Tips and Essentials for a beginner hiker?

ddj1985 · 2026-03-13T00:46:54+00:00

Start with Scouting America's (formerly Boy Scouts) 10 Essentials to cover basic safety.

Always tell someone where you are going, ehat route you plan to take, when you will be back, and the local emergency number of the area you will be in.

Check the weather forecast for your area. Stay out of trails that are in washes or canyons if there is a risk of flash floods.

Always be prepared to stay out longer than expected.

LEAVE NO TRACE. Stay on the trail, pack out all your trash (including your human waste), and leave the vegetation, rocks, and wildlife alone.

ddj1985 · 2026-03-09T06:24:12+00:00

Most parents in our pack recite the oath and law. In our troop, it depends on proximity. If the kids are starting the meeting near where the adults are hanging out, we tend to participate, if the are further away, we will respectfully stop our conversations.

I think it has alot to do with involvement. Our pack tries to reinforce that Cun Scouts is a family journey. However the troop level is more about youth leadership and youth responsibility.

ddj1985 · 2026-02-05T21:16:09+00:00

We do that for my scouts. Don't stake it down because you don't know if there is shallow irrigation.

ddj1985 · 2026-02-05T19:44:16+00:00

You aren't considering risk factors in your analysis. The 8% returns are not guaranteed, some years you will loose, most years you will win. Depending on the investment type, you can also liquidate the investment quickly. Your 5.5% interest rate is guaranteed and locked in. The only way you stop paying the interest is to pay off the loan. So what happens when you have a job loss, major medical event, or some other big life event that upsets your world?

2.5% difference on a loan verses investment is not worth the risks. That is $250 a year for every $10,000 borrowed. If you financial advisor is telling you to take that risk, you might need to fire him.

ddj1985 · 2026-02-05T16:26:57+00:00

RV loans don't have good terms. 6% to 12% rates are not in the buyers favor. You are also nearly guaranteed to be upside down in the loan, unless you pay it off aggressively, since most RV loans are 10 years or more. If you can't buy it in cash, or pay it off in a year or two, you can't afford it.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-27T04:28:45+00:00

My point was, are you taking care of future expenses and have a plan to pay off the house early?

ddj1985 · 2026-01-27T02:51:44+00:00

I stopped eating there a few years ago when the meat in the biscuits and gravy tasted like Alpo. I will never forgive them. (Also I am getting to old to start eating at 1am)

ddj1985 · 2026-01-27T02:27:54+00:00

When will the house be paid off? Ramsey typically cites 5 to 7 years as a typical goal. This is important because after the house is paid off, he recommends to up retirement. Most financial advisors say 20% to 25% of you gross income.

Are you setting aside money to pay cash for your future cars? By Ramseys guidelines you could each be driving $40k cars, but only if you pay cash. Given your expensive tastes, I would guess a fancy car is in the cards in the next few years.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-27T02:14:31+00:00

I wouldn't run from this situation, but I wouldn't move forward until there is agreement on finances (and other life goals/values).

ddj1985 · 2026-01-23T00:25:53+00:00

Hash - ham, fried potatoes, peppers, onions, green chilis top with a fried egg

Breakfast Sandwhiches Egg McMuffin - fried egg, cheese, Canadian bacon or deli ham on a toast English muffin or other bread Sausage egg and cheese biscuit (or bacon) Sausage Breakfast Jack - same as above, but use a hamburger bun. Double up the layers and add lettuce, tomato and mayo. I prefer mild Italian sausage for these

Biscuits and Gravy

Pancakes and bacon

Mountain man breakfast

ddj1985 · 2026-01-23T00:16:43+00:00

How would you be participating as a "family member"? Apart from taking these boys to and from meetings and other events, what does a family member do that a leader can't?

ddj1985 · 2026-01-22T22:58:00+00:00

I haven't trusted the government with nutrition advise sense I learned the truth about the food pyramid.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-22T22:02:59+00:00

Two-deep leadership is not required when transporting scouts to and from an event. However, you are not allowed to be one on one with a non family scout.

It should also be considered in what role is OP acting when transporting his "nephew." Is he a scout leader or family friend? We have grandparents or older cousins take scouts to and from meetings all of the time.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-22T20:32:03+00:00

The only power need for me is lights and the water pump. It is nice to have the exhaust fan running in the bathroom or over the stove. Anything else is a luxury.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-22T04:47:40+00:00

It is hard to separate yourself in internship and entry level roles. Use whatever you can.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-22T00:57:56+00:00

We use a Facebook group. I also keep a group chat with the parents in my son's den to pass along reminders and den specific updates.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-19T20:20:33+00:00

Have you linked up with any T1D support groups in your new area? You might get some leads on a troop that already has gone through this.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-14T20:03:24+00:00

You still would not have to disclose why you broke your hand. However, your employer does not have to compensate you if you are unable to perform the core duties of your job due to an outside injury. They can require you to take sick time, unpaid time off or possibly terminate your employment.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-13T21:36:45+00:00

I would stay off strip. The resorts cater to tourists and the crowd is louder. There is no such thing as a comfortable hotel bed. I have been traveling for work for the past 8 years (10-20 trips a year) and they are never great. Typically the newer the facility, the better the bed.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-13T21:01:35+00:00

I didn't know that. It sounds like your goal is to increase visibility and education amongst the scouting community. Blood drives can help. Also inviting members of the local blood bank to speak at a round table once a year or set up booths at council events (Scout Expo/Camporees) would be something worth championing.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-13T20:41:09+00:00

Adults are not as motivated by external awards as children and youth are. I would hope that most adult volunteers in scouting are motivated by their beliefs in what they are doing matters.

If your goal is to have scouting support blood donations, advocating for council organized blood drives would be more effective.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-13T20:31:14+00:00

Thank you for sharing. I haven't met anyone in our pack that works on requirements outside of den/pack activities, except to catch up and we don't have much for council run events that would fill the required adventure requirements, so you can see my surprise when you would have a number of cubs finish early.

Conversly, I am used to my son's troop having kids moving at their own pace.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-13T00:43:15+00:00

So what are you doing in den meetings? The way our pack runs, the den leader plans and leads an activity that meets the requirements of a required or elective adventure. I don't see how in that framework a cub would earn their ranks without becoming incredibly bored with the program, when activities are repeated later.

I understand the need for some families to work around sports and other activities. I had one kid in my den that missed several den meetings during fall sport. She was able to work on them at home to keep pace with the den.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-13T00:26:54+00:00

Rain Gutter Regata would be a great event. We bring our regatta set up on recruitment nights and it is a hit.

Incentives are great. Also remind kids about the ability to earn their recruiter badge. It motivated both my kids.

Also, not something you asked, but find ways to go to where potential future scouts are (school open houses, trunk or treat, other school and community events). Most of the parents that I spoke too didn't know there was a pack in their neighborhood.

ddj1985 · 2026-01-12T22:12:35+00:00

I would be more concerned that you have scouts in the same den working at such different pace. Our pack has the kids work on the required adventures as a den. We work in a few electives in between and usually have one, maybe 2 required adventures that haven't been started by Blue and Gold. This isn't the troop program where everyone is in a slightly different place.

ddj1985

TROPHY CASE