HiLites. Tom Thorpe is the new editor of the HiLites. He would appreciate help in getting input material.

TrailHead. Russ Bower has volunteered to provide REI product information.

Conservation. Ledford reports limited activity because of recent fires. There is considerable concern about coming storms and rain. Trail and campground work won’t resume until after the rains.

Quest. Need 10 more scouts signed up by Jan 31 to make the program viable.

University of Scouting. All instructor slots are filled.

Log Cabin. Chris reports LDS is planning to send 80 scouts and 40 leaders. They would like to have all attend in the same week.

Philmont. 20 scouts ( 2 crews) are signed up. Training hikes are set up. Amtrak transportation also set up.

HAT MEETING JAN

Crosscountry Skiing. Russ Bower has canceled because there were no signups. wwwRuss also passed out a very useful snow safety sheet.

Climbing Kits. These have been used a lot. Some of the equipment needs to be replaced because of safety rules which limits usage and/or time elapsed.

Conservation. CA trails Day Apr 17, Advanced Trail Boss May 8, National Trails Day Jun 5 at Mt Wilson, Advanced Trails Day Sep 11 in Chantry Flat area.

Climbing Instructor Training. 5 have completed the recent course and one more almost complete.  

Merit Badges. There are 4 new merit badges. Two of them are GPS/GIS and Robotics.

HiLites. New editor Tom Thorpe circulated his first draft for comment. Looks great!

Adult Leader Backpack Training. Instructor lineup nearly complete.

Philmont 2010. There may be a couple of openings.

University of Scouting. Very successful. Session on Survival especially popular.

Geocaching. This popular navigation sport now has caches at Firestone and Forest Lawn Camps. Some GPS available to loan.

CA Wilderness Permits. New! State now charges $5 per person on a wilderness permit.

Quest. Deadline Jan 31 for 2010. Need 10 more signups. wwwWeb sites need updating – they have been badly out of date for some time.

So - treat before you drink. Some water treatment methods:
wBoil your water before drinking. This kills everything, bring extra fuel.
wWater filters will trap protozoa and bacteria, pumps weigh more to carry.
wWater purifiers will trap or kill viruses, they are heavier to carry.
wChlorine dioxide tablets will bleach your water clean, tablets expire
wIodine tablets are old school for bacteria and viruses but ineffective against cryptosporidia.
wUltraviolet light - SteriPens irradiate water, neutralizing all pathogens, even viruses, bring extra batteries.

      With spring approaching and the closing of many areas because of the fires in the San Gabriel Mountains, it’s time to visit the desert once more before it gets too hot. So we’re off again to Joshua Tree National Park to climb

Queen Mountain

      From the South Bay, drive the Harbor Freeway (110) to the 105 to the 605 to the 10. Continue on the 10 past the Palm Springs turnoff and exit on route 62 toward the town of Morongo Valley. Proceed through Morongo Valley and Yucca Valley to the town of Joshua Tree. Turn right (S) on Park Road and drive into the park (entrance fee is $10 per car). Continue for 16 miles from Joshua Tree to the intersection of Loop Road and Keys View Road. Continue east past the road to Ryan Mountain camp, the parking for Ryan Mountain to the entrance to Sheep Pass Group Camp on the right.

      There are only six sites at Sheep Pass so get your reservation early. Remember you can now make reservations one year in advance.

      To get to the trailhead, drive east 4.6 miles from the Loop Road/Keys View Road junction to a road on the left (this road is called Big Horn Pass Road about 2 miles east of the Sheep Pass camp entrance). Follow the road north about 2 miles to a parking area (it is paved at the junction with Loop Road but soon becomes a dirt road).

      From the parking area, hike about 0.9 mile up a dirt road to its end. From this point follow an obvious and ducked trail leading eastward and upward to a ridge. From this point a ducked route contours around a few hundred yards, then upward to a wide gully generally following the west side of the gully. Follow the ducked route as it tops out above the gully. The summit is to your left at this point. Follow a use trail as it contours around the east side of the summit. The route curves around to the north side of the summit and then heads south to reach the summit block. To approach the summit, ascend an easy crack in a ten-foot rock face, marked by a duck, and follow friction slabs to the summit.

      Sign in at the register, then return the way you came. The hike area is shown on the Queen Mountain 7 ½ minute USGS topographic map. It is 4 miles roundtrip, gains 1200 feet elevation and should take a little more than 3 hours.

        Avoid it. That’s Chris Carr’s top goal for his clients attempting to summit 14,162 foot Mt Shasta. The codirector of Shasta Mountain Guides knows how demanding it is for a lowlander to ascend 7,000 feet in a weekend, but he says you can prevent or diminish altitude sickness – which typically occurs above 8,000 feet – if you follow this advice.

Rest up. Get at least two 8 hour nights of sleep, and make sure you’re well hydrated before you start. You can also acclimatize by camping at the trailhead.

Don’t race. Climb slower than your normal walking pace. If you need to rest after ascending only 20 yards, you’re flirting with exhaustion and need to dial it back.

Dig deeper. When your legs turn to stone or you feel nauseous, try pressure breathing. Take a deep breath, then force air out through pursed lips like you’re blowing out a candle. Do this three to four times a minute; vigorous respiration pushes more oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream.

Hit the bottle. Some studies show that the herbal remedy gingko biloba helps increase oxygen  uptake. Drugs that contain acetazolamide (such as Diamox) can prevent or alleviate some forms of altitude sickness, but be aware of side effects such as numbness and frequent urination. See a doctor for a prescription and dosage information.

