RE: [Philmont]: Philmont 'Chicken Soup'

My somewhat lengthy Chicken Soup also relates to a kid who found the
internal fortitude to stick it out when things got rough. In 2002, we were
on the 7th day of our trek. We were hiking into Cypher's Mine from Clear
Creek---a long day including the hike up Mt Phillips. We started very eary
(before dawn) and it was now about noon. We were hustling down the trail
because we wanted to do lunch at Cypher's. About 1/2 mile before we got to
Cypher's, Winston stumbled on a rock and fell, clutching his knee. When he
pulled up his pant leg, I saw that the 2 inch cut on his knee was very deep
and in fact, we could see the ligament attached to his knee cap underneath.
We then saw that his knee came right down on a knife-like rock embedded in
the trail and sliced it right open.

A few of us jogged down the trail to Cypher's and got the camp medic to
come check him out. The cut was too deep for simple bandaging, so we
carried Winston and his pack down to the porch at Cyphers where they called
base camp. The report was that it would take 2-3 hours for the medic to
make it up. Not wanting the rest of the crew to suffer, although you could
cut the quiet in the air with a knife, we urged the crew to do program at
Cypher's while Winston rested on the porch. Dinner came and went (we
brought Winston his dinner) and still no medic.

Around 6 PM, the medic made it. He reviewed the wound and said it
"appeared" there was no damage to the knee or ligament, although the cut
would take some suturing. He then looked at Winston and asked what he
wanted to do. You could see the quandry on the kid's face regarding his
decision to stay or go. He asked the medic if he could stitch him up
there? The medic said he could. Winston said, "well, go ahead and stitch
me up and let's see how the knee feels". So while I held the latern above
him, the medic put 9 or 10 stitches in Winston's knee. By this time, it
was dark and the medic announced that he wasn't going to return to base
camp until morning. But, he would take Winston back with him if he wanted
to. Winston looked around like a deer caught in the headlights and I
suggested to him that he could see how he felt in the morning and then
decide. So we pumped some Vitamin I in him and we hobbled up for the Stomp
and then back to our Adirondack.

The next morning, you could tell the knee was very stiff and sore. Not
just from the stitches, but from being slammed into the rock with his full
weight and the weight of his pack. But he was diligent about moving around
the camp and packing his stuff up. We gave him some more Vitamin I and it
soon kicked in. Our itinerary for the day was to hike down to Cito, do
program, and then hike to Webster Park for the night. Certainly not an
easy day. Well, the moment of truth came. The crew chief and myself sat
with Winston and asked him what he wanted to do? The crew chief said
"well, you know the crew wants you to stick with us and will do anything to
make that happen, so if you want to continue, we will divide up ALL your
gear so you have very little weight". It only took a second before a big
smile came across his face and he said "alright, then let's get going".

Winston set the pace that day, and by the next day, he was pretty much back
to normal, carrying all his gear and with no apparent discomfort that a bit
of Vitamin I couldn't mask. I think it was a defining moment in his young
life where he can honestly say "when the going got tough, the tough got
going".

YIS.

Mike Conkey ('76, '02, '04)

-------------------------------------------------------
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 Thu Jan 6 09:01:06 2005