From: Signe Rogers (HikinMama@iglide.net)
Date: Thu Feb 07 2002 - 00:41:31 CST
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan and/or Brenda Thomson" <abthomson@goes.com>
> Off-line I have been asked for my opinion/assessment of the 2001 Typical
and
> Rugged itineraries by an Advisor who has inherited a Council contingent
crew
> on relatively short notice.
----------------------------
I know I have been asked & responded some to the selection of treks
question, and Al Thompson's post stimulated some other thoughts.
One thing I would mention regarding the TREKS numbering system is that one
should definitely pay attention to the method PHilmont is now using of
ranking the treks by increasing difficulty. This in my estimation is true.
Last summer we did trek 19. As mentioned in Al's summary, there are a
couple of long tough days in the middle. Calls for some rugged shwacking up
the side of a steep canyon wall on the 2nd day (among other things). As we
were clawing our way up that wall I was muttering to myself that this trek
was more diffucult by far from what I had experienced before and then duh!
it occured to my oxygen starved, overworked-at-the-time brain, that the
highest number I had previously experienced was 11 in the new system. When
we finally arrived at Seally Canyon that night, each & every one of our crew
members had reached their absolute emotional breaking point. We were
exhausted. We hung together as a crew & respected each other's pain, but
nobody had an ounce of extra encouragement to lend to anyone. Morale was
low, low, low. Thankfully the next day's hike was relatively easy & not
long over to Whiteman Vega & the crew decided to not set a morning alarm &
we'd get up & go when everyone woke up. We all slept until about 8:30 that
morning & got to Whiteman 1'ish for lunch.
None of the Philmont treks are an easy walk in the park, they all require
that you prepare & be physically conditioned, but they do increase in
intensity as you go higher. You may not notice a whole lot of difference if
you were to do treks within 1-2 number rating of each other, but take a jump
in number spread & you will.
If you have a crew composed of emotionally or physically 'weaker'
individuals, I'd recommend staying in the typical rating range.
Signe Rogers
4x Philmont Advisor
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