Re: [Philmont]: Matches or lighters

Matches or lightersAs a crew, we brought a box of stick matches - just the regular kind, not the "strike anywhere" type, although one of our guys brought a small container of those. We did not bring a lighter.

Quite frankly, the "strike anywhere" matches didn't work as well as the regular ones. They were hard to light and the sticks themselves were kind of brittle and they broke.

We found no need for a lighter on our trek. We thought the matches worked fine.

Pete Swiggum
Troop 1173
Green Bay

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Rich Wenneker
  To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
  Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 7:58 AM
  Subject: [Philmont]: Matches or lighters

  Philmont literature does not say much about matches. They provide one box of 32. The TOTT sells them. I have never looked for them in the backcountry.

  Coop and Wally's guide recommends one lighter or box of matches, and they prefer a butane lighter.

  My personal camping experience with butane lighters is they don't last as long as I would expect at higher altitudes. For example, this summer at San Isabel Scout Ranch (8800 feet) I brought two butane lighters to light a coffee stove and lanterns. Both would not work by the end of the week. I suspect leakage, not "unplanned use" by anyone. I have had similar problems on personal trips in Colorado and New Mexico.

  With matches, I have observed youth wasting them as if there was an unlimited supply, or not caring for them as if they were a necessity.

  At Philmont we bring matches, some waterproof, and distribute them among three people, so the chance of all getting used, lost, or wet is minimized.

  What have other crews done? Lighters or matches? How many? Any problems with lighters? Ever seen them at the backcountry TPs?

  Rich

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Received on Fri Sep 2 08:38:49 2005