About Barry Griffiths

Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 160.

Winter camping

(NOTE:  For more information on equipment and checklists and winter camping, check this part of the Troop website — The Webmaster.)

I have noticed a dropoff in those going on winter camping trips.  That is a concern since Scouting Is Outing.

If you are considering going on a winter trip, but are afraid that your equipment may not stand up to the elements, please talk to me at the next meeting.  The troop has available a couple of good quality down bags and a couple of fiberfill bags as well.  We have four backpacks which will work quite nicely to boot.

You can rent gear from REI at very attractive prices and you can reserve it ahead of time.  If you are not a member, join.

Although we like to brag just a bit about how tough we are and how close to nature we are on these trips, keep in mind that you can be warm and comfortable, even without spending several hundred dollars on the latest and greatest gear.  After all, the early conquests of Everest and the many polar expeditions were done long before fleece and polypro garments were invented.

Continue reading

January 8: Pack check for January 17-18 campout

Due to the recent Ice Storm  –  Windblown Ski Area will not be able to open as scheduled.  We are still planning the Winter Camp Out for January 17th – 18th but have changed the location to Hidden Valley, NH.

There is lots of snow at Hidden Valley!

Initial pack check for winter camp out this week (January 8th) during Troop meeting!!

Don’t forget:

Winter boots (big enough to wear 2 pairs heavy wool socks)
Extra socks, mittens (warmer then gloves), heavy cap
Remember—-  LAYERS—– with wind proof outer shell for jacket and pants.
Warm sleeping bag and pad

No jeans, no cotton.

We will be sledding and hauling our gear in on sleds as well—bring a sled or borrow a sled!!

Please look at Troop 160 website for complete check list for winter camping.

Bring the 10 essentials—-look them up in the Boy Scout handbook if you don’t know what they are!!

After the 1st pack check, we will have a final pack check the following week (January 15)

See you soon.

–Joe Lepore and Meg Bonnell-Bradley

Lighting the bandstand

From Scoutmaster Hank Manz:

Thanks to the energetic crew of Scouts and adults who showed up, the bandstand is now lighted.  I stopped by tonight–it looks good!  The tree needs a little work.  It is supposed to have larger lights and it will eventually have them, but an unfortunate accident caused the loss of the lights for that string so we will have to wait for replacements.  I expect them by next weekend.

The estimate of the number of strings needed was pretty close.  We said 29.  In fact, it took 27 which is why we had extra strings to temporarily use on the tree.

Thanks also to the generous donors who made it possible to do it this year so we didn’t have to wait a year.

One thing I forgot to do was to make a list of the volunteers who were there today.  So if you were there, send me a quick list of those you know were there.  Just send it to me–there is no need to send it to the whole list.  Send it to me by email.

And thanks again for the work today!

-Hank
Getting started

more below the fold…
Continue reading