An old Tramper’s advice
map reading
shoe wisdom
the pack
the “Lean-to” Or shack
bed making
A hot stone Wrinkle
night watchers
observation practice
camera snap shots
camp lamp
handy things to make.

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
-Whitman.

An Old Tramper’s Advice

It is an excellent thing for the boys to get away from the camp routine for a few days, and walk “the long brown path,” stopping overnight, doing their own cooking, building their “lean-to” or shelter, and roughing it.  Walking is probably one of the best all-round cures for the ills of civilization.  Several things should be remembered when one goes on a hike.  First, avoid long distances.  A foot-weary, muscle-tired, and temper-tried, hungry group of boys surely is not desirable.  There are a lot of false notions about courage, and bravery, and grit, that read well in print but fail miserably in practice, and long hikes for boys is one of the most glaring of these notions.  Second, have a leader who will set a good, easy pace, say about three miles an hour, prevent the boys from excessive water drinking, and assign the duties of pitching camp, etc.  Third, observe these two rules given by an old woodsman:  (1) Never walk over anything you can walk around; (2) Never step on anything that you can step over.  Every time you step on anything you lift the weight of your body.  Why lift extra weight when tramping?  Fourth, carry with you only the things absolutely needed, and roll in blanket and poncho, army style.

Map Reading

Before starting on a hike, study carefully the road maps.  The best maps are those of the United States Geological Survey, made on a scale of two inches to the mile, and costing five cents each.  The map is published in atlas sheets, each sheet representing a small quadrangular district.  Send to the Superintendent of Documents, at Washington, D. C., for a list.

[Illustration:  Universal Map Measure]

A mountaineer in Tennessee said:  “We measure miles with a coonskin, and throw in the tail for good measure.”  A better way is to purchase the Universal Map Measure, costing $1.50 (imported and sold by Dame, Stoddard Co., 374 Washington Street, Boston, Mass.), which accurately measures the distance upon the Government Survey Maps.

Shoe Wisdom

For tramping the boy needs the right kind of a shoe, or the trip will be a miserable failure.  A light-soled or light-built shoe is not suited for mountain work, or even for an ordinary hike.  The feet will blister and become “road-weary.”  They must be neither too big nor too small nor too heavy, and be amply broad to give the toes plenty of room.  The shoe should be water-tight.  A medium weight, high-topped lace shoe is about right.  Bathing the feet at the springs and streams along the road will be refreshing, if not indulged in too frequently. (See chapter on “Health and Hygiene” for care of the feet and proper way of walking.)