Re: [Philmont]:  6 Months To Go

I agree with Tom Fitzpatrick, it's not too late to get a good training program started for this summer. In 2004 we trained our crew like this:
January Quick 5-mile hikes every weekend to limber up
February Short sessions on equipment, crew roles, first aid, LNT,
                plus a half-day session on setting up and breaking down camp
                and cooking, cleanup, and stove operation
March Day hike in hilly country
                Weekend trek on side trails near the AT (side-hike Old Rag Mountain)
April 5-day fifty-mile hike on AT in Maryland over spring break
May Weekend trek on AT in Virginia
June Teambuilding
July Day hike in mountains (Little Devil Stairs, circuit hike with
                2500' gain) a week before Philmont

With this training the boys selected and conquered Trek 32 with relative ease. (The two advisors did ok also, but we both started our conditioning the summer before.)

One thing to consider, also, is that if a crew over-trains, it can detract from the overall experience of Philmont.

Our only real training-like issue was our boys' lack of motivation to get out of camp in a timely fashion. One evening we advisors finally wagered them they couldn't leave Upper Bench by 6 am the following morning, and if they did we'd set up the crew tarp and hang the bear bag, and cook and clean up dinner at the next camp. That day was arguably one of the best of our trek - the hike to Harlan was cool and clear, and we arrived in time to do program *and* chill out in the afternoon. The next day the boys reverted to their normal break-camp pace (not to be confused with a breakneck pace...)

We'll be doing a similar training regimen this season, substituting another weekend trek for the five-day trek. (Too many boys in school sports with required practices during spring break.)

>Ched Hudson
ASM, Troop 994
Fairfax Station, VA
Philmont 67, 04, 06

=====================
From: Cletus Robinson <cletusr@ssibtr.com>
Date: Wed Jan 11 06:43:17 CST 2006
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont <philmont@troop47.com>
Subject: [Philmont]: 6 Months To Go

I am going with 2 crews to Philmont in June, and little work has done to
prepare them for it.

Having been twice, I am aware of the preparation required.

My idea is to compress what would have been 10 months of preparation into 6.

Anyone out there faced this?

Uncle Cletus
Philmont 1997, 1998
Istrouma Area Council
Baton Rouge

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Received on Wed Jan 11 15:40:44 2006