[Philmont]: Down off the Tooth of Time

I suppose that it is worth repeating one of the things that I've seen
mentioned frequently but not emphasized. I expect that nearly everyone on
this list would agree about the need to keep the crew hiking together. This
is one of the jobs of the crew leader. The place that this frequently falls
apart is on the way down from the top of the Tooth of Time.

It isn't quite as simple as it seems. The trick is to let everyone know that
they need to stay to the left on the way down.

In 2000, we met up with another crew from our contingent at the base of the
Tooth. We climbed it together, took the mandatory pictures, admired the view
and started down to get a jump on the never-ending walk to base camp.

At the place where we had left our packs, we did the normal count of noses
and discovered that we were a few short.

We quickly discovered all of the missing noses except for one. The crew of
the missing had stayed together when they realized that they were misplaced
and soon heard our yells. The lone missing youth had struck out on his own
and had managed to descend directly down (switchbacks be darned.)

We (the non-missing) left two adults from the missing boy's crew at the site
and we moved everyone else down the mountain to activate PhilSAR. Along the
way, we came across a Philmont staff member with a radio. He was able to
contact base camp and discover that the scout was already back. A team from
base camp climbed to Tooth Ridge camp and assisted the advisors down.

The real kicker was the lone scout's experience. Keep in mind that this New
York City child probably has at least two if not three dead bolts on his
front door.

He got to the bottom of the mountain and found a private house. Knocking on
the door got no response. To his amazement, the door was unlocked! He walked
in (by his own statement sure that he was going to find dead bodies all over
the place) picked up the phone and dialed for help. He told the dispatcher
that he had just come off the Tooth and had no idea where he was. I guess
advance 911 took care of the location issue and shortly thereafter, Philmont
staff retrieved him.

I suppose that since everything worked out well, we can laugh, but what if
this had become a full Search and Rescue?

Don't let anyone become complacent about keeping the group together even if
it just coming down from the tooth.

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Sat Apr 3 12:58:16 2004