RE: [Philmont]: An Advisor's Quandary (& Please Help with Trek Se lection)

I don't know about everyone else's shakedown hikes, but ours were 2-3 days.
We didn't do just day hikes. The real tests for the shakedown hikes came in
backpacking as a group, learning to hike together (including hydration
breaks), set up camp, cook, clean, break camp and be on the trail for more
than two days at a time with the same people and to navigate using the map
and compass as a crew.
 
The parents clearly could see if their scout was not fit for our shakedown
trips. We climbed 2-3000 feet out of the Columbia River Gorge and then back
down over the course of each of our trips. One stretch of the PCT goes on
for about 7 miles of switchbacks down to the Columbia River like the trail
down from Tooth Ridge into base camp. Physical conditioning was more of an
issue, in our crew, for the adults. Mental conditioning was the key for the
scouts. They need to be prepared to work as a crew the entire time and to
be together on the trail for 10 days. We took Trek 30 and took a number of
side hikes including Hidden Valley and over Wilson's mesa. We also
navigated the ridges from Red Hills Camp to Schaffer's Pass. Lots of
vertical but beautiful views.
 
Russ

-----Original Message-----
From: dtwj1020@aol.com [mailto:dtwj1020@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 4:38 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: Re: [Philmont]: An Advisor's Quandary (& Please Help with Trek
Selection)

I am a mom preparing to go to Philmont for the second time. This time I'll
have all three of my sons and my husband with me and the rest of our venture
crew. I think my opinion on treks is important, but still less important
than that of the kids in our crew. If I weren't going, my opinion would be
far less important --unless health and safety were an issue. If I thought my
kids were about to be sent on a trek without proper preparation or
leadership, I'd raise a ruckus. If the kids are well prepared and fit, and
if the adults are competent, the kids deserve a challenge. Can you do
something to convince the moms that their kids are ready for one? Why not
invite them to see the kids show off their skills or invite them on a really
long, tough day hike? Let the kids leave moms in their dust and see what
happens.
 
Now a plea: I am intrigued by trek 35 and am eager to see Valle Vidal. My
husband posted to ask opinions on 30 v. 35, but only heard about 30. Can
anyone out there share experiences of trek 35? This is an extremely fit crew
which has already hiked the AT in Georgia and by June will have done the
lower half of the AT in NC.
 
Thanks in advance to all,
 
Susan
 

"Bullivant.com" made the following annotations on 02/28/2006 05:46:58 PM
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Received on Tue Feb 28 20:30:25 2006