For quite some time this list had been talking about the awful ongoing
drought conditions at Philmont. This might have made some of us just a bit
too complacent.
This past year, we did our Ranger training at Dean Cutoff (not my favorite
campsite.) We had experienced Advisors, we had experienced Rangers and we
still made the very dangerous mistake of crossing the