From: Larry Sims (Larry.Sims@HALLIBURTON.com)
Date: Wed Dec 04 2002 - 15:41:39 CST
Remember "I've Got A Secret". Adult advisors on a trek may need to take
advantage of every opportunity to rest and relax. Often times even a good
night of sleep is not as much as you need to keep up with the strenuous
activities of Philmont. Advisors do not seem to sleep as well or as soundly
as the youth in the crew. I could have used a nap every afternoon, but our
crew was full of 13.5 to 14.5 year old scouts and our performance closely
modeled that described in the Philmont Advisors Guide for scouts of this
age. Our crew had chosen a 50 mile trek with not so much vertical and lower
altitude. Due to the fires we got a 65 mile trek and Mt. Phillips. We had a
great time but nap time did not appear on our schedule. We made almost all
our programs (often just barely) and supper was typically a race against
darkness. Cleanup? That was probably why flashlights were invented?
I carried one extra pound that was not on the "Guidebook to Adventure" gear
list. It was a stool. I unfolded my tripod stool at every packs-off break.
I used it at programs and every evening while I monitored the activities of
the crew. I tested a 10 ounce Therm-A-Rest type chair on our training
hikes, but it was too low and I didn't like the fact that I might turn my
sleeping pad into bear bait. One advisor on the trek took an inflatable
butt pad. One of the first times he used it in training; he sat down and
rolled off of it onto his back. Maybe it was a little over inflated. The
crew got a lot of entertainment mileage out of it.
I finally opted for a tripod type folding stool similar to this one which
can be seen at the following URL
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=7585&p
rmenbr=226 I took a cheaper version from a different manufacturer (an
Academy stool for you Texas folks) which did not hold up well. I saw a
number of advisors using the above tripod stool which appeared to be
stronger and more durable than the one I took. I was constantly sewing on
mine so that it would support me on the trek instead of being dead weight
that I had to carry out. It made the trek but it was touch and go.
Another chair which looks like it will work well and is very compact when
folded may be seen at the following URL
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=400000
08000&productId=10346769&parent_category_rn=4500554 I purchased this chair
to get ready for some spring backpacking trips with my troop. I have taken
it on one campout and it worked fine.
Larry Sims
609-A3 2002
Troop 1288
Katy, TX
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