1. Bear Bagging
Each team gets a 50-foot section of nylon rope, a stuffsack containing 15 pounds of food–and no instructions. Ready, set, go. Team BACKPACKER dashes for a spindly pine. While Jeff knots one end of the rope to the sack, David ties off the other end to a chunk of wood. He sails the rope over a high branch. Louis and Jeff hold the sack aloft while David hoists it, then ties off the rope. Done in 2 minutes, 15 seconds.
Troop 43 has a rough start. Adam attempts to swing the heavy sack up and over a branch of a shrubby tree. Todd and Michael steal glances at the adults' progress and pepper Adam with advice. "I told you we should have tossed a stick instead," complains Michael, after the sack lodges in a tangle of lower branches. Two more attempts yield similarly dismal results. Six minutes later, the Scouts give up.
Winner
Team BACKPACKER takes it in a runaway. Readers: 1, Scouts: 0
By the Book
Bear bags should hang "at least 12 feet off the ground ... and eight or more feet away from the trunks of trees," says The Boy Scout Handbook. The accompanying illustration depicts stringing a bear bag between two trees, but offers no explanation on exactly how to do it. Try this: 1) Select a pair of branches 20 feet apart and at least 15 feet off the ground. 2) Tie one end of a rope to a tree trunk. 3) Throw the other end, weighted, over both branches in succession. 4) Tie a knotted loop (bight) in the cord midway between the branches. 5) Attach the bag to the loop with a knot or carabiner. 6) Pull on the unsecured end of the cord to lift the bag to the correct height and tie it off.
http://www.backpacker.com/september-...s/13272?page=2
2. Firestarting
Each team receives a plastic garbage bag filled with assorted sticks ranging from pipe cleaner- to wrist-size, plus a firepan, magnesium firestarter, pocketknife, and a marshmallow. (Dirty trick: We soaked the wood with a hose.) Teams must gather tinder from the immediate vicinity. First team to brown the marshmallow wins.
The Scouts plunk a handful of dry pine needles in the center of their firepan. Adam shaves bits of the magnesium on top. Todd and Michael neatly stack their soaked firewood. The magnesium chips flash white-hot, but they quickly fizzle. The clock is ticking.
Meanwhile, Team BACKPACKER is already tending a flame. Like the Scouts, they used the pine needles as tinder–but with a crucial difference. "We scraped magnesium on the paper packaging the firestarter came in. Then fed the needles," explains David. "Flamed right up." Louis returns from the woods with a stick. At 4 minutes, 39 seconds he produces a perfect marshmallow: crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside.
Winner
Team BACKPACKER is twice as fast, with better results. Almost 10 minutes into the contest, the Scouts raise a flame and produce a charred marshmallow.
Readers: 2, Scouts: 0
By the Book
Campfire success depends on tinder–the more flammable, the better. The Handbook advises mounding kindling atop loose tinder, arranging a tepee of small and medium-size fuel on top. Our add: Slice shavings of magnesium into a small pile, beneath loose tinder. When the tinder flames, add kindling.
http://www.backpacker.com/september-...s/13272?page=3
3. Knot Tying
In this essential test, teams get a four-foot section of rope and instructions to tie a square knot, clove hitch, and bowline.
Winner
So much for a blowout. The Scouts whip out all three knots before Team BACKPACKER can even agree on what a square knot looks like. "Not my strength," confesses Louis.
Readers: 2, Scouts: 1
By the Book
If you can remember one knot, make it the bowline. It's easy to tie, and doesn't slip or jam under tension. To tie one, use the old mnemonic: The rabbit comes out of the hole, goes around the tree, and back down the hole.
http://www.backpacker.com/september-...s/13272?page=4
4. Pack Loading and Fitting
Each team gets a tent, sleeping bag, stove, fuel, clothing, and other equipment. Everything must go into an REI Passage 65 pack; then the team must adjust the pack to fit a team member.
"No, no, no. The tent goes toward the top, not down low," Todd practically yells at the other Scouts. "Map in the top pocket!" insists Adam. Amid the arguing, tussling, and jamming of gear at close quarters, the teams resemble two rugby scrums.
Winner
Team BACKPACKER posts the faster time but loses on accuracy to Troop 43's meticulous packing strategy. By stuffing its tent and food bag toward the top, Team BACKPACKER was top-heavy; Troop 43 hit the sweet spot with the center of gravity between the shoulder blades. As for fitting, both squads succeed at extending their harnesses to sit correctly on a teammate's shoulders and hips, but the Scouts also win this contest by getting the center of gravity right (see below). Neither team deals with stove fuel correctly (seal it against leaks in a plastic bag, then tuck into a lower, exterior pocket).
Readers: 2, Scouts: 2
By the Book
The Boy Scout Handbook offers tips on organizing gear in a backpack ("Arrange soft items so that they will cushion your back"), but is mum on weight distribution. Internal frame backpacks carry best when loaded with heavy items like food, water, and tent at shoulder height and close to your back. Lighter, bulky gear like cook kits and clothing go in the lower and middle of the pack. Your sleeping bag squishes into the bottom compartment.
http://www.backpacker.com/september-...s/13272?page=5
5. Packing the 10 Essentials
From equal piles of assorted gear and clothing, each team must pull out The 10 Essentials–those butt-saving items no wilderness traveler should leave home without. To make it harder, we included toilet paper, a water filter, a spork, and other distractions.
Winner
Troop 43. The Scouts finished 30 seconds behind Team BACKPACKER but the youngsters got 9 out of 10 correct (they left out sun protection, which The Handbook cites–but is debatable). The seniors picked two incorrect items, including toilet paper. "It doubles as a firestarter," argues David. Nice try.
Readers: 2, Scouts: 3
By the Book
Exactly what constitutes the 10 emergency essentials is controversial. The Handbook lists a pocketknife, first-aid kit, extra clothing, raingear, water bottle, flashlight, trail food, matches and firestarter, sun protection, and map and compass. Other sources variously swap in a repair kit, space blanket, whistle, and garbage sack.
http://www.backpacker.com/september-...s/13272?page=6
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