From: Jim Whitcomb (Jwhitcomb@RochesterMidland.com)
Date: Thu Jul 11 2002 - 07:58:09 CDT
I agree - having done eight treks in as many years, under both the ol=
der and the new "rating system"- the degree of difficulty, for me at=
least, seams to be based more on the mileage covered of the trek. T=
hat basically affects how late in the afternoon a crew will pull into=
a program area. The terrain covered on all the trek routes is the s=
ame - its just how long a crew is out on trail each day. =0D=0A=0D=
=0AI also believe, having been on most of the Philmont trails, and in=
most staffed and unstaffed camps, there really isn't a bad trek at P=
hilmont. All of them are structured about the same. The distance co=
vered from each of the three first-day camps to the second day destin=
ation is purposely short, and the elevation gain is small. The reaso=
n - most crew members don't live at 10,000 feet plus elevation, with =
95 degree temps and very low humidity. Day two is a little more stre=
nuous in distance covered and elevation gained. Day three is "hit th=
e wall day". Day four . . . well by then, most have gained their "se=
a" legs, and its cruise time from there on out. =0D=0A=0D=0AJim Whit=
comb=0D=0AOtetiana Council =0D=0A=0D=0A-----Original Message-----=
=0D=0AI believe Doug Palmer was THE man in charge of trek renovations=
a few =0D=0Ayears back, so he's the one to ask.=0D=0A=0D=0AI suspect=
you are reading the tea leaves too hard. It has always been =0D=
=0Amy understanding that rated trek difficulty was based pretty much =
just =0D=0Aon total mileage and total combined elevation gain and los=
s, with a =0D=0A"fudge factor" for borderline classifications based o=
n the number of dry =0D=0Acamps. But like all the other subjective i=
ssues in Scouting, this too =0D=0Ais a topic for endless debate.=0D=
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