CAMPING WITH BOYS ON THE ALPS.

Shannon News, 12 October 1926, Page 2

CAMPING WITH BOYS ON THE ALPS.

A SCOUT-31ASTER'S TROUBLES. Let there be no mistake about it (writes a Scout commissioner), trekcamping in the Alps with a party of boys is no child's play. Nor Is it a holiday. For the scoutmaster, who is in harness the whole time, there is constant fatigue of mind and body. Always there is the fatigue of, moving on day after day, .pitching and striking .camp,' seeking out camp aites, arranging and. cooking meals. But most exacting of all is the responsibility. Orthodox parenthood has it that the boy can do no wrong. The scoutmaster alone is responsible. * One type of child is continual anxiety. His thoughts are for ever turning towards home and mother, rather than to the difficulties ho has to tackle. < One such boy was with us when we crossed the Monte Moro. Natives say that by this pass Hannibal crossed the Alps with his armies and white elephants. Wo were on a snow slope, which made an angle of about 80 degrees, and across which the guide had marked a track. The boy's thoughts were not on his job. Ho slipped and disappeared down the slope and over the edge. It might easily have been a tragedy; happily it was nothing worse than shock.

But the boy soon comes to help himself. If he would sleep under canvas in the Alps ho has to learn anew how to make* his bed. He lies down in all his clothes, including body-belt; he wears two or three pairs of stockings, and he wraps his blanket about him in aa many layers as possible. But thisife not enough. Beneath his ground sheet he has to place a mattress ot pine needles, mountain i-hododen-drons, or straw. Sometimes a Art' before his tent is essential.

And if the boy would keep tithe must learn the art of goinng without. He must not drink between meals. He, must be prepared to feed for 24 hours on bread, cheese, and

chocolate, and our party did w necessity required it. ■-