Perhaps "Philmont 'Ramen' Chicken Soup" would be a better title!
I have two:
The first occurred at the Skyline campsite above Ponil. My son and I returned from the camp office because he was suffering from a mild case of altitude sickness. The camp director checked his vitals and confirmed that was what it was and that he wasn't in any danger. But it would be up to him to decide whether or not to continue or go down to health lodge for a few days. After much heart-to-heart discussion where he expressed his concern about disappointing me, which I assured him he wouldn't, he finally came to a cross road where he said, "Dad, I don't want to leave you but I can't go on. Please tell me to go back down." He still was unable to leave without my blessing. You see, he's not an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys other aspects of Scouting more than the camping. He came to Philmont mostly because of my encouragement and the aura of the legend. But it now became clear to me that his desire to please or appease me seemed to have been more of a motivating factor than I was aware. And now it was hindering his ability to make what he felt to be the proper decision.
I told him that I loved him and that I was very proud of him. And that it's not his fault if his body can't acclimate to the height. He should go down to the health lodge and recover and try to get back if he was up to it and if that's what he wanted to do. He agreed and we started to divvy up his crew gear.
I was packing his half of the tent and food when he came up to me and blurted, "I'm stupid if I leave. I've come too far to quit and I know I'd regret it. I'm going!" I asked, "Are you sure, because it's alright if you go down?" "I'm sure." He replied. He than turned to the crew and loudly proclaimed, "I'm going!" At first they didn't understand as they assumed he meant he was going down. But he clarified it by telling them he was going on, that he did not want to quit. We had already divided the crew gear and I had the tent and food, so he had a light pack with only his personal gear and water. So we held a quick crew meeting where we discussed his condition and that we need to watch his pace. And we were off.
He started off a bit ragged but soon picked up and his spirits rose to the point where he was almost giddy. It turned out to be a long, arduous trek up and across the Dean Skyline that afternoon, much harder than the previous day's hike over Hart Peak. But we all made it together to Dean Cow.
He was fine again the next day and it looked like he was finally acclimating to the altitude. But two days later while we were shotgun shooting at Harlan, he got sick again. This time he threw up (into a zip lock bag) and his blood pressure had risen when the camp director checked him out. So the health lodge staff came to take him down to base camp for treatment. It was a hard, tearful departure for both of us. We sent a runner back to our campsite for his pack and the whole crew came to the cabin to see him off. He swore to me that he wasn't going to stay down there and that he'd be back to finish the trek.
The two mile hike to Deer Lake was the longest I've ever hiked.
That night and every night thereafter, almost everyone's thorn was his departure. And the crew chaplains aid added a special prayer for his recovery and return. Later, he was truly moved about everyone's heartfelt concern when I told him about it.
Three days later he returned to the crew at Clarks Fork on our way up to Upper Clarks For. He had returned as he promised. It was a highlight for me only matched by our next days' hike together across Tooth Ridge. I can't describe what it meant for me to be able to share that with him, together.
For him, it was an accomplishment that was his own. His decision to tough it out and later again to return, where "his" decisions and his alone. The trek and being able to complete it suddenly became his personal accomplishment, an achievement far greater than simply clocking miles on one's boots.
For Christmas I gave both of us a bright red Philmont mug. That morning we shared our coffee together from our matching mugs. After a while he looked up from his mug and said, "I love this mug." I know he likes the mug and it is a very nice coffee mug. But I know what he really means, he loves the memories and the sense maturity he now has as a result of his victory at Philmont.
My second story is shorter, I promise. The day we met up with my son started at Webster Parks. The crew decided to take the long way to Upper Clarks Fork by hooking around a bit south from Cito to go through Hidden Valley. So we arose well before daylight to break camp and eat breakfast. There was a little dissention and a bit of grousing about the early hour, but the crew leader insisted and everyone complied. We made good time hiking down from Webster Park and the climb up through the valley is an easy slope. So we were able to stop three times along the way for extended breaks, including a long 45 minute stay at Window Rock.
That night, as we went around the fire ring, almost everyone had two roses, one for my son's return to the crew and another for the wonderful day with the beautiful extended stops. And almost everyone had the same thorn, getting up so darn early! I was last in the ring and when it came my turn, I couldn't help but comment that the two were not mutually exclusive. We had the extra time to relax and hang loose 'because' we got up early and hit the trail at first light.
The last two days we woke early with no complaints. The last day we woke at 4:00 a.m. to break camp, watch the meteor shower, then sit on the edge of Tooth Ridge to watch the sunrise. I think they started to see the value of Ben Franklin's adage, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealth and wise." We'll, wealthy in terms of Philmont experiences and memories!
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The preceding message may be confidential or protected by the attorney-client privilege. It is not intended for transmission to, or receipt by, any unauthorized persons. If you believe that it has been sent to you in error, do not read it. Please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error. Then destroy it. Thank you.
-------------------------------------------------------
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 Wed Jan 5 17:25:49 2005
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Wed Jul 26 2006 - 11:59:43 CDT