[Philmont]: GPS

Steve is right that I did not wish to convey a message that calling 911 was the way to go at Philmont. I was speaking only of the approach of a hypothetical "worried Mom" in the context of a trip to the Adirondacks and my thought of buying my first cell phone merely to avoid the after-the -fact charge "why didn't you bring a cell phone?".

My point was simply that preparation, First Aid training and common sense were more immediately important for safety on a trip of this type than the faint possiblity that you could get a cell phone signal.

On Autumn Adventure this last September, my crew was unable to get a signal from the Comanche-Phillips saddle, from Thunder Ridge Camp, or from Sawmill. We did not even try from locations such as Crags camp, Agua Fria, or Porcupine.

I once had a worried Mom ask "can my son die on this trip?" to which I reassuringly replied "Sure, he can die on the New Jersey Turnpike".( I then proceeded to discuss the trip and safety in a more serious vein).

On the Adirondack trip of which I was writing, I carried the phone number of the Ranger office in that particular district, as well as State and local police numbers, as they did not have 911 service. Since I wrote concerning that trip, it occurs to me that I did use the phone to call the canoe outfitter to arrange an alternate pickup spot, as high winds made the paddle across Tupper Lake too dangerous. It came in handy after all!

All for now.

Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05 and hopefully, '06

-------------------------------------------------------
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 Tue Feb 7 07:37:38 2006