Centennial Award. Rose suggests additional time be given to earn the award.

First Aid Kits. Consterdine suggests putting together your own first aid kit based on the types of activities undertaken and the possible problems that might be encountered.

Adult Leader Backpack Training. 46 students attended.

Junior Leader Backpack Training. Chu and Bower report all went well. But more instructor help is needed, especially from older experienced scouts.

Winter Camping. Cline reports 4 instructors and 3 students attended the outing.

Rock, Rope, Rescue. Dodson reports some signups already received. Reservation has been made for the campground.

Conservation. Ledford reports California Trails Day will be held as scheduled. wwwTrailwork in the Angeles is currently suspended because the roads are dangerous.

Crosscountry Ski Training.  Hasn’t been held for two years because of lack of signups. Much discussion about whether or not to eliminate it from the training schedule. Discussion will be continued next month.

Skyline Hike. Yox reports this hike has been rescheduled.

Log Cabin. Chris Morales reports signups are going well.

HiLites. Tom circulated the latest draft for review.

Equipment. Russ circulated some catalogs. wwwREI Outlet sale is May 21-31.

Centennial Patch. Deadline extended 4 years (to 2014).

Rock, Rope, Rescue Training. Graduated 1 student.

Junior Leader Backpack Training. Decided to keep rank requirement unchanged but revise program description to emphasize that training is for scout leaders to take information back to troop and train other Scouts.

Philmont 2010. 21 signed up. Still 3 openings.

Spencer Memorial. Shockley is researching prefab buildings to house trailwork tools at Forest Lawn.

      Layering is all about anticipation. You should act before you get sweaty or a chill wind cools you down. Think of your body as a 98.6 degree candle exposed to the elements, and follow this advice to keep your flame from flaring up or going out.

      The three sets of threads you need for proper layering, all of which should be breatheable:

1.     A base layer to lift moisture off your skin.

2.     At least one insulating middle layer that also can work as an outer layer.

3.     A windproof and/or waterproof (depending on conditions) outside layer.

Start out cool. The right layers for standing in a parking lot can feel like a mink coat after 10 minutes on a trail. Start your hike dressed for exertion, and you won’t need to stop too soon and shed a layer. (Scouts often are overdressed at the start, so stop after 10 to 15 minutes for a clothing break.)

Make the call. If you’re hiking in a group and feel the need to adjust layers, don’t wait for a formal rest break. Chances are others need to make changes, too, and will be glad you spoke up.

Plan ahead. Make layering changes in advance, and you’ll avoid those unneeded, uncomfortable shiver-and-sweat transitions. Pull on a shell before reaching a windy ridge, and pack away your fleece on the verge of a steep climb. Speeding up or slowing your pace can regulate heat generation and keep you comfortable without clothing changes.

Think in zones. Sweat-soaked clothes in freezing conditions can drop you body temp from pleasantly cool to dangerously chilled. Avoid overheating by checking key sweat zones such as neck and armpits; as you start to warm up, peel away outside layers without delay. You can also regulate big temperature swings with small clothing changes; removing a hat or gloves can make all the difference.

      Most of the Angeles National Forest is still not available but we can travel a bit farther to do some good hiking. The Idyllwild area has some good MiniPeaks. Since the drive is a bit farther, consider making it a weekend and climb two peaks.

      You will need a Wilderness Permit (limit 12 hikers) for each of these hikes. Obtain the permit at the Idyllwild Ranger Station, San Jacinto Ranger District. You will also need a Forest Service Adventure Pass which you can get at the Ranger Station if you don’t already have one.

      From the LA area, take I-10 or SR60 to SR79 in Beaumont. Exit south on 79 and go to the Ramona Expressway, turn left (east) and then southeast until it ends at SR74. Turn left (east)  and go the junction with SR243 at Mountain Center.. Turn left (north) and go to the Idyllwild Ranger Station just off SR243 at 54270 Pinecrest road. Use the self-issue stand to get your Wilderness Permit. (Permits may be obtained in advance: Idyllwild Ranger Station, P O Box 518, Idyllwild, CA 92549, Phone :909-382-2921.) Continue north on SR243 to the Idyllwild Nature Center on the left, near mile paddle 5.25. Park in the large dirt area on the right side of the highway.

      From the parking area, hike up the Deer Springs Trail. Follow it about 2 miles to its junction with the Suicide Rock Trail (3E33). Go right and continue about 1 mile to the summit which is the high point to your right just before the trail ends. Sign the register and return to the parking area. The round trip is about 7 miles with about 1900 feet of elevation gain. It will take about 5 hours. The route is shown on the San Jacinto Peak 7 ½ minute USGS topographic map.

      If you are going to climb Apache, you should now go to your campground. Hurkey Creek is a good campground and it is on the way. It accepts reservations (951-659-2050, www.riversidecountyparks.org/. It also has showers. So return to the junction with SR 74 at Mountain Center and go south about 3.5 miles to the campground on the left (south).

      The Apple Canyon Road joins SR74 right adjacent to the campground. Follow it 2.6 miles to a large parking area on the right and park. This is the parking area for the Spitler Peak Trail.

