[Philmont]: Hiking Pace

TAC:
 
>From past experience within both Troop and Crew- During our training hikes
the last 2 years preparing for Philmont this past August we discovered that
if the Crew allows the "fast movers" to set the pace several events occur
that are not necessarily good. The faster hikers are hiking faster, and
within their comfort zone, sometimes because they are bigger, have longer
strides, are in better physical shape, or are carrying less weight (either
proportionally to their body weight or otherwise). The rest of the trail
crew can then 1. allow them to disappear over the hill and out of sight,
destination unknown. or 2. try to catch up. If 1. then who knows if 2. then
the slower crew members will have to increase their pace, sometimes almost
running in order just to catch up, then after a few minutes, repeat the
process.
 
This was evident after just a few hikes. Sometimes we would have the same
group of "fast movers," sometimes it might be the slow old guy in back (I
plead guilty) as once in a while even the slowest in the group is suddenly
able to pass up the rest. The crew tried enforcing the rule that no obstacle
gets crossed without the entire crew present and the crew needs to stay
within sight of each other. Now we have a problem in that the faster hikers
hike as fast as they can and then take a break while the rest of the crew
catches up. At that point, repeat the process and eventually the fast guys
are still fairly rested and the rest of the crew is tired, cranky, and in
general, in an extremely foul mood.
 
Finally after trying several methods to deal with the process, the Crew
(Scouts, not Advisors) decided that they would keep an eye on the column and
slow down when necessary. They also decided at times, in extremely rough
terrain, where they knew certain members would have problems, to have that
crew member lead the crew.
 
This method worked fine for us this past summer. Only on one occasion did I
point have to point out that if they managed to kill me on the trail by
hiking too fast there would adverse consequences, to whit- I have the money,
credit cards, motel reservations, and car keys locked up at Base Camp. I am
too heavy to easily drag around Philmont, and they would need a body to
prove natural causes. And finally and most importantly, with their senior
advisor there would be no Simple Simon's Pizza upon return to base camp.
 
How your particular crew addresses this problem is something worked out (not
an easy process at times) during the shakedown hikes. Each crew seems to
find their own solution. But judging from our advisor meeting at base camp,
not all crews get it as they have had a crew ending up at more than one
widely separated camp at the end of the day.
 
YIS,
 
Greg
SM T474
Imperial MO
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gregory J. Bushur

Program Manager, AGI
National Geospatial-Intelligence College
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency

Mail to:
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Arnold MO 63010-6238

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Phone:
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  _____

From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On
Behalf Of Jim Welton
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 9:19 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: Re: [Philmont]: RE: [Philmont]: 6 Months To Go

On 1/12/06, j.tavares@comcast.net <mailto:j.tavares@comcast.net>
<j.tavares@comcast.net <mailto:j.tavares@comcast.net> > wrote:

One thing I remember from my running days: the guys in the back of the pack
worked much harder than the fast guys in front. Think about this, the ones
in front took fewer steps and took less time at an elevated stress rate than
the guys in the back.

I'm not certain this is necessarily true. Based on my running days, I saw a
lot of guys finishing without any reserve. Leave everything on the track, as
my coach would say. In fact , my experience hiking and backpacking
indicates a steady pace is usually best.

I think what you are finding in the back of a backpacking crew are the
people who are not having fun, their spirits are down, and their emotional
and spiritual tiredness is making their physical state that much worse. The
guys in the front usually have better attitudes, and spirits, and will
appear better off physically.

But of course, your mileage may vary.

YiS,
Jim Welton
McAllen, Texas

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Received on Fri Jan 13 01:07:39 2006