Ice Axe Training. Five completed, 3 didn’t attend.

Conservation. Forest service ready to resume Trail Boss projects – will probably start in April.wwwLittle Jimmy campground is open.

Forest Lawn. Snowcamp is open.

Quest. This program is now canceled.

Philmont. There is a waiting list for 2010.

Log Cabin Provisional. No signups yet. Dennis cline is available to give a presentation at Roundtables.

  Winter Camp. Canceled because of weather although 3 went anyway. Rescheduled for Mar 13 (only 3 of the 18 seminar attendees were present.

HiLites. March issue draft circulated for review.

Adult Leader Backpack Training. Over 40 attended. Went smoothly.

Conservation. CA Trails Day is Apr 17. Closure area may shrink in April.

Tejon Ranch. This area is being considered for Eagle projects.

Forest Lawn. Cubs have used 6 of the 11 weeks and would like more. More Scout activities needed.

SAFETY ON OUTINGS

Recent incidents have shown we are becoming lax when it comes to safety on Scout outings.

Helmets. Recent rules from National require their use. They should be used for any activity where head injuries may occur, such as, climbing, bicycling, ice axe practice, skiing, skateboarding,

Buddy System. Units should make a habit of using the buddy system on all activities.

Planned and supervised activities. Idle time gives Scouts a chance to engage in activities which may be  accident prone or dangerous.

Equipment. A check of bicycles, clothing, backpacks, etc can prevent problems.  

HIKE OF THE MONTH

  Why not celebrate this Boy Scout centennial year with a hike to the peak named after Scouting’s founder, Robert S S Baden-Powell.

  This year, with the forest closures caused by recent fires, we have to drive a bit farther to the trailhead. From the South Bay, drive the Harbor Freeway (110) to the 91 to the 15 to route 138 through Wrightwood to Route 2 (the Angeles Crest Highway) to Vincent Gap, the trailhead for the hike. Park here at 6593 feet elevation. There is a parking lot and a bathroom.

Begin the 4 mile (8 mile round trip) ascent to the summit at 9399 feet, a gain of 2800 feet. Using Naismith’s Rule, the time required is 4 hours as a dayhike. Since the ascent is all uphill on a fairly steep climb with many switchbacks, allow a bit more time.

As you near the summit, go off trail to visit the old Limber Pine Forest. This is a rare tree in this area.

The trail is part of the Pacific Crest Trail. About 1/8 mile before the summit, you leave the PCT to go to the peak. There you will find the Baden-Powell monument placed on May 30, 1931.

The trail is found on the Crystal Lake 7.5 minute topographic map. The driving route is found on the AAA Los Angeles and Vicinity map.

The peak was renamed, at the request of Boy Scouts of America, after Lord Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, First Baron of Gilwell (1857-1941), Hero of Mafeking (1900), Founder of the Boy Scouts (1907), author of Scouting for Boys (1908) and Chief Scout of the World (1920).

  Here’s some info about this common pest

·         Mosquitoes breed in standing water

·         A mosquito can mature in 7 to 10 days

·         Several mosquito species in California are carriers of disease

·         Eggs are laid in stagnant water

·         Larva feed on organic matter

·         Pupae rest and do not feed

·         Adults rest on the surface until strong enough to fly, mate and feed. Only the female mosquito bites to obtain blood.

1.     Drain. Remove standing water on your property.

2.     Deny. Install tight-fitting screens on windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes  from entering your home.

3.     Dawn and Dusk. Avoid spending time outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

4.     Dress. Wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, shoes and socks while outdoors. When hiking, tuck in shirt and tuck pantlegs inside socks.

5.     DEET. Use an insect repellent containing 5%-30& DEET (N,N diethyl-m-toluamide). There are other repellents, but DEET is most effective.

      Look for anything that can hold water for more than a few days. Some examples: water trough, open boat, neglected swimming pool and hot tub, ornamental pond, clogged rain gutter, bird bath, leaky watering equipment, debris (tires, tarps, empty containers, flower pots).

The use of mosquitofish is a natural way of controlling mosquito larvae without the use of chemicals or insecticides. Stock them in backyard ponds, unused or out of order swimming pools, water gardens, fountains, animal troughs.

