From: Johnlebl@aol.com
Date: Tue Jan 28 2003 - 22:29:49 CST
In a message dated 01/28/2003 8:27:17 PM Central Standard Time, mnep@att.net
writes:
> Just needed to get that off my chest by sharing with those who have helped
> me
> from making a mistake by ignoring what could become an even stickier
> situation.
>
> Paul Nepermann
> Troop 43 advisor
> Batavia, IL
>
Paul,
I can appreciate your situation.
There is nothing better than having the right advisor on the PhilTrail.
There is nothing worse than haveing the wrong advisor on the PhilTrail.
First off, a person doesn't have to be in perfect physical condition to do
Philmont, but it darned sure helps. They must be in GOOD physical condition
to even survive the trail.
A person that considers 1-2 miles daily on a treadmill as strenuous exercise
probably won't make the second day at Philmont.
If he can't make it 10-15 miles per day on a treadmill carrying a 50 pound
pack, then the show is over even before it starts.
The biggest threat to health and safety at Philmont is "wannabe" adults who
come as an advisor because they "wannabe" going to Philmont.
Philmont "ain't a Boy Scout camp", it's a very strenuous mountain exercise.
How does his 1-2 miles per day on a treadmill even compare with 10-15 miles
at an average slope of 7% per day with a 50 pound pack on at 6, 000 to 12,
000 feet altitude day after day after day?
Simply put.......it doesn't !
I wish I had more specific criteria on him such as height, weight, pulmonary
recovery function test results, blood pressure, pulse elevation after
exercise, etc to express a better judgment, but I don't so you and he will
have to make that judgment.
Notice I have left his doctor out of the equation. If the doctor was an
influential part of the equation, he probably wouldn't be in this
predicament. I don't know of many practicing physicians who recommend being
overweight and out of shape,
I am VERY suspicious of his defensive posture.
Defensive posture is not necessarily a sure sign of guilt, but it surely
indicates someone is hiding something, perhaps from themselves.. The
suspected thing he is hiding is his inability to perform or more importantly
to simply survive.
Now let me give you a for instance I am more familiar with.
I am 57 years old. I am in relatively good physical condition from a
lifetime of activity stimulated by my attending Philmont as a 14 year old in
1959. I hike, jog, bike and paddle many hundreds of miles weekly. There was
no doubt in my mind I was fit enough for Philmont in 2002.
The Philmont physical form is 6 pages long. Three of those pages are
specific instructions to physicians giving the physical exam.
Philmont is not that concerned with the inability of youth to perform well on
the trail at Philmont as history has shown that it's not the youth that have
the problems but the adults that think they are either physically fit or will
get that way before they hit the trail.
I returned to the PhilTrail in July 2002, not because I wanted to prove I
could, but because I knew I could and I knew I was not a liability to the
crew, but an asset.
Even though I do many physical activities that contribute to a healthy
lifestyle and being physically fit enough to "do Philmont", I started on a
conditioning program to increase the level of my physical fitness over a year
before hitting the PhilTrail. In fact, to be precise, it was a full 18
months before. Five months won't cut it.
What I am going to tell you now won't set well with this gentleman, but if he
isn't already physically ready now, he won't be when summer rolls around. He
will still be making excuses as to why he is not.
When he arrives at Philmont, the likelihood of him getting on the trail are
about 98%. The likelihood of him staying on the trail for the second day are
about 2%.
If he cannot stay on the trail, then he becomes a burden on the entire
Philmont system from the health lodge, the night duty radio person, PhilSAR,
vehicle drivers, horse wranglers, camp staff, Rangers and on and on and on.
He will put a lot of people at risk.
More importantly he will become a burden to members of his own crew who will
bust their butt going for help simply because they don't want to see their
friend die on the trail.
Not to be trite, but if you aren't part of the solution, then you are the
problem.
If an advisor isn't an asset to the crew, they is a liability and should
never be considered as attending with the crew.
I hope you can find a way for this man to make a true assessment of his
condition and good judgment in the decision to attend or not to attend.
He is the one who should decide whether he should or should not go. I hope
he can honestly do this. Making excuses just won't cut it.
There is an excellent book I recommend he read very soon. It's titled "Don't
Die On The Mountain". He needs to read it and think about that.
However, if he is that out of shape at this point that he doesn't even
recognize it and openly admit is, then he probably won't be ready by time for
the trek. You will have to or the crew will likely suffer the consequences.
Good luck with your diplomacy.
Sincerely,
John LeBlanc
Eagle Class of 1959
Phirst Phil Ptrek 1959
PhilTrek 2002 630H2 Trek 16
My latest adventure was yesterday,
Today is not over yet!
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