Philmont Bear ropes

[michael mercer]

If you don't want to use Al's pulley system you might at least choose the Amsteel rope to save a lot of weight and bulk. The Amsteel will certainly not water log nearly as bad as the PSR ropes. You will need one 150' length and can probably get by with the oops bag rope perhaps only 100' long. Amsteel comes in many diameters. Al suggested the 7/64" diameter which we use. They make more diameters than you can shake a stick at. If you want 1/4 inch they have it. It is probably strong enough to lift two cars off the ground and may not be cheap. But it will probably hold up better than anything you will get at pricey REI. Do take note that you have to think completely differently about your bear bagging technique if you select a trek in the Valle. There are apparently no pre-strung cables. So you are back to teaching the boys the PCT or AT methods for those treks. You will have a great time no matter what bear bagging technique you choose.

[Sarah Kuhn]

Dan –
Philmont will issue you 2 – 150' ropes (assuming you stay on PHilmont property and do not enter the Valle). One of these ropes functions as the line for your oops bag. the 1/4" rope that Philmont lists for you to bring is for the dining fly and other uses.
Any easy on the hands rope will do that has a test strength of atleast several hundred pounds (not that you will be lifting several hundred pounds, but the boys can exert several hundred pounds of force on the rope in their attempts to houst bear bags…. cartoon plays here…. pull on rope… rope snaps…. boys go rolling!)
You may not want to purchase the Amsteel blue, but Redden Marine offers it at quite a discounted price, plus if you enter BPL in the coupon code you get an additional 5% off.
http://www.reddenmarine.com/marine-supplies.cfm/multipurpose-amsteel-blue/samson-rope-amstlblu14/amsteel-blue-1-4-foot-blue.html
Shop around see what you find, contact you local camp if they have a High COPE to utilize there high wires as 'test' bear cables…. not knowing how far into NE Ohio you are… Firelands Scout Reservation in north central Ohio has some cables they might let you use… plus you can always reserve the COPE course for a great team building day!
155 days til we are on the train westbound!!!

[Donald Howard]

Can someone direct me to the articles on bear bagging by Al Geist?

[George Geist]

Here is the link to Al's Philmont Innovations page
http://www.csm.ornl.gov/~geist/Philmont/

enjoy
Al

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