Caution: Mosquitofish should never be placed in any natural habitat such as lakes, streams, rivers, or creeks. Their introduction into certain natural habitats may disrupt the existing ecological balance.

Infected mosquitoes transmit canine heartworm to dogs and cats. The disease is caused by a roundworm which lives in the animal's lungs and heart.

Mosquitoes become infected with WNV when they feed on infected birds. These infected mosquitoes can then transmit WNV to humans and animals while biting during subsequent blood meals. Approximately 80 percent of people who are infected with WNV will not show symptoms. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected may develop West Nile fever.

Symptoms of West Nile fever:

·         Flu-like symptoms

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Diarrhea

·         Skin rash

·         Swollen lymph glands

Less than 1% of infected people will develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND).

Symptoms of WNND:

·         High fever

·         Neck stiffness

·         Stupor: disorientation

·         Coma

·         Tremors

·         Convulsions

·         Paralysis

·         Death (rare)

DECLINATION

Scouts navigate with map and compass using magnetic north. This avoids setting declination (the angle between true north and magnetic north) on the compass. However, when drawing magnetic north/south lines on a map, using the correct declination is critical. The North Pole moves about 25 miles per year, and not at a constant rate. The declination listed on the topographic map may be way out of date depending on the age of the map. To get the correct declination for a specific area, go to the NOAA internet site at  http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/declination.shtml. Click on ‘compute your declination’ and enter the latitude and longitude shown on the topo.   

      Hike anywhere in any mountain range and you will note one fairly constant feature: Wind blows up the mountain during the day and down the mountain at night. Why? Two forces are at work, both caused by radiation as the earth’s surface loses more heat than it absorbs during a clear night.

     As the ground gives off heat, the heat rises and the earth cools. The air close to the ground becomes colder more quickly and, since it is denser than warm air, begins to flow, rather like water, downhill – toward the valley bottoms and desert floors. As the cool air rushes down the mountain (this is the breeze you feel), it displaces the warm air, forcing it upward, keeping a cycle of air going. As the warm air gets forced out, the cool air pools and collects in the lower reaches, creating places often referred to as cold sinks.

      In broad valleys covered with dense meadow grasses, frost pockets may form, even though the temperature just 500 to 1000 feet above is a comfortable 50 degrees. The broader the valley and the more vertical the surrounding mountainous ridges, the more marked the temperature contrasts will be. The narrower the valley, the less dramatic the temperature differences between the top and bottom will be since the walls tend to radiate heat from one to another, effectively trapping potential heat loss from the valley bottom.

      As the early morning sun begins to warm the valley, the winds will reverse themselves and begin rushing up the mountain, as the warm air begins to rise. Remember, however, that the air can only be warmed if the sun hits the ground below it, radiating heat upward. This explains why the side of the valley that is getting the sun first will experience upslope winds, while the side of the valley still in the shade continues to experience cool downslope winds.

      Cloudy conditions or a presence of strong winds in the area will alter the topographical variations in wind and temperature pattern. Cloudy conditions act as an insulator, reducing radiant heat loss and holding a thermal layer of air closer to the earth’s surface. Windy conditions may overpower the gentle nature of upslope or downslope winds and also alter the potential temperature variances.

      Winds that flow up or down a valley or canyon floor operate in a similar manner to winds that flow up and down a valley’s walls. As temperatures fluctuate between higher elevations (mountains, ridges or foothills) at one end of the canyon or valley and the lower elevations (desert, plains), winds also fluctuate in intensity and direction. Canoeists and rafters know this well, as many an afternoon wind blowing upstream from the heated elevations below has thwarted efforts to paddle into it successfully. Keep in mind, however, that canyons and valleys channel wind, too, and it is entirely possible, probable in fact, that winds will roar up or down the canyon or valley floor no matter what time of day it is.

      Scouts can use this information to select more comfortable campsites and orient their tents.

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Thunderstorms produce a jet of downdraft. When dry air is below a thunderstorm or when dry air enters a (In TrailHd 174 m we will discuss more about thunderstorms: hail and lightning.