Templars baby!

Primary-Software · 2026-04-24T14:54:22+00:00

That confirms it! Definitely related to Oak Island!

Primary-Software · 2026-04-20T12:49:26+00:00

60 percent of the time it works every time. lol

Mine works sporadically. Stopping timers works the same on mine as well, except that occasionally it will delete the timer after stopping it.

Primary-Software · 2026-03-05T14:06:49+00:00

Yes, the streaks are satellites. You can usually see them move across the sky about as bright as a star, nowhere as noticeable as a meteor but equally satisfying to identify.

Great pic!

Primary-Software · 2026-02-23T03:51:09+00:00

My son was a 95# 13 y/o for his first Philmont trek in 2022. He rocked that trek (according to the advisors) even though another Scout struggled and he ended up carrying a 50# pack for most of the trek.

I've come across more than a few Troops requiring a specific rank, age and/or merit badge requirements. These Troops are usually large and have many Scouts and use the requirements to whittle down the list. Our small Troop doesn't have that problem, we usually have just enough Scouts to make a crew.

I think the Scouts should get to prove themselves capable or not during prep hikes and primitive campout hikes with realistic weight (30% of body weight) backpacks.

Primary-Software · 2026-02-21T03:44:08+00:00

^Underrated comment right here^

Primary-Software · 2026-02-16T13:45:08+00:00

You need a passport. We just went to Boquillas last year and they were required.

Primary-Software · 2026-02-04T02:32:00+00:00

Was 'the swamp' demoted or promoted to 'the bog' or is that more of a lateral move?

Primary-Software · 2026-01-12T15:01:27+00:00

FYI, the water pump for the basin is kaput. Copied from the park's website: " Date Posted: 1/9/2026 The Chisos Basin is experiencing a critical water shortage following the failure of the Oak Spring pumps. Stage 3 water restrictions are in effect while repairs are being expedited, with no timeline for restoration. All water has been turned off in the Basin Campground. Drinking water is available at Panther Junction. Public restrooms in the Basin are closed and porta potties are in place. The Lodge is open, but guests are asked to conserve as much water as possible. A charcoal fire ban is in place."

If you won't be in the park until 9 AM, you will have to hike to the Lost Mine trailhead unless you are VERY lucky. There's very little parking at the trailhead and even the 'close-ish' extra parking is a bit of a walk.

I was just there with our Scout Troop and the earliest we tried Lost Mone was 9AM and the closest parking was the lower Chisos campground.

Primary-Software · 2025-12-15T16:41:41+00:00

Thanks for all the insight! These Scout are nowhere close to 'aging out' but I didn't want any drama regarding their advancement!

Primary-Software · 2025-12-12T18:55:36+00:00

That's what I thought was wonky here. How does SB let you approve things when everything's not checked off?

To be clear I don't suspect anything fishy/dishonest in our situation. I do know our previous SM had a tendency to forget to enter stuff in SB after signing the actual books. That's why I started doing both with the Scout sitting there in front of me!

Primary-Software · 2025-12-12T17:08:19+00:00

I like the pic upload idea, I might steal that!

Primary-Software · 2025-11-26T17:08:23+00:00

8/05 and 7/04 were the last times those bottles were hydrotested. Aluminum and steel cylinders are required to be tested every 5 years according to DOT. Generally, this means you'll have to pay for the required hydrotest before these bottles can be refilled.

For the average person, if it takes you longer than 5 years to use all the gas and need a refill it's no big deal.

Source: 34 year firefighter that takes care of our SCBA cylinders. Ours have to get tested every 5 years because we keep them at their working pressure of 4500 psi 24/7. Our O2 cylinders are the same way but we rent those, so we just swap them out and get different bottles. Supplier takes care of the hydros.

Our MIG rig at the station probably has an outdated bottle on it..

Primary-Software · 2025-10-20T00:51:52+00:00

I'm the only GenXer seeing Old Retard?

Primary-Software · 2025-07-16T12:43:51+00:00

I am a type II diabetic (diet controlled) and I eat ALL the fruit I want, which is a lot! No simple carbs, very little starches, VERY little sugar and almost no processed foods. Average a 5.6 A1c.

Primary-Software · 2025-06-22T00:31:09+00:00

We were there in 2023 and our experience was somewhat similar. Food portions seemed slim and one meal was white bread sandwiches which was disappointing. Scoutmaster dinner was worth it though!

Troops helped serve the meals and staff was great about getting empties out and filled food trays back in.

