Re: MtMan-List: Back From Going Again

[bamafan@Traveller.COM (PHIL PETERSEN)]

Hi Scott,

I enjoyed your letter.  Brings back memories of me and my sons.  Nothing
like it.  Thanks.

Phil Petersen

>Well, made it back from the West Augusta Territorial in fine shape. 
>Only burnt one finger off and lost none to sharp implements!
>Had a great time. Six members of the club I belong to (the Patuxents) 
>were there set up in diamond shelters along that little trout stream 
>I mentioned. The weather was pretty iffy at times with rain, wind, 
>cold, wind, sunshine, wind (noticing a pattern yet?) but, it
>did clear off Saturday in time for a fine wedding and 
>excellent reception/camp feed and the awards ceremony.
>I didn't get to spend as much time with my son as I would have liked.
>He met up with some of his friends and they set up a diamond shelter
>up in the woods and stayed there. I had made up a pack for him with 
>the usual foods like parched corn, smoked bacon, chocolate, hardtack,
>oatmeal and dried apples with the intention of letting him cook for 
>himself with a little help from Dad while in camp. Well, I guess he 
>had been watching all those times that I had been cooking for him 
>cause he took that pack to his diamond and seemed to fare pretty 
>well. I feel good that he is moving towards independence, but I 
>really wanted to spend some one on one with him.
>Enough of the mushy stuff! The shooting was rough because of the wind
>and some extremely hard targets. Didn't do as well as I would have 
>liked, but I did well in the fire starting (9 seconds in damp weather 
>and wind) and only fair in the knife and hawk, which is usually my 
>best event. Picked up a very nice little knife made of a file from 
>the blanket shoot.
>That's about it. Had some good times with great company. Of course,
>when it came time to leave the weather was beautiful and I hated for 
>it to end. Next event, aside from some minor treks with son and/or 
>dog, will be taking some Boy Scouts to the woods and showing them 
>that they do not need to pack one third of their body weight to be 
>able to live good while on the trail, like their manual preaches.
>
>
>Your humble servant,
>Scott Allen
>Hunter and Scout for Fort Frederick
>Fairplay, MD
>
>