Our crew hiked 24 last summer - 74 miles, I think -listed as strenuous. We got up and got going reasonably early -- but not before dawn, except for the last day. Every Scout and all three adults did every activity -- and had a blast doing so. The only thing we missed was spar-pole climbing and that was because we did our conservation project instead. That was fun too -- digging out and pushing over a tree then breaking up rocks to fill the hole. We did not have an "old" crew; they ranged from 14 - 16. But we did quite a few warm-up hikes and all the boys were experienced backpackers.
Bottom line at the bottom: Philmont is about the activities, the bonding and the people you meet. For those coming from the mountainous west the ranch does not provide a transcendent packpacking experience. I recommend picking a trek that has the activities your boys want and not worrying much about the length -- just be prepared and you will be fine.
> Jeffery Knoll writes...
>
> We had several boys do Trek 26 in 2002, which included Mt Phillips. They're
> interested in hiking Baldy in '04 and also want to hike the Tooth. According
> to DanYoder.com that pretty much narrows it down to treks 21,24 and 28-32.
>
> We've got some pretty experienced and strong backpackers, so I am not too
> concerned about the physical exertion of these treks, but I am concerned
> about having a decent balance between hiking and program activities. That
> is, I don't want the guys to expect to do all the programs only to find out
> the time on the trail may cause us to miss a bunch of them.
>
> I've read a reports on Selden's pages for a few of these treks, but if there
> is anyone on the list who has hiked any of them, especially 28 through 32,
> and can provide some advice, comments, opinions, etc., I'd appreciate it.
>
> Comments...
>
> I don't have any direct experience with the Super Strenuous routes, but do
> with 21 and 24. By the way, in their pre-2000 lives as 13 and 15 they were
> the most popular routes - I think there is still a link somewhere on
> Selden's pages with the statistics on them from 1998 (?) showing that there
> were two crews virtually every day for the entire summer.
>
> Anyway, in 2001 the crew that I was with did 21, and the crew that half from
> my troop did 24. A highlight was meeting on top of Baldy on Day 6, having
> climbed it from opposite directions. Both crews were generally older,
> though there was one fourteen year old in my crew, and only two youth in the
> other with a prior trek. Both did all the programs, up and on the trail
> with the sun, turning in early at night. I do not recall any times where we
> felt rushed or so tired that we could not appreciate the programs or the
> surroundings.
>
> P.S. Thanks for the compliment...
>
> - Al Thomson, Troop 236, Schooley's Mountain, NJ
> 2004 Autumn Adventure
> 2003 726P2 (short trek)
> 2002 Autumn Adventure
> 2001 703E11 (Trek 21)
> 2000 Autumn Adventure
> 1999 703K2 (Trek 9, now 4)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
> Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
> Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
> Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
> List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
> List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
> -------------------------------------------------------
> As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
> Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
> loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
> cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------
Received on Sat Mar 6 08:52:16 2004
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Wed Jul 26 2006 - 11:59:59 CDT