Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

T02CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTbed tick. One that I now have, made of rompercloth, is a bag 32 x 78 inches, to be filled with dryleaves, if nothing better is found, and closed withhorse-blanket pins; it weighs just one pound, andtakes up very little space in the knapsack. Theleaves, being in a bag, cannot spread from underyou ; they cushion the body and keep off the chillof the ground. A 3-pound blanket on top of sucha mattress is warmer than a 5-pound one withoutit, and a pound weight is saved, to say nothing ofbone-ache. That is enough for summer camping,unless you are at a considerable aUitude.A 20 X 30-inch pillow-bag will weigh 3 ounces.Stuff it with leaves or other soft material, beforeyou turn in at night, close the end with safety pins,and pin your towel over it if the Jiurface is notsoft enough.Cooking Kit.—It is easy to make up a good lightvveightset of utensils for two or more loen (seeVol. I. pp. 1 18-123), but a satisfactory one-man kitis another matter. The Boy Scout sets do fairlywell for a short outing when baked bread is carried,but are inadequate for baking on the journey. Areflector is too cumbersome for a lone woods-cruiser.Let him bake his bread and cakes in a fr>ing-pan(see Vol. I, pp. 344-345). This, calls for an 8 or9-inch pan. Get one with folding handle (detachableones are easily lost), or take a common one,cut off all of the handle but about i^ inches, andrivet on this stub a semi-circular socket into whichyou fit your stick for a handle when you go to cooking.For general use I do not like aluminum fryingpans, but when traveling afoot they are satisfactory.A deep aluminum plate fits inside the panin my kit, along with an aluminum fork, whitemetaldessert spoon, and a dish towel. When tiedup tightly in a light bag they do not rattle around.You want two little kettles for cereals, dried fruit,tea or coffee, to mix dough in, and the like. A potthat is broad and shallow boils water much sooner•hpn one that is deep and narrow, ana i% is easiej