[Philmont]: RE: Height & Weight

Art Garcia writes...

I have been monitoring the emails very closely and I have gained I lot of
very useful info. So my questions, oh wise ones, are these:

1) How close to max weights can an adult be? 220 on scale--214 by chart

2) Shoes on or off at weigh in?

3) How about a youth lbs. under the min?

And Doug Marquis responded (in part)...

I doubt that either you or the youth will be challenged (assuming that the
youth meets the age requirement) as long as you both appear to be in decent
shape to handle the trek and don't have any serious health issues. <snip>

Comments....

The official rules on overweight are spelled out on the Philmont Medical
Form, and if push comes to shove, they will be enforced. No exceptions for
overweight adults (they do let you take off your boots, if you are pushing
the limit), some discretion for youth less than 20 pounds over the limit but
it is not automatic and must be discussed in advance. Clearly, the
exception is geared toward the football lineman and not to the Nintendo
couch potato.

Regarding underweight (a topic of some discussion last year), a modest
amount under the RECOMMENDED number is not an issue, and more than modest
will be dealt with by your Ranger during gear shakedown, looking at the pack
weighing 25%-30% of body weight recommendation. But again, I'd call ahead
and not just show up with a scout below the recommended weight.

Doug's comment is the real world, "usual" situation. Weighing seems to be a
random check kind of thing. Last year our two crews had a youth right at
the recommended minimum and an adult a little under his maximum. Neither
was weighed. A couple of others were. Why? Who knows. Maybe they didn't
'look' like the weight listed on their form. Personally, I would not invest
the effort and expense of preparing and going to Philmont on the chance they
don't put me on the scale at the Health Lodge. Remember too that most
people tend to eat more traveling than at home, and might not be doing as
much physical activity (hours in a car or bus) - you could easily be several
pounds heavier at the Health Lodge than walking out your door. And your
blood pressure will probably be higher, too. EVERYONE gets their blood
pressure checked, by the way, and if it is over 150 you will be staying in
Base Camp until it drops or you are sent home.

A side note, as Advisor I was the last of my crew through the Health Lodge,
and the girl doing the rechecks commented on the fact that the crew's forms
were remarkably complete. Patriots' Path Council stresses (obsesses?) that
EVERY space on the form be filled, not left blank. When you are reviewing
your crew's forms to understand if you have any medical issues, also be
thinking like a bureaucrat - make sure a copy of the insurance card (front
and back) is attached, the social security number and religious preference
is filled in, that it is signed by the parent and the youth, that YOU can
read the doctor's name, etc. It clearly makes the medical staff's job
easier and recheck process flow smoother.

 - 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.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Sat Mar 27 08:15:08 2004