[Philmont] Heavy Loads, Big Backpacks, and Physical Preparations

Getting in shape is important but keeping the weight down, as has been
discussed, is also important.

Question: what do people find useful to actually weigh gear? Keeping the
gear item count down is obviously one approach to keeping the weight down,
but it could be useful to actually weigh gear items. Perhaps an inexpensive
postal scale would be useful.

I will also mention the value in taking it easy early in a Philmont trek, to
give everyone a chance to get used to the high altitude trails. Actually,
there is a lot to be said for taking it easy throughout the trek, in order
to have time to enjoy the scenery.

I'm curious too as to how cooking goes for everyone at the higher altitude.
Anyone use high altitude directions for baking, for example?

Joe Jansen
JAJansenJr@gmail.com
Philmont 1965; 1978

On 8/19/07, John LeBlanc <philmontjohn@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Pete point about nothign he can do to change the difference from his 700
> feet to Philmonts above mile altitude is right on target.
>
> We talk about physical fitness and gettign in ahape and that is all we can
> do short of blood packing (the supplemental packing of red blood
> corpuscles).
>
> Fact of the matter is one who lives at a higher altitude has more red
> blood corpuscles which carry the oxygen in the bloodstream.
>
> These start to build up imdeiately upon arrival at altitude and we become
> "aclimated" but just about the time we do, the 12 deay trek is over.
>
> So, Pet's dead on target to educate the uneducated adn make them realize
> how important to the success of the crew their personal fitness is.
>
> John LeBlanc
>
> ################################################
>
> Roy,
> You're the kind of person I'd love to have on my crew. Just your attitude
> of "I'm going to lead by example and get in the best shape possible" puts
> you in the upper crust of Philmont adults, in my opinion.
>
> We talk all the time about getting in shape for Philmont, but it doesn't
> truly hit home how important it is until one has been on the trail at
> elevations far above what it is at home. Here in Green Bay, WI, I can sit
> on my patio with my GPS unit reading about 700'. If I'm not mistaken,
> I believe the flat plains of Kansas is already around 3,000'. Philmont
> base camp is more than a mile higher than my back yard.
>
> No matter what I do here in Wisconsin, nothing can duplicate what it's
> like in the mountains of Philmont. However, strong cardiovasular workouts
> can increase heartrates, build up muscle and make stronger hikers. If one
> is a stronger hiker, he makes his crew better. How can we talk to the youth
> on our crew about "crew first" when we haven't done what it takes ourselves?
>
> The goal here in our council is to get that information across in the most
> firm way possible so the adults going to Philmont are properly prepared.
> Those who have been there already know.
>
> Being prepared and in shape truly makes for "Happy Trails".
>
> Pete Swiggum
> Green Bay, WI
> Philmont 2005
> ICWTGBTP!!!
>
>
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>

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Received on Sun Aug 19 21:52:38 2007