Re: [Philmont]: Females at Philmont

THANKS Cooper, I was going to send another email suggesting again that
everyone buy your advisor guide book. The section for female advisors REALLY
helped me on my first trek in 1999.

The entire book is VERY helpful. I knew pretty much what to expect on my
first trek.

Kim Pigorsch
Membership Chairmun (sic)

www.troop681.org

San Diego, CA

>From: CoopWright@aol.com
>Reply-To: philmont@troop47.com
>To: Multiple recipients of list philmont <philmont@troop47.com>
>Subject: Re: [Philmont]: Females at Philmont
>Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 19:00:40 EDT
>
>Rhiannon
>
>Way to go girl!!!! I was fortunate to take a co-ed crew to Philmont in
>2000
>and it was a wonderful experience. The co-ed crew was much more social
>than
>any of my other 5 all male crews. It was a good time.
>
>I have included sections from the Philmont Advisor's Guide on women at
>Philmont. These sections were written by experienced female advisors and
>may be of
>help to you and the other young women trekking with you. The full Guide is
>available as a MS Word email attachment for a $10 donation to Venturing
>Crew
>1519. Hope this helps.
>
> Women at Philmont
>
> Every year more and more women come to Philmont, usually as part of a
>co-ed crew or a Rayado Crew. This trend is reflected in the growing number
>of
>female Rangers that prepare crews for the backcountry. Even though you may
>not
>be a co-ed crew, you could be assigned a female Ranger. Women clearly have
>established that they are as capable of handling the same strenuous
>Philmont
>conditions as their male counterparts.
>
> With the increase of women at Philmont has also come a down side in
>the
>form of blatant sexual harassment of female staff members and co-ed
>crewmembers
>by male crewmembers and their male advisors. In 1994, a crew almost lost
>its
>chance to earn their Philmont arrowhead patches when one of the crewmembers
>made a sexually explicit remark to the female staff member responsible for
>monitoring the crew's conservation project. After a lengthy discussion and
>an
>apology, the crew was allowed to continue their work and ultimately
>received
>their patches. That same year, another all male crew was assigned a very
>attractive female Ranger. The crewmembers immediately began to talk about
>what they
>were going to do to their Ranger after it got dark, loud enough so that the
>Ranger could hear exactly what was being said. When the advisors did
>nothing to
>stop this discussion and acted as if "boys will be boys", the Ranger
>reported
>the incident to the Chief Ranger. As a result, the council involved
>received
>written notification from Philmont that these advisors would not be allowed
>to
>return to Philmont again. Perhaps this behavior is a result of too many
>years of single sex camping or an outright opposition by some crewmembers
>and
>adults to females participating in Scouting's high adventure programs.
>Whatever
>the reason, it is still wrong. Advisors should tell crewmembers, that they
>expect them to live by the Scout Oath and Law while on the trail. That
>means all
>people, regardless of sex, race or religion should be treated with the same
>level of respect and dignity, whether in base camp or on the trail. We
>applaud
>those young women who come to Philmont either as staff members or as
>crewmembers because they add a unique dimension to the overall experience.
>It is time
>for all of us to get beyond the single sex issue and focus on what can be
>learned from one another while on the trail at Philmont. And guys, be
>careful
>about how macho you become while on the trail. There are some women out
>there
>that can hike you into the dirt without even getting winded and not even
>look
>back.
>
> Co-ed Crews
>
> If you are an advisor to a co-ed crew, you need to be comfortable
>discussing women's issues. Some advisors may feel that it is just not
>their place to
>discuss topics such as menstruation with both male and female crewmembers.
>This is simply not the case. Right from the very start, advisors need to
>be
>frank and honest with their crewmembers and provide any information that
>will
>make the trek more successful. Open communication with the entire crew
>will
>help to encourage better understanding and cooperation among its members.
>
> The stress of hiking in the backcountry may induce or delay a woman's
>menstrual cycle or it may have no effect at all. Therefore it is important
>to
>know how to deal with it under wilderness conditions. Each female
>crewmember,
>despite the timing of her last period, should carry a supply of sanitary
>products in a waterproof container inside of her pack. A smaller
>container, such as
>a Ziploc bag, can be used for daily needs and should be kept handy in a
>pack's outside pocket. When the crew arrives at its camp for the night,
>the daily
>container can be resupplied and the used products can be removed and stored
>in
>the waterproof container. Sanitary products (both used and unused) are
>considered as "smellables" and must be placed in the bear bag at night. In
>the
>NOLS Wilderness Guide, it is recommended that woman bring along small
>Ziploc bags
>for the storage of used tampons and pads. They have also found that
>placing
>several crushed aspirins in the Ziploc bag can help eliminate the problem
>of
>odor. Outward Bound recommends storing used sanitary products in a Ziploc
>bag
>with dry tea bags to absorb the odor. Used sanitary products and toilet
