Re: [Philmont]: Train travel

GREAT info about the train. Good info about knives and matches too.

I want to clarify, don't make the boys stay in their seats. LET them GO!!!!
  BUT, set a time for all to be in their seat for the night !!!! 10:00 pm,
or 30 minutes after the movie is over.... you decide

Haven't been off schedule when coming from California in 1999 and 2003, at
least that has been my experience. Just goes to show, the trains get off
once in a while.

Enjoy the peace and quiet, And a chance to rest, nothing would bother me
more than getting off the trail after hiking 10 days, getting 1 clean
shower, a night in a tent, and then having to DRIVE home to San Diego

Kim Pigorsch
Outdoor Chairmun (sic)

www.troop681.com

San Diego, CA

>From: PhilmontNWSC@aol.com
>Reply-To: philmont@troop47.com
>To: Multiple recipients of list philmont <philmont@troop47.com>
>Subject: Re: [Philmont]: Train travel
>Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 00:13:55 EST
>
>I have taken the train from Chicago twice - and I second the notion that a
>train trip is part of the Philmont experience. A real fun, once in a
>life-time experience.
>
>Some love to do the plane and bus drill into Denver and down. Especially
>the
>Advisors. Saves time / a whole day. The train ride back from Philmont is
>20+ hours for Chicagoans -kinda similar to coming down off Tooth Ridge
>into
>Base Camp. It's a long, long time when you know the end is almost near.
>
>But, the plane is not really for me. I love letting the boys "run loose"
>a
>little on the train. They get to play cards down in the Snack car, watch
>a
>movie or scenery in the Dome Car, go to Breakfast and Dinner in the Diner
>car
>and us Advisors kick back a little knowing they couldn't go much farther.
>We
>set up some rules about being in full Uniform and minding their manners
>and
>told the Crew leaders to keep an eye on behavior. We didn't want to
>institute a rule that they had to stay in their seats. How many kids get
>to take a
>real train ride these days? Or will in the future ?
>
>Me, I'm on vacation and that train ride is a nice relaxing time. I
>totally
>enjoy it. I don't have to worry about missing a plane, the weather,
>driving a
>van, etc. etc. Yea it's longer and it can run late -but I'm on vacation -
>what's the rush anyway. Savior the time I say. I love crossing the
>Mississippi at Sunset. I love how the Train chugs slowly up Raton Pass.
>I love
>watching all the towns and train stations go by. I love going thru the
>tunnels
>and the corn fields and seeing the first Colorado Mountains far off in the
>distance.
>
>And the Train slowly acclimates your body from 600 FASL to 6,000 FASL.
>
>Yes - the train can run late. Only drawback. But usually not to bad
>outbound of Chicago.
>
>In Chicago Amtrak lets our council contingent carry our packs right up to
>either the train's baggage car or the individual train car's storage bay.
>We
>put some clear plastic bags around the Packs which helped to protect the
>Packs
>and keep the hiking poles in. We wrote the crew number and NWSC on the
>plastic with magic marker for easier ID.
>
>At Raton on the return, Amtrak wants to load fast. Get the packs into an
>organized line and get yourself ten strong Scouts to load whatever train
>bays
>or Baggage Car the Conductor points to.
>
>Ditto on the Diner Car reservations. Tell the Conductor just as soon as
>you
>see him the very first time how many are in your group. We had almost 60.
>We got a 6 AM breakfast reservation b4 anybody else and ate as a
>Contingent.
>Same with Dinner.
>
>Ear plugs, eye-covers and a sheet or small blanket help you to sleep.
>It's
>cooler at night on the train. We let the Scouts switch out of their
>Uniforms
>at night while sleeping, but Uniforms went back on for breakfast.
>
>A Train "Day Bag" is a good idea. Holds your sleeping gear, toiletry kit
>for the morning wash-up in the Bathrooms down below, reading book,
>walk-man,
>CD-player, extra underwear, medicines, small pillow, etc...
>
>We published a suggested list of items for the "Day Bag" -as Packs are not
>accessible until Raton when you get off.
>
>Also, I recommend not to bring matches, lighters, canisters of Coleman Max
>fuel etc.. onto the train. Not even stoves. Be safe. Pack all that
>flammable stuff up 3 weeks before you leave and ship via UPS-Ground to
>Philmont.
>Mark your expedition number and name all over the package. Pick it up at
>the
>Philmont Post-office.
>
>(BTW- Some of our Contingents have stopped off in LaHunta, Colorado and
>spent the night at the Koshare Indian Kiva. Interesting (500 Eagle Scouts)
> Boy
>Scout Troop dedicated to Indian Dancing Ceremonies in an extremely
>interesting
>Indian Kiva and Museum recently renovated. Allows for an extra night of
>acclimation. Costs like $ 5 a Scout to spend the night. Local Jr College
>has
>cheap food service meals available across the street. Reboard the Train
>the
>next morning and ride it to Raton.)
>
>Bob McDermott
>NWSC Philmont Advisor, '98, '02 & '05
>IWTGBTP-OTT!

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Received on Tue Apr 4 09:48:13 2006