[Philmont] Philmont Staff Age

I think it would be great idea to have advisors who fill in on an as
needed basis. I would select a name for these folks that carries some
prestige. They could be members of the Philmont Advisor Department,
be known as members of Philmont's Finest, and
individually referred to as, well, Advisors, an honorable title. They
should be issued a special staff patch with P.A. embroidered (Philmont
Advisor).

One of the things these guys could do would be to help with some base
camp orienteering. Nothing fancy, just a refresher to verify some
positions based on triangulating some landmarks to build some pretrek
confidence before hitting the trail and having to navigate to stay on
trek.

I like the idea of an especially well qualified advisor at a staff camp,
providing a hearty welcome and some extra edible program.

I remember to this day eating sopapillas prepared by our Ranger
during the 1965 trek.

Some info on sopapillas:

Fry bread dessert, usually topped with honey or sugar.
www.azcentral.com/home/food/mexico/articles/0503glossary.html

A sopapilla is a kind of fried pastry or quick bread. Commonly sold as
a dessert at restaurants that serve Mexican-style food in the United
States, it is, however, unknown in Mexico itself, where the closest
equivalent would be the buñuelo.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopapillas

So I think Dr. Bob's suggestions are very good - hope others will
offer suggestions for what members of a Philmont Advisor Department
might do.

Joe Jansen
JAJansenJr@gmail.com
Philmont 1965
Philmont Advisor to a great group of guys 1978

On 8/20/07, Dr. Bob Klein <drbob@troop111.org> wrote:
> Readers of some of my older diaries will recall that I have several
> times stated my intention to work at Philmont after I hike the AT (which
> I intend to do after I retire, if my lower back doesn't disintegrate
> altogether). Either paid or volunteer (nicer if you're able to say you
> don't care if they pay you or not).
>
> To me, probably the most obvious job for an experienced adult who is
> still physically able is not "Ranger Greybeard," but rather
> "Rent-an-Advisor". How often have we heard about, or witnessed in
> person, a Crew that either couldn't go to Philmont because of a last
> second loss of an Advisor, or more commonly a Crew losing an Advisor on
> Day III or IV either to injury or a realization that he/she simply
> couldn't hack it, and (now) knew it. I don't have hard numbers, but
> I'll bet Philmont could use a stable of volunteer adults who could step
> in in such situations. Personally, I'd much rather do most of a trek
> with a Crew versus the 3 day Ranger thingee. I have suggested this to
> Philmont multiple times.
>
> Another suggestion I have made is: The Oracles of All Knowledge (aka
> The OAKs) - again, the same corps of experienced Rent-an-Advisors,
> several of whom would make themselves available at Basecamp, in rotation
> through the day and late evening, who could answer the seemingly endless
> questions that Trailbound Crews have about their treks. Sort of an
> extended adjunct to Logistics/Trek Planning, and with the knowledge and
> time that the Rangers don't have. I have always been stunned at how
> quickly a crowd would gather around me at Basecamp whenever I started
> answering questions - a horde of novice Advisors and Crew Chiefs
> desperate for information that they didn't get at the post-dinner
> Advisor or Crew Chief orientation meetings. You see the same with other
> experienced Advisors - I'll bet plenty of you have experienced the same
> thing.
>
> Although they generally did a lousy job at it, the Lounge Lizards that
> used to be allowed to endlessly hang out at the Advisor's Lounge sort of
> filled this position, if you could get past their bitching, whining, and
> excuse-making as to why they failed off the trail. But now that
> Philmont sends these folks packing asap (and Good Riddance I might add),
> there really isn't anyone to fill this role. Well, we could!
>
> Another suggestion I have made that the experienced Rent-an-Advisors
> could handle would be minor, spot-duty jobs around the Ranch that are so
> far down the priority list that they'll probably never get done. That
> trail sign at some remote intersection that rotted out or fell down in
> 1998? Send a pair of Rent-an-Advisors out for a day. That false trail
> on top of Black Mountain that has led many dozens (hundreds?) of Crews
> wrong for nine years now? That aspen tree that fell across a little
> used trail three years ago? The rusted-out No Trespassing signs that
> should have been replaced 10 years ago? And all the other mickey-mouse,
> low skill jobs that need doing on a 127,000 acre Ranch? Send a pair of
> Rent-an-Advisors out for a day, and tackle them one or two at a time.
>
> Another job is spot duty at a staff camp that is a little short-handed
> for a day or two (something I have seen many times on my treks). Got
> some folks down sick or injured? Did some day-offs come at a really bad
> time? Got a lot more Crews than normal coming in tomorrow, and need
> some help? Whistle up some experienced Rent-an-Advisors.
>
> There are plenty of other similar jobs for sure (feel free to make your
> own suggestions here - maybe I'll see something that I'd like even
> better). The need is clear. The people - plenty of pholks just like
> us, thinking about retirement - are available, if Philmont asks.
>
> - Dr. Bob
>
>
> Michael_J_Conkey@nbc.gov wrote:
> > Tom's comments about working at Philmont after retirement from his OTHER
> > job sparked a cord with me. My fellow advisor and I were discussing last
> > summer the possibility of working at Philmont during the summer once you
> > have retired. Bring the spouse down, get her a job at the PTC or dining
> > hall, and then hit the trail as a "seasoned" ranger, or some other
> > position. Does anyone know, does Philmont have an age restriction for any
> > of their jobs (including back-country)? YIS. Mike Conkey ('76, '02, '04
> > and '07).
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
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loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Received on Mon Aug 20 18:59:01 2007