Treat early. Altitude sickness typically starts with nausea, lethargy, headache, irritability and/or loss of appetite. Take immediate action: Slow your pace, hydrate, practice pressure breathing – or just take a rest day. If your condition doesn’t improve, there’s one simple, surefire solution – descend.

        Anticipate weather changes by watching for these atmospheric hints.

Cumulus. They look like white cotton balls, and signal fair weather; but if these innocent clouds swell into flat-topped towers, watch out: They may become cumulonimbus thunderheads.

Stratus. These very low, gray layers blanket the sky and make drizzle and fog. If they vanish by noon, your day will likely be clear and dry.

Stratocumulus. Light-gray waves or ribbons with patches of blue sky between, these clouds bring light rain, but usually rise and evaporate.

Nimbostratus. A dark gray, soggy sheet that blocks out the sun and signals a day of rain.

Contrails. When jet trails disappear quickly, fair weather can be expected. But when they persist or expand into high-level cirrus clouds, more moisture is on the way.

      Whether it’s from a pinprick or a major malfunction, a busted bladder can turn a dayhike into thirsty misery – or worse. Luckily, you can patch most leaks with glue, tape and cannibalized parts. Here’s how to deal with the most common breakdowns.

Bite valve. To secure a loose bite valve, snip off a quarter inch of the worn hose and attach the valve to the new, stiffer end. Still leaking? Clamp the joint with a plastic zip tie. Prevent bite valve drip in the first place by blowing water from the hose into the bladder after each drink; air pressure should hold it back.

Screwtop. Clean the grooves with a toothbrush and screw the cap in squarely. If it continues to drip, replace the rubber gasket.

Zipper-lock seal. Need gorilla strength to zip your Platypus shut? Use Vaseline or olive oil to lubricate the track for a civilized closure.

Hose. Fix punctures with bike tire patches or epoxy. If the leak is near one end, cut off the ruptured segment and reattach the slightly shorter hose. Keep a frozen hose from cracking by gently tucking it under the front of your jacket. To keep it from freezing in the first place, get into the habit of purging the hose of water by blowing into it.

Busted seam or bladder puncture. Seal split side joints with Seam Grip and cover punctures with a urethane/PVC patch kit, using an alcohol wipe as a pre-repair cleanser in either case.

        Prevent uncomfortable extremes with expert layering. Like flossing and chicken soup, layering is good for you – everyone knows that. But did you know that the insulation and outerwear that keeps you comfortable on a ridgeline traverse could also keep you alive? Here are three sets of threads you need for proper layering, all of which should be breathable.

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

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

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

      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 F candle exposed to the elements, and follow this advice to keep your flame from flaring up or going out.

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.

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 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.

Think in zones. Sweat-soaked clothes in freezing conditions can drop your body temperature 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 the difference.

        What’s the best way to treat a bite from a poisonous snake? RELAX. Most bites come from pit vipers, like rattlesnakes and getting excited actually increases the rare chance of death.

First, sit down and calm yourself.

Next, wash the wound.

      If bitten on the arm or leg, keep it level with your heart, and remove jewelry in case of swelling, which happens in 75 percent of pit viper bites. Walk out slowly and seek medical attention. If you’re deep in wilderness, arrange an air evacuation.

      The more lethal coral snakes inject neurotoxins. If you’re bitten by one, apply pressure and immobilize the wound. Wrap from the bite up toward your heart, as tight as you would bind a sprained ankle. Splint the appendage and get to a hospital. Don’t bother to pack a snakebite kit. No kits remove enough venom to change the outcome of a bite.

      Jefferson said, “the superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain.” He was right about many things, and he wasn’t entirely wrong on the subject of chocolate. It is superior in terms of nutrition and it has become a staple in at least one part of America: the backcountry. Some hikers are card-carrying chocoholics who’d lug 2 pounds of gourmet chips instead of a tent. Some favor fancy hot cocoa. Others pick all the M&Ms out of the community gorp. To paraphrase one wit: Nine out of 10 backpackers crave chocolate and the 10^th is lying. But there’s no shame in your addiction, because research now suggests that chocolate, if chosen carefully, may be a boon to your diet.

      Cocoa comes from a bean with similar protein and mineral content as other beans that are far less tasty. A chocolate bar that is 85 percent cocoa has the same amount of iron per serving (15 percent of the RDA) as a serving of pinto beans, and it contains only slightly less protein (4 grams instead of 7). Chocolate is also high in magnesium, a mineral good for the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

       So why the bad rap? Chocolate is high in saturated fats and in some cases contains massive amounts of sugar. But a study at UC Davis found that the type of fat in cocoa can lower “bad” cholesterol in much the same way that red wine does – if taken in moderation. And fat, whether saturated or not, gives backpackers the fuel they need for rigorous hikes. As for sugar, a smart shopper can avoid it. Skip the Hershey’s milk chocolate bar, which contains a whopping 19 grams of sugar per 37 gram serving, for an “extra fine dark” bar, which contains only 5 grams of sugar per 40 gram serving.

       Even nutritionists now acknowledge that chocolate, especially the dark variety, is just what Jefferson said: a superior food. It has a lot of psychological value because it stimulates the release of serotonin in the brain, which has pleasant, calming effects on mood. Dark chocolate also contains cancer-fighting antioxidants. The really dark chocolate is healthier because it has high cocoa content but not a lot of sugar and cream. If you need a burst of energy to get up the switchbacks, go for sugar – but after dinner, treat your taste buds and body to the good stuff.