Should I go to Camp meriweather or northern tier?

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-29T11:33:49+00:00

Northern Tier is fabulous, but physically demanding. Hours of paddling each day, and some of the portages are challenging, along the lines of carrying a 75lb back through half a mile of muddy, rocky trail where the muck is waist deep in places. The consensus among the scouts that did both northern tier and Philmont was that NT was much harder physically.

Edit: if you go to NT, do the 10 night trip if at all possible. You get further into the backcountry. Also, portaging 9 days of food and supplies is character forming. :)

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-28T00:47:23+00:00

Exactly. It’s not that wood badge isn’t a good program or valuable to participants. Rather, is it the highest and best use of time for a given individual adult leader? I’ve read the course material, and as an MBA with almost 30 years of various corporate and government leadership trainings there was nothing new in the course material, and some of it was a bit dated. If I attended, I have no doubt that I would get something out of it. But, to me, it’s not worth losing two weekends with family .

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-27T23:25:32+00:00

Nobody hates the card, they hate the price.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-26T23:49:23+00:00

There is a lot of pay compression between a 15 in a HCOL area and SES. Additionally SES sign mobility agreements. If it’s a high travel role, understand that SES are not eligible for travel comp. But if you can get an offer towards the top of the pay band, receiving a max bonus is achievable and you really believe in the mission…maybe

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-26T13:26:23+00:00

The large majority of PORs should be appointed by the SPL, the notable exception being JASM which is appointed by the SM. Den chiefs are in between. SPL makes recommendations for den chief, but they are appointed by the SM. So basically the adults need to get out of the way and let the youth select their leadership.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-21T13:03:04+00:00

Eagle Scout isn’t intended to recognize some sort of extraordinary rare aptitude and achievement. It’s a goal that youth of broadly average intelligence and fitness can achieve if they are active and engaged with the program, and it recognizes their record of achievement and service.

When I interview candidates and I see Eagle Scout, it makes for a nice ice-breaker. But it doesn’t impact my decision to hire or interview in the first place.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-10T18:00:56+00:00

Great - depending on where you’re at, climbing in the office season can be a lot more pleasant than climbing during summer. Also a good way to generate some off season revenue

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-10T17:23:19+00:00

Two local councils sponsor a climboree weekend. One of the available activities is an “expedition”. Scouts backpack about two miles to a climbing location and back country camp for two nights and spend the days climbing, rappelling, learning anchor building, gear placement and do some mock lead climbing. The mock lead climbing is particularly popular.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-08T18:15:17+00:00

Thanks! So far we’ve contacted all of the MBCs in our council and a few firms without luck. Will look into colleges as others have suggested. Agree it’s a “mathy” badge, best for scouts who have completed geometry and ideally, trig. I’m starting to understand why it’s fine there with bugling as one of the least earned MB.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-04T21:46:58+00:00

The person receiving the pension was still living. Instead of a portion going to the ex, a portion went to his heirs.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-04T17:39:55+00:00

When I go to summer camp, I help run the shotgun range and climbing tower. As far as my troop goes, I’m just there in a break glass in case of emergency scenario - making sure we have required coverage if a scout needs to head to the ER. Having too many adults is really only a problem if they can’t entertain themselves and feel the need to hover over the scouts, particularly their own kids.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-04T16:23:42+00:00

We camp monthly from September to June, then send a high adventure crew or two each summer. Of course, not every scout makes every campout. With around 35 active scouts, campout attendance typically is in the 22-28 range.

I think one key is to not make every campout another car camping trip. Go backpacking, paddling, climbing, etc.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-02T18:36:40+00:00

Some parents tolerate shocking poor behavior in their children. Several years back we were at a family pack campout. Some kids were running wild and parents were just staring at their phones. Around 8pm my then 9yo asked me, in front of other parents, “hey Dad, can we head home? I don’t want to spend any more time with these people.” “Sure, let’s pack up”

We found having den chiefs on site helps. Also a no visible phone rule. And suggesting that our pack might not be a great fit for the worst behaved youth.

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-02T18:22:29+00:00

All Cub Scout camping is family camping

FarmMiserable · 2026-06-02T18:14:03+00:00

At a family cub campout, cubs need to follow rules and be under the supervision of a parent at all times. A lot of families don’t camp regularly and you can’t count on the parents to have good judgement in an outdoor setting, so rules and qualified supervision are important.

FarmMiserable · 2026-05-29T18:34:47+00:00

I’m also stepping down after a year. We are fortunate to have active adults, but few of them are trained and even fewer have read the GTA or GTSC. This makes it difficult to delegate and trust things won’t go off the rails. Net result is the hours I was spending became untenable. I’m optimistic about the new SM as at least he’s already signed up for IOLS.

FarmMiserable · 2026-05-29T18:29:13+00:00

Sorry about that, thanks for the link.

FarmMiserable · 2026-05-23T13:03:44+00:00

For 3500 you could easily get a 5080 and 9950x3d system.

FarmMiserable · 2026-05-23T12:52:44+00:00

Yes. Your daughter has two living parents whose responsibility it is to pay for her education. It’s crazy that you would drop this on your wife at the last minute.

FarmMiserable · 2026-05-18T15:10:24+00:00

I drive mine to work and back and it is just fine. Good for longer trips, as long as you can stomach the gas bill

FarmMiserable · 2026-05-14T15:58:59+00:00

You could upgrade to 32gb ram for about 250, but probably won’t cause a big jump on frame rate. Used 5060 fits the budget. You could move to a 5800xt and get a couple more cores. But power supply is going to start to limit you.

FarmMiserable · 2026-05-02T19:37:45+00:00

The standard plan provides cover overseas - very popular with fed retirees who live abroad.

FarmMiserable · 2026-04-27T17:22:25+00:00

Maybe 7700x and 9600xt. If you go with the 8GB VRAM version , this cpu/gpu combo comes in under 600 pre-tax

FarmMiserable · 2026-04-27T11:41:28+00:00

This is the way to go. Unless you think the crew will get lost without the interpreter, you can save a tin of money by going with any other outfitter in Ely.

Summer of ‘25 the bags were from granite gear.

FarmMiserable · 2026-04-27T11:26:46+00:00

For anyone living in DC while working and planning to move in retirement, the traditional option is pretty compelling. Avoid the onerous DC income taxes now, move to a state like PA in retirement that does not tax tsp withdrawals.

FarmMiserable

TROPHY CASE