      The Spitler Peak Trail (3E22) begins at a square post at the north end of the parking area (elevation4940 feet. Hike 5 miles up the trail to where it meets the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) at the Apache-Spitler Saddle (6980 feet).  Turn left (north) and follow the PCT 0.6 miles to a trail junction (7340 feet) with a side trail to Apache Spring heading right. Leave the PCT on the left side at this junction, following a small gully northwest by the most convenient paths until reaching a high saddle (7460 feet) between the two summits of Apache Peak. The register is located on the western (higher) summit (7567 feet). Turn left at the high saddle and scramble through easy brush and rocks to the summit. Return the way you came. If you want even more exercise, climb Spitler Peak (not on the MiniPeakbagger List but it is on the Sierra Club Hundred peaks list) upon the return to the Apache-Spitler Saddle. This adds one mile and 500 feet of gain. The overall hike is 12 miles with 2700 feet of gain  and will take about 7 to 8 hours. The hike is shown on the San Jacinto Peak and Palm View Peak topos.

      Russ Bower brings us some information from the REI Gear Guy.

Which backpack is right for me?

The simple, quick answer is: the one that fits the best. If your pack fits, you can carry it for days. If it gives you pain, you won’t want to carry it for a moment.

Most packs today will adjust and expand as the Scout grows. Sizing your torso length will help determine the correct fit.

Look at your volume needs. Do I need a smaller pack just for dayhiking, or will I need more volume for a multi-day or extended trip? 40 to 80 liters (2400 to 4800 cubic inches)  is a fine choice for 2 to 4 day trips.

External frame packs can carry larger loads on good trails. Internal packs are designed to carry your load closer to the body for better control when you are bush whacking off trail.

Most packs have a built in sleeve to carry a water bladder inside and pockets on the outside for bottles. Look for built in tie down straps or a daisy chain – this will allow strapping on extra if needed.

Heavier packs tend to offer extra pockets and more padding in the hip belt and shoulder straps. Lighter packs reduce padding, straps, pockets and zippers in order to cut weight. Try not to “overpack” a light pack.

A good pack fit will ensure many miles of “Happy Trails”.

      There is magnetism in space but it  is not because of space junk launched from earth. Magnetic fields which are produced by the dynamo effect caused by spinning liquid iron, such as the core of a planet, are found throughout the universe.

      The earth’s magnetic field extends to a specific boundary called the magnetosphere. Once you leave our magnetic field, you come under the sway of the sun’s magnetic force, called the Interplanetary Magnetic Field. But here your compass might be off as much as 40 degrees, since the solar wind – streams of ionized gas particles – constantly “blows” the sun’s magnetic field in several directions. Unlike the straight lines produced by the earth’s magnetic field, the sun’s lines of force resemble a tangled plate of spaghetti.

      As you moved out into interstellar space, you’d find several sources of magnetism – the spiral arms of the Milky Way, enormous clouds of dust and gas, black holes, supernovas – any of which might influence a compass’s reading. So when you bid on that spaceship of the future, on eBay, make sure it has a guidance system of the future: A compass won’t do you much good out there – and forget about a GPS.

      In terms of sheer usefulness to mankind, superglue is trumped only by duct tape and bailing wire. But it can take an hour or more to dry, meaning you can be stuck pinching together your delaminated boot sole when you should be out hiking.

      Here’s a trick that model builders have used  for years to make their liquid cement solutions set even faster: add some baking soda.

1.     Place a pinch of baking soda on a scrap of cardboard

2.     Squeeze out an equal-size blob of superglue

3.     Mix, the very quickly

4.     Apply to your bonding surface.

If it sets too fast, try adding glue directly to the broken parts, closing the crack, and sprinkling the baking soda over it. Be sure to put everything just where you want it – once the bond sets, it’s nearly impossible to break.

      If you are looking to escape the crowds, scramble to a trailless peak or camp next to a nameless lake, here is some planning guidance.

First, choose a map. For tricky off-trail navigation, you’ll want a paper 7.5 minute USGS quad for backup in the field. But digital maps are better for planning and storing route information. Mapping programs – many of them web-based and free – let you draw and save tracks, mark key points, calculate trip statistics, and more. Backpacker’s free Map Editor program (backerpacker.com/postatrip) is one source. But, while not free, National Geographic CDs provide seamless replications of the USGS topographic maps which can be printed after the planning is completed, then carried on the hike. They can also be downloaded into a GPS.

Next, Scout the Terrain. Sketch your route with the software’s pencil tool using your mouse. Use a terrain view (Backpacker software or Google Earth) for big picture scouting and the topo view for detailed planning. Below treeline, plan to hike on ridges, in wide valleys and on slopes with little vegetation. Steer clear of creek bottoms which can be thick with brush. Above treeline, follow open ridges and avoid supersteep terrain. The best peak routes usually trace a gully to a pass to a ridge to the summit.

      Avoid unnecessary roller-coaster hiking by plotting your route along a contour line – perhaps a longer distance but easier walking if the slope is not steep. Find a “handrail”, an easy-to-see feature parallel to your direction of travel. Cliffs, streams or ridges help you to navigate in the field; just remember, for example, that the ridge should always be on your left.

      Mark any potentially sketchy areas that require on-the-ground scouting. If you are making a summit climb, look for and mark bailout routes in case of bad weather or emergency or in case your chosen route proves impassable. If you use a GPS when hiking, select appropriate waypoints.

Finally, check your work. Many mapping programs calculate mileage and elevation profiles. Look at both. Can you really handle 15 miles and 5,000 feet of gain in one day? Bushwhacking takes significantly longer (and expends more energy) than on-trail hiking. Figure one mile per hour in rough terrain. Or use Naismith’s Rule with an appropriate squiggle factor. Explore your route in 3D with Google Earth. Zoom over the track to preview terrain and look for campsites – but remember that you can’t see current conditions (snowfields, rock slides, swollen streams), and won’t have enough detail to evaluate potential hazards, like cliffs. If you are taking a large or inexperienced group, actually scouting the route with  a couple of experienced hikers is well advised.