to hook it up to. SCUDS aren't guided at all.
Back to GPS.
The best advise it to practice, practice, practice. If you don't use it, you loose it.
GPS is not a "press the button" and watch it work type thing. Some neat things can be done wiht GPS, but owithwith practice The instruction manual won't tell you how.
One bit of warning.
Several well meaning people have posted GPS postitionpositionsous locations at Philmont. Every listing that I have looked at has mistakes in it. Some waypoints or coordinates for given locations are off by quite a ways. some are attributed to typographical errors and some are just plain wrong.
Be this as it may, GPS is a useful tool, but NOT if you load it full of bogus information to start with.
The only source of coordinates I trust besides the ones I collect with the instrument are ones I calculate directly from USGS maps. Even in those I make mistakes like everyone else. The more mistakes you enter, the worse the instrument performs.
With all that said and done, the GPS is a great navigational tool and the use of it should be taught to Venturing age Scouts.
To say map and compass is the only thing they need is a bit old fashioned. They will be using GPS soon enough.
One of our Venturers has been called to active duty with the U S Army 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood awaiting deployment to Iraq.
I'm glad that I took the time to teach him as a member of our crew how to use GPS. He just might find it useful and it just might help him not go down the wrong road and become a war statistic as some already have.
Think about that one at your next meeting.
John LeBlanc
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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
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Received on Wed Mar 26 14:03:46 2003
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