If you think the advice in this infographic is nutty, heretical, or (to be charitable) merely inadvisable; so did I until I tried it. I first read about this in Cliff Jacobson’s book Camping’s Top Secrets. Jacobson is an author, wilderness guide, Distinguished Eagle Scout, and a regular contributor to Scouting Magazine. When I interviewed Cliff […]
Weather
Eric Sloane’s Weather Book
There you are, beyond cell phone range, without having seen a weather forecast in a day or two, looking at the sky and trying to read what the next day will bring. Will it rain? Is it going to get windy? Knowing how to read the weather is an important skill for Scouters and Eric […]
SKYWARN Training
Supplement your B.S.A. Hazardous Weather Training with the free National Weather Service’s SKYWARN training. (Rick Jameson suggested this after reading Ten Causes of Scouting Disasters in the Wild – thanks Rick!) To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service established SKYWARN®, a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports […]
Cold Weather Camping
Cold weather camping in very cold weather from Northern Tier where crews regularly face temperatures lower than -20F. That’s cold! A double sleeping bag, techniques for keeping clothing from freezing, and drying out boot liners; some good advice. Okpik, (Inuit for Snowy Owl, pronounced OOk’ pick) is a winter cold weather camping program offered at Northern Tier. From a […]
Avoid Bad Weather
The better part of valor is discretion. Bravery (valor) is important but it may be that it is more important to avoid some situations rather than brave them. If, for some unlikely reason, I should find myself in the middle of the road I will not panic but bravely manage the situation as best I […]
Ten Tips for Camping in the Rain
Camping in the rain sounds awful – and it is if you aren’t prepared! Here’s ten tips for surviving rainy camping trips: 1. AVOID IT I have canceled or rescheduled weekend camping trips if heavy rain or horrendously bad weather is forecast. We aren’t Marines and the safety of the free world does not depend on our […]
Long Term Weather Forecasting
After long preparation and excited anticipation our annual backpacking trip looked like a real washout – rain from Friday night to Sunday morning. Enduring a couple of days of rain is not anyone’s idea of a great time so we are postponing until next weekend. But will next weekend’s weather be any better? Before deciding […]
Eric Sloane’s Weather Book
Most natural phenomena are reasonably easy to grasp once explained in plain terms. But alas much is hidden from the average person behind a wall of opaque scientific jargon. Anyone with the skill to penetrate this screen with clarity and simplicity is a wonderful discovery. Eric Sloane was such an author. His books are generously […]
What ‘Partly Cloudy’ Means
What, precisely, does partly cloudy mean? Forecasters use these descriptions of sky condition based upon tenths of the sky covered by opaque (not transparent) clouds. Sky Condition Cloud Coverage Cloudy 8/8 Opaque Clouds Mostly Cloudy, or Considerable Cloudiness 6/8 to 7/8 Partly Cloudy, or Partly Sunny 3/8 to 5/8 Mostly Clear, or Mostly Sunny 1/8 […]
Tin Can Barometer
Here’s a plan for a simple plan for a tin can Barometer made from a beer or soda can and a soup can. Looks like a fun way to demonstrate the principles of barometric pressure and its relationship to weather and altitude. See the full plan and instructions at Instructables
Weather Underground
Scoutmasters may think that the most reliable predictor of foul weather is their Troop’s camping schedule; as soon as the cars are loaded on a Friday night the sky darkens and the wind picks up. Access to the finest weather observing and forecasting technology is now available all over the web. My choice is The […]
