From: Biedrzycki (sixbees@attbi.com)
Date: Wed Jul 10 2002 - 20:57:38 CDT
I agree with 2 of your 3 criteria. You could rate them 1 to 5 and get some
numerical value on a scale developed to define the three ranges that are
typical, rugged, strenuous. (Part of what you see as a problem is that
"strenuous" hikes once went up to 100 miles and they needed a "superlative"
adjective to say "these treks are much longer and/or harder than the
others". In the recent past, the longest of the treks have been eliminated.)
But I well understand why there's a reason you are "weaned" into longer
hikes and steeper climbs. Many of us flatlanders are not fully acclimated to
altitude when they hit the trail. Our council contingent builds into the
trip three days of fun and tourism games from Denver to Cimarron. Even with
that, in 2000, Day One, (which was a whopping 2.5 miles with about a 500
foot gain) zonked me out. It can happen to anyone at anytime. Unless you
LIVE at altitude, I guess.
If you have serious concerns about the accuracy of the current system, I
suggest you find your way in the the burocracy of the ranch, and have that
discussion in person or by letter with someone in "Logistics". I'll bet they
have an answer to substantiaate every one of their current ratings.
Let me know if you want signatures on a petition. I'm all for optimum
accuracy and consistency. However, even with such "measurable" criteria,
rating a trek is, to a large part, also based on that non-tangible relation
each hiker has with each hike, relative to his own skills and condition.
Yours in Scouting,
Joe B.
Daniel Webster Council / NH
Scout '68
Crew Advisor '00
Tour Advisor '02
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