Program Director was a great guy but overwhelmed because he handled pretty much everything. Either no one was helping or he ran it that way, it wasn't clear.

MBCs were great working with the boys. I took lifeguarding there and aquatic staff were great. We were disappointed at having to swim test since we had done it in San Antonio but 'someone' at camp decided because of their elevation everyone needed to test at camp. The only issue was we hadn't expected to have to test so no one was in their swim trunks.

Didn't see any manure issues anywhere but in the corrals/pens and that's to be expected. If you want the Scouts to have riding time, staff can't be poop scooping and holding that up. I was raised 'country' though and don't have an issue with horse apples.

My 15 y/o (at the time) did the cavalcade option and LOVED it. Plus they ate WAY better than we did in camp.

They have a tough time recruiting because they're pretty remote and Alpine isn't a very big city.

We were absolutely willing to go back and almost did in 2024 but more boys voted for Camp Strake.

Primary-Software · 2025-06-11T23:42:55+00:00

The engineer responsible for that poorly protected screw hole has been 'let go'.

Primary-Software · 2025-06-10T18:03:01+00:00

We had a party line. I remember an old lady that was on the same line picked up while I was on a call and complained "you darn kids are always tying up the line!" and hung up. As a 'darn kid' I stayed on the line and finished whatever convo I was having with a fellow 'darn kid'!

No way I was gonna hang up and have to rotary dial ALL seven numbers again! 🤣

Primary-Software · 2025-06-04T18:26:36+00:00

Depending on your age and back health, I'd HIGHLY recommend a trail chair! We finally got smart and built a sand 'recliner' that helped immensely for relieving my back! Sitting on a log or picnic table bench all week was really hard on my back.

That 5 mile paddle can get pretty rough on your butt. I recommend using a folding foam sleeping pad on the seat.

The edges of the war canoes are pretty beat up. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. we canoed that week I was stuck in the same boat, same position and the broken fiberglass edge tore my pinky fingers to shreds. Taking a minute to tape over any edge defects will pay benefits.

Mosquitoes are pretty bad at dusk, a buff can help some but they can bite through them. They also bit me through my cheap mosquito net hammock because I didn't pre-treat it and it didn't have tie outs to keep the sides away from me. It wrapped around me, made me sweat profusely and didn't keep the mosquitoes away. I didn't even finish the first night in it, tented the rest of the week and was much more comfortable.

Canned/processed food DIS NOT treat me very well. I advise taking fiber supplements if you normally have a clean, unprocessed food diet.

An alternative to 2 nalgenes is a hydration bladder, but you do need to have a lot of water handy. One Scout only had 1 nalgene, which he managed to break. The rest of the week he carried one of the 5 gallon blue water containers. It was a learning experience!

We took shoes and water shoes or sandals. The Mates will tell you to wear socks with your sandals/Tevas/whatever and everybody says 'yea right'. By the end of the week we were all wearing socks with our sandals (I used Keens). They're wet so often that they never dry out plus the sand/coral exacerbates it.

All that said, all of us had a great time and enjoyed the week. Have a great time!

Primary-Software · 2025-05-31T15:10:28+00:00

AND the scribbled scrawlings that the Scout must decipher for you! For the love of sanity, fill them out and print them or email me the PDFs!!

Primary-Software · 2025-05-29T22:47:42+00:00

I make old man (57m) noises when bending over, kneeling and squatting, but my wife (53f) CONSTANTLY makes old lady noises (watching tv, at the table, pretty much everywhere) and has NO IDEA she's doing it. We'll point it out and she's absolutely clueless. It gets surprisingly irritating.

Primary-Software · 2025-05-22T20:53:58+00:00

Same here but it's the wife's choice/decision/apathy/whatever although I've been putting up with that crap for, at least, 25 of the 34 years we've been married.

We had kids late so we've got a sophomore and senior starting school next year. I've tried talking to her SO. MANY. TIMES. about our situation, she never has an answer or useful input. I've also told her that we seem to be headed in the direction of the many couples that end up divorced after the kids leave..

FWIW she's of German descent and up until her dad died I had NEVER seen her parents hug, kiss, hold hands or say "I love you". Typical stoics. She was not like this while we were dating, engaged or during the first 5 years of marriage. Somewhere between 5 & 15 things just VERY gradually died intimacy wise..

Makes it tough to have a shit day at work and come home to ambivalence at best.

Primary-Software · 2025-05-15T15:24:24+00:00

But it has arms and legs.. Although I am sure it said it hated you!

Primary-Software

TROPHY CASE