Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

122 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTto it, or strapped separately to the person. Such anairangement is bad, for various reasons. A blanketroll strapped around the outside does not fit wellon a soft sack. The knapsack must be stiff, thereforeheavy, and it must be narrow, or the completepack will project too much beyond the shoulders,worrying the bearer by preventing the free swingof his arms, and proving a serious obstacle whenhe has to go through the matted undergrowth of aforest. Besides, the blanket is needed as a softpad against one's back. If worn on the outside, itmust be protected by something. A thin tent orshelter cloth will not do, because it, too, needsprotection against snags and abrasion. If a ponchoor cape is used for the purpose, it must be a heavyone, to stand the wear, whereas it should be lightfrom every other consideration ; and your waterproofis best carried where you can get at it and don itquickly.As for "flip-flops" and "stick-outs" in your equipment,they are anathema. Suppose you have to crossa stream or a deep gulley on a fallen tree. If thereisa dangling article about you, such as a haversack,it will swing to one side and tend to throw you offbalance. If anything sticks out of your pack, or istied on the outside of it, the thing will everlastinglybe catching in vines and 'bushes. Taking it day inand day out, in all kinds of country, the best pack13 a commodious sack on your back that containseverything you carry except what goes in your pocketsand in one hand.The soft canvas knapsack formerly used by ourown army has no compartments save a narrow outsidepocket, under the flap, and is not stiffened. It ischeap (from dealers in second-hand military equipments),very strong, and serviceable as a carryall forone's personal duffel aside from shelter and bedding.This pattern, like most other military ones, is illsuitedto carrying heavy loads, because the pointsof suspension of the shoulder straps fsee Fig. 24,A J B) are too near the outer edge of the knapsack