RE: [Philmont]: help

I did not experienced this problem on my one trek in 2004, but we were a
single troop with some prior backpacking experience and 10 nights and 100
miles in training hikes under our belts. It sounds like the advisors from
the other troop have not experienced the types of conditions that will place
their scouts at serious risk from hypothermia, bears, etc. Do they truly
understand their role in the crew, and are they knowledgeable enough to
fulfill it properly? That may be your underlying problem if they are not
working at least as hard as you to educate the problem parent.

As far as the scout is concerned, peer pressure can often work miracles. Is
the rest of the crew indoctrinated on Philmont procedures and the reasons
for them? If there is good crew spirit and teamwork, the other scouts can
bring him around without much or any adult intervention. If however the
scout is a loner, they can also make life insufferable for him, so you
should stay tuned to the group dynamics and be ready to intercede.

In the absence of support from the other advisors, the likely outcome is
that the poorly equipped and poorly trained scout will suffer on the trail
and negatively impact the rest of the crew's experience and/or spend part or
all of the time in base camp. On the bright side, the problem parent won't
be there...

You might show her the following information from Coop Wright's "Philmont
Advisors Guide" (the complete and endlessly invaluable document is available
for a $10 donation to Venturing Crew 1519 at 226 Falmouth Street, Warrenton,
VA 20186.)

  "Weather at Philmont is unlike that experienced in the East. You may
start the day hiking in the heat and the dust only to find yourself being
pounded by hail in an afternoon thunderstorm and finally going to sleep in
the high country with the temperatures falling below freezing. Your crew
must be prepared to handle these weather conditions. Rain gear and pack
covers should be located in a pack's outside pocket to allow crewmembers to
quick access. It is extremely important that crewmembers stay dry in the
event of bad weather because of the risk of becoming hypothermic.

  "No crewmember can be a hypothermia risk to the other crewmembers. When
it rains at Philmont, the temperature can drop into the 40s and 50s and the
wind picks up, all hypothermia conditions.

  "Left untreated, hypothermia can cause death. A cooling of the body's
core temperature causes hypothermia. Although moisture takes away body heat
rapidly, it is not required to make a person hypothermic. Lack of food,
overexertion, cold, rain, wind, sweating, and exhaustion may all be a
factor. Usually, the person who is becoming hypothermic will not be aware
that he is being affected. Therefore, all crewmembers must be able to
recognize the symptoms and watch out for each other."
On our trek in 2004 we were caught in a sudden thunderstorm/hailstorm on the
ridge below Head of Dean, and had to do the lightning protocol. Some of the
scouts weren't quick enough getting rain gear on and were soaked. We arrived
in Head of Dean with two cases of hypothermia, and we were pretty
well-trained and well-equipped. Less training and less adequate equipment
will only make that situation more dangerous. Is that what she wants to send
her son into?

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

 -----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com]On
Behalf Of Magnevolt@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 7:27 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: Re: [Philmont]: help

  We are going to Philmont in July.
  I have a parent who is driving me to drink.
  First she wanted to let her son hike in tennis shoes.
  I explained why that was not a good idea.
  We have had a pack inspection before each of the last two hikes.
  On the last two practice hikes her son brought Deodorant, Hair gel, and
shampoo even though there was no place to take a shower, and we had told
them not to bring things like this on the trail.
  He brought flip flops on the last hike. His rain gear consisted of a thin
poncho that had holes in it. Some of the holes were patched with duct tape.
Others were left not patched. He did not bring a cold weather layer.
  I have explained the reasons (in a nice way) for having the items in the
guidebook on the trail to him and the parent. I have tried to explain that
the parent does not have to go out and buy the most expensive, lightest
weight, newest item just get some equipment to protect her son on the trail.
I have also explained that if money is an issue please let me know and I
would lend the scout some equipment. They have the Guidebook, and I have
Emailed a personal list of equipment just like the guidebook to all the
crew.
  The parent is now calling the Contingent leader and complaining to him
that I am being a stickler about the equipment. She is also calling other
parents and complaining about me and the equipment needs. This is having a
negative affect on crew harmony.
  I consider this a straight safety issue. I have been to Philmont, HH and
know what can happen if you do not have rain gear, cold weather clothes
layer, boots, etc.,etc.

  Back ground info: The crew is made up of 7 scouts and two adults from this
parents troop. Two scouts and myself are making up the balance of the crew.
We are from a different troop. This parents troop has had very little
backpacking experience (three of them have been on one hike, ever, That is
their backpacking experience.).

  Have any of you have a similar problem. I have not.

  Thanks for your help.
  Name withheld because I do not need any more trouble

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Received on Sat Jun 4 09:30:20 2005