Is Less Better?

Proper planning helps avoid heavy loads

When I first started as an Assistance Scout Master (ASM) with our Troop, there wasn’t a strong emphasis on backpacking. Backpacking was one of many events the boys participated in; some Scouts embraced backpacking while others dreaded it.

Not that there wasn’t an interest in backpacking, there simply was not an emphasis on decentralized, self-sufficient camping.

Recently, however, a few enthusiastic leaders among the Troop surfaced which has seemed to kick-start the backpacking program into a higher gear.

In the last few months, over 25 Boy Scouts have gone on at least one of the backpack trips I’ve led and show interest of going again. Out of the 25 boys, at least half of the group want to explore ways to reduce their pack base weight Continue reading