Re: [Philmont]: 30 or 35

Ahhhhh, Trek 30. My troop-crew completed Trek 30 in 2000, a fabulous
hike ! I cannot count the number of Philmont-ers who have commented on
how wonderful and memorable this trek is.
 
I returned to Philmont in 2004, with a different group, wherein I was the
only veteran. As a good adult crew advisor should, I kept my
preferences to myself as the boy-led crew discussed and voted (earlier in
the year) on their trek-of-choice for 2004. They chose Trek 30 ! It
was not difficult to remain silent. Trek 30 twice in 4 years; imagine !
 
The hardest part for me while on the trek in 2004 (besides keeping my
wind), was to keep my mouth shut. I purposefully kept at the rear of the
hiking-queue and declined numerous times to comment on "what was around
the corner".
 
Trek 30 is fantastic ! It is true that the challenge is increased on
the last 2 days, wherein one has to decide on the trail from Red Hills to
Shaeffer pass, over Black and Bear Mountain (as we did in 2004), OR to
follow Uraca Canyon to North Fork Uraca camp for water (as we did in
2000). A tough call as the water at Shaeffers pass is not predictable.
If one takes the canyon trail - red hills to North
Fork Uracca up the Shaeffer's Pass - where water is guaranteed - you
miss the beauty and shorter distance along/up Bear and Black Mountain.
The canyon trail is NOT easy - imagine the drudgery of a longer hike
(meandering stream), climbing countless falled tree trunks along a
low-maintained trail (2000). The trade off by taking the ridge trail
(2004) from Red Hills over Black and Bear Mountain is steep - I said
STEEP - slopes AND the chance that water at a small spring at Shaeffers
Pass is running - otherwise its back down the mountain to North Fork
Uracca camp and back up again, before the last day down the tooth (no
water there either !).
 
An interesting aspect, is that at logistics at base camp, BEFORE your
trek 30, a good Philmont advisor will counsel your Crew Leader of the
important choice (see above) that the crew has to make on the 2nd to last
day ! THIS is a fantastic "character" and skill-planning opportunity for
your Crew leader.
 
Also, by repeating trek 30 in 2004, I had a fantastic opportunity to view
the same scenery BEFORE and AFTER the Ponil Fire on 2002. Unbelievable
difference.
 
A veteran of 2 trek 30 experiences:
 
Steve Farst
Troop 98
Gahanna, OH
Assistant SM
Philmont, August 2000 (# 804K2 2000) August 2004 (Crew # 805L2 2004)
 
On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 07:54:10 -0500 "Feurtado, Walter C."
<wfeurtado@atsva.com> writes:
> When does a trek become NOT fun???
>
> Many people have said that trek 30 is the best trek at Philmont and
> it
> is!! Accordingly, many crews choose trek 30 but the real question
> is
> whether the crew can do the trek AND enjoy it at the same time?
> The
> first 7 days of hiking are challenging, with the Baldy climb being
> the
> hardest day. However, after leaving Clark's Fork and having
> already
> hiked 7 days, trek 30 becomes really super strenuous because the
> crew
> climbs over 2,000' within the six mile hike to Cypher's Mine. The
> Navy
> Seals say that the only day that is easy was yesterday. Well after
> Cypher's Mine, the crew now has to climb 2,500' in just 4 miles to
> Red
> Hills!! After leaving Red Hills, the hike is straight uphill making
> the
> memory of the hike to Cypher's Mine like a walk in the park!!!
> Then,
> check how steep the climb up Black Mountain is by how close the
> contour
> lines are on the map!! By the way, there is very, VERY limited
> water on
> the hike to Shaefer's Pass and if there is no water at Shaefer's
> Pass
> (usually dry spring), there is another 2 mile hike down to the
> North
> Fork Uracca and 2 more miles back!!
>
> In 1995 there were three crews doing trek 26 (now trek 30) but only
> one
> crew had the advisors and the maturity of the youth to fully enjoy
> the
> trek. One crew had a hurt advisor causing the crew to get to camp
> late
> every night missing program. The other crew had a lead advisor and
> his
> crew leader son push the crew too hard which caused a crew split.
> Even
> back at camp that crew ate at separate tables.
>
> With the right crew, trek 30 is definitely the best choice!!
>
> Just my thoughts,
>
> Wally
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
> cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

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-------------------------------------------------------
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 Sat Feb 25 15:13:51 2006