>paper
>used by menstruating women must never be placed in latrines or buried in
>the
>backcountry. They should be packed out and discarded - double bagged - at
>a
>staffed camp or commissary. Used products must never be placed in latrines
>or
>buried in the backcountry. In 1997, Mimi reported that some staffed camps
>in
>the backcountry maintained an emergency supply of sanitary products. Women
>may want to consider discussing hormonal therapy with their doctor to
>prevent
>the start of their menstrual cycle while on the trail. This method is NOT
>100%
>effective and sanitary products still need to be readily available.
>
> Hiking at Philmont is tough but it can be made even more difficult
>with
>cramping. Advisors need to be aware that women can experience cramping
>between
>menstrual periods. The pain can occur on either side of the abdomen or
>lower
>back. Women who regularly experience cramping are familiar with its
>symptoms
>and are better able to cope with the associated pain. Cramping usually
>goes
>away within 36 hours. Sometimes when cramping occurs on the right side it
>can
>be mistaken for appendicitis. However, with appendicitis, other symptoms
>including low-grade fever, diarrhea, and vomiting are present. Cramping
>has none
>of these symptoms. If a female crewmember experiences severe cramping, it
>may be necessary to hike at a slower pace or even off load some crew and
>personal gear. While this situation did not come up with Wally's five
>co-ed crews or
>Coop's one crew co-ed crew, they both had discussed the situation ahead of
>time with their entire crews. While the some of the guys were not happy
>with
>the idea of increasing their personal loads to assist a female crewmember,
>they
>at least understood the reasons why.
>
> Cotton hiking shorts and underwear promote an environment that can
>cause
>several unpleasant and debilitating medical conditions for female hikers,
>such
>as candidiasis and urinary tract infection (UTI). Because of this, some
>women may prefer to hike in nylon blend hiking shorts with a built-in nylon
>brief,
>as discussed earlier in this guide. Outward Bound recommends nylon hiking
>shorts with no underwear to participants in all-female, adult programs.
>But
>many women, particularly those in co-ed crews, may prefer the comfort and
>discretion provided by independent briefs. Additionally, independent
>briefs provide
>more flexibility for the use of sanitary products during the menstrual
>cycle.
>Both Cathie Cummins and Mimi have used CoolMax briefs on previous treks and
>have been pleased with their durability, moisture wicking and drying
>attributes, and ease of laundering. Mimi now likes REI's Featherweight LTS
>briefs.
>They come in a variety of color and sizes, and dry almost instantly when
>laundered on the trail. Mimi also likes Moving Comfort's ultralight
>Daylite bra,
>which combines the look of a lingerie bra with the features of a sports
>bra. This
>CoolMax/Lycra blend bra dries in a flash on the trail, and comes in black
>and
>white.
>
> The combination of climate, physical exertion, and sanitary conditions
>at
>Philmont, provides an increased possibility of candidiasis, or yeast
>infection, in women. The first-aid kit for co-ed crews should contain a
>non-prescription anti-fungal medication, such as Monistat 7. Most adult
>women know whether
>they need to carry this item for themselves, but teenage girls might be
>surprised by the infection, so travel prepared.
>
> Philmont is known for its wide open spaces and does not afford very
>much
>privacy. This was not a big problem when Boy Scouts alone hiked the trails
>alone. With the influx of women on the trail, there has been a change in
>the
>backcountry. Most Scouts who attend Philmont are mature enough to handle
>the
>change. As an advisor to five co-ed crews at Philmont, Wally was
>particularly
>impressed by how other crews camping nearby went out of their way to
>respect of
>the privacy of the female members of his crew.
>
> Latrines have also had to change at Philmont. Although Philmont is
>building covered and enclosed latrines, there are still some open air
>latrines at
>some of the more remote campsites. These rustic latrines come in two
>varieties; the pilot to bombardier (two holer, back to back) and pilot to
>copilot (two
>holer, side to side) and are the source of some great campfire skits. In
>fact, some these latrines are so close to the trails that one can watch a
>crew
>walk by while doing his daily constitutional. Unless latrines at a camp
>are
>enclosed, many female crewmembers may prefer to use nature instead. The
>crew
>leader of a co-ed crew should keep privacy needs in mind when selecting a
>campsite, preferably choosing a site that is unpopulated on at least one
>side. If
>such a site is not available, crewmembers of a co-ed crew should be a
>little more
>aware of who is using the latrine before just walking up. Crewmembers may
>want to go to these rustic latrines in pairs, with one as the lookout who
>stands
>between the latrine and the campsite.
>
> Washing up can also present a problem for a co-ed crew. Philmont
>requires hikers to wash up at the sump so that odors can be concentrated.
>However,
>the sump is usually out in an open area with absolutely no privacy.
>Wally's
>and Coop's co-ed crews simply washed in shifts using a large opaque ground
>sheet
>that was set up around the sump to provide for some privacy.
>
> Lack of privacy also makes it difficult for women to urinate on the
