[Philmont]: Trekking poles: glad I had 'em

I was crew advisor for 2003 623-11-B. On our next to last day, I went
horseback riding, and the wrangler said "you should be putting 60-70% of your weight
on your legs, not on your butt." Well, I did, and when I got off the horse,
my legs felt real odd.

The next morning, we headed up Shafer's Pass and around the peak. Once we
leveled out, my knees started to hurt big time. Then we hit the boulder area
around The Tooth. I was in agony, and if I had not had my two trekking poles, I
would have been out of it right then.

With the poles, I was able to make it past the tooth and the old trails down,
and then about half way down the switchbacks, when I finally could not even
stand. Rangers had to evac me, and my crew had to carry me on and off the bus
on the way home the next day (in order to eat lunch and dinner).

To make a long story short, I covered an additional four miles with the
poles, which made the evac much easier for the rangers. I was REAL glad I had 'em.
 Plus we tied our rain fly to them all through the trip.

Steve Hanson
Austin TX
and a good ol' Owl, too!

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Wed Dec 31 21:04:02 2003