Mystery and Detective Stories, six volumes. Review of Reviews Co.
[Illustration: Pathfinders (hikers)]
CHAPTER XI—TRAMPS, HIKES, AND OVER-NIGHT TRIPS
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]