>trail. For a male crewmember, it is no big thing. He can relieve himself
>while
>leaning nonchalantly against a tree, taking in the great views of the
>mountains
>and not even taking off his pack! For female crewmembers, it can be a
>little
>more of an effort. As a result, some female crewmembers may not drink
>enough
>water, just to keep from urinating on the trail. Insufficient water intake
>can result in dehydration and increases the risk of urinary tract infection
>(UTI), which must be treated with antibiotics, and would undoubtedly result
>in
>that female crewmember being taken off the trail. There are several small
>plastic funnel-type devices available such as the "Lady J" or the
>"Freshette" that
>will allow a woman to urinate while standing, with a minimum of exposure.
>Mimi
>says that she is seeing a growing legion of female "believers" in the
>Freshette on the trail. She carries hers in a small mesh bag along with a
>small,
>squirt top water bottle to rinse it out after use.
>
> Since urination for a woman generally involves a state of partial
>undress, female crewmembers need to be out of sight of the crew. This
>usually means
>heading up around the bend in the trail. In Coop's 2000 co-ed crew, during
>short packs off breaks or called pee breaks, the rule was guys head down
>the
>trail and gals head up the trail. Female crewmembers usually headed out in
>groups, providing another set of eyes and ears for other crews that might
>be
>approaching on the trail.
>
> You want all of your crewmembers to have urine output that is "clear
>and
>copious". If you have a co-ed crew, make sure everyone "camels up" and be
>ready to take more time on the trail. If a crewmember needs to stop, have
>the
>remainder of the crew hike ahead while another crewmember stands lookout
>for any
>crews coming from behind. Let your crew know that becoming dehydrated can
>cause severe problems and will slow the crew down even more than stopping
>to
>take an occasional leak on the trail.
>
> A quick note on latrine use for both sexes. Urine is basically a
>sterile
>product and does not contain the pathogens found in feces. However, it
>does
>contain salts that do attract animals. If you are on the trail and need to
>urinate, the best way is to pee on a rock off the trail. In the old days,
>we
>used to tell a camper to just "find a tree". However, urinating on a tree
>puts
>salt on the bark that will attract animals that will ultimately eat the
>bark
>and destroy the tree. So find a nice rock that won't splash back! If a
>crewmember needs to defecate on the trail, he or she needs to take the
>shovel,
>toilet paper and a small stick, and find a spot at least 200 feet from a
>water
>source or the trail. Use the shovel and remove the top cap of soil that
>contains
>the microorganisms that will ultimately reduce the feces. Dig the hole
>approximately 6 inches deep. After defecating and cleaning with the paper,
>add dirt
>to the hole and mix it in with the feces using the stick. The crew shovel
>should never come in contact with feces! To the uninitiated, this might
>sound
>like a disgusting task, but adding the soil will immediately eliminate any
>odors. Mixing the soil, feces and paper together into a "poop soup" will
>facilitate the decomposition of the feces and the paper. Once you have
>used up all of
>the soil, replace the top cap and insert the stick so that someone else
>will
>not dig in the same area. NEVER urinate in Philmont's backcountry
>latrines.
>The salt in the urine will act as a preservative, increasing the
>decomposition
>time for the feces and the acids will kill the bacteria decomposing the
>feces. Also, any urine that gets on the latrine's wood will attract
>animals. In
>many latrines, you can actually see where porcupines and other animals have
>chewed the seat area.
>
> As we discussed in the Personal Hygiene section of this guide, it is
>extremely important to wash off the salt and grime that accumulates each
>day to
>prevent "hiker's rash". Cathie and Mimi recommend that female crewmembers
>bring
>bras to Philmont that can be washed and dried each day. There are an
>increasing variety of sport bras available, with the largest selection
>manufactured
>by Champion, in styles to match individual builds. Champion outlet stores
>provide a full range of options at significantly reduced prices. Check the
>fabric
>content in each style. Look for Lycra for support and CoolMax for
>breathability, rather than cotton, as both dry quickly. Cathie and Mimi
>suggest
>bringing two bras; one as a "hiking" bra and the other as an "in-camp" bra.
> The
>hiking bra should be rinsed out each day. Although it may wet first thing
>in the
>morning, it will not matter because it will either dry quickly or just get
>wetter when you begin sweating.
>
> When choosing long pants, female crewmembers may want to consider
>warm-up
>style pants with elastic waists and ankle zippers, which allow the
>flexibility to dress without removing shorts and boots, in areas where
>privacy is
>hindered.
>
> If you have questions about woman-specific Philmont issues not
>mentioned
>in the Guide and want to get feedback based on other female trek advisors,
>please feel free to drop a line to Mimi Hatch, mhatch@misti.com or Mary
>Lane,
>scoutinfun@yahoo.com.
>
>Cooper Wright
>Associate Advisor, Crew 1519
>Co-author of the Philmont Advisor's Guide

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Received on Thu Apr 14 21:26:59 2005