My Son And Scouting

[MorningStar]

He is in a much better mood today and has accepted his fate of being forced to hike somewhere beautiful. He knows he can look forward to playing a game and hot chocolate made from scratch after he gets home. Thanks for the cheerleading!

I actually hate hiking with a passion, but I did the ones required for girls' camp. I hardly sweat, so I get overheated and feel like my head is going to explode. My parents once took us on a hike in 80 degree heat with no water, which was a trick. We were just going for a "walk", which went further and further. I got a migraine and almost puked. My parents also had to stop me from drinking out of the creek when I was desperately hot and thirsty. I tried hiking in a much more prepared state as a young adult, but I still got heat exhaustion. I wanted to like hiking. I think I should try it in the rain. I tried in cold weather once, but I had bronchitis and had to stop every 10 steps to cough like crazy. My poor husband loves hiking and wishes I liked it with him. I love swimming, but he doesn't love it. *sigh*

[Calm]

I love the mountains, love walking there but get lightheaded and get a sore throat and itchy eyes from allergies. As a kid I used to climb all over the rocks once we stopped, loved that part of the hike...the walking with backpacks trying to get somewhere by a certain time to camp...not so much. Dad made this horrible oatmeal for breakfast, I can still feel the need to repress the gag response when I think of it.

I am so looking forward to a celestial body where I can do such things for pure fun without a second of worry and have something besides oatmeal to fill me up so I don't starve myself.

[Buzzard]

Ya wimps I'm 54, a little-but just a little-heavy, and on continuing chemo treatments for well, you what chemo is for that result in me not being able to feel my feet. but a few weeks ago I put 20 miles under my numb toes in two days. Morningstar, try a bandanna kept wet and tucked into your hat draped over your neck. works just like a swamp cooler-or sweat, if you will. Calmoriah, I rarely eat oatmeal, unless I am out multiple days and am moving fast and light. I fact, dining simply but well is one of hikings great pleasures. Pizza three days from the road tastes three times better than on a Friday night flopped on the couch.

[blackstrap]

". I got about two hours of sleep every night and he spat up like you wouldn't believe. "

Morningstar... sounds like your husband was quite a bother. I agree he should clean up his own messes.

[MorningStar]

". I got about two hours of sleep every night and he spat up like you wouldn't believe. "

Morningstar... sounds like your husband was quite a bother. I agree he should clean up his own messes.

Haha! Well, he actually had very bad acid reflux, so almost.

So our son is camping and he left with a pretty positive attitude, but he did a lousy job preparing. I was gone last night and as far as I knew, everything was packed. At the last minute, I found out the sleeping bag and pad were in my husband's truck, which was parked at work, so I had to pick up my two sons from school, run over to his work, have them crawl into the bed to grab the stuff (it was way back there), drive home and discovered my son wasn't ready yet. *sigh* Drove him to the church and I asked him, "Did you have food assignments?" "I don't know." "Did you have a food assignment?" "Uhhhhhhhhh ....." "Were you supposed to pack a lunch for tomorrow?" "Probably." "Well I hope you have some beef jerky or something." "I do." He didn't have a water bottle either. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!! Least prepared he has ever been for a campout, but he's only hurting himself. My friend brought an extra bottle for him.

[Calm]

Ya wimps I'm 54, a little-but just a little-heavy, and on continuing chemo treatments for well, you what chemo is for that result in me not being able to feel my feet. but a few weeks ago I put 20 miles under my numb toes in two days. Morningstar, try a bandanna kept wet and tucked into your hat draped over your neck. works just like a swamp cooler-or sweat, if you will. Calmoriah, I rarely eat oatmeal, unless I am out multiple days and am moving fast and light. I fact, dining simply but well is one of hikings great pleasures. Pizza three days from the road tastes three times better than on a Friday night flopped on the couch.

Be careful with the numb feet. During one bad neuropathy episode I kept walking thinking the pain in my foot was just an intensifying of the cold burning sensation I get. Turns out I ended up with a huge blister that covered about a third of my foot. Maybe read up on the proper care and feeding of feet for diabetics, good info there if you haven't all ready.

I am very, very impressed by your willingness to not let numbness stop you. Your example may help me be willing to be less overly cautious.

Mom made the best jerky I have ever tasted and if only we had more of that and less of the oatmeal I might have much fonder memories of backpacking...but I do tend to prefer just exploring the mountains at a casual pace rather than being so goal oriented.

[rpn]

I think if I let my child stay home from the scout event, I also would require he do chores all day, and have no access to any form of entertainment. Escaping from things that are good for a child, just because they are hard (or even because he doesn't like them) is NOT healthy for a child.

[Saints Alive]

Morning star: I hope you son enjoyed his weekend, maybe learned a lesson or two as well.

[MorningStar]

He's back and he's happy. They went on a 7 mile hike! Whoa. His tent also had a leak and his backpack got soaked. Good times. My girls' camp flooded three years in a row and we spent most of our time digging trenches. It was crazy, but a fun memory looking back that I would never want to repeat. Haha!