From: Calvin H. Gray (405geezer@igg-tx.net)
Date: Wed Jan 29 2003 - 12:05:11 CST
Hi Allen,
We live at less than 500 ft. altitude. We've sent 17 crews to Philmont
for regular treks plus we've done other programs (Cavalcade, Kanik &
Autumn Adventure). I don't think we've ever had a real case of altitude
sickness. A few people have tried to blame that for their problems but
they were adults who were not in good shape to begin with and had
trouble breathing. Of course, they would have had trouble breathing here
too carrying a 45-50 lb. backpack for ten days.
We've had three people come in off the trail and not be able to return.
One was due to a death in a Scout's family, and he had to come home. One
was a Scout with a fractured arm that took place while hanging a bear
bag at Copper Park in 1997. His dad drove out and picked him up and
brought him home. The boy returned for a Cavalcade the next summer,
went on a trek the following summer, did Kanik the next spring and wound
up working at a Philmont back country camp the summer after his freshman
year in college. The adult had a bad hip that forced him to come in off
the trail. He stayed around helping the staff (repairing equipment)
until the rest of the crew came in. Subsequently, he had hip
replacement surgery and has returned to Philmont three times for Autumn
Adventure.
My advice is to make sure everyone is in as good a physical condition as
possible. Follow the advice in the booklet published by Coop & Wally.
Don't worry about the altitude as you probably won't have anyone who
really experiences altitude sickness.
YiS,
-- Calvin H. Gray Scoutmaster, Troop 405 Associate Advisor, Venturing Crew 405 Georgetown, Texas I used to be an Owl (WM-62-2-98 @ Philmont) http://www.troop405.org/ ------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------------------------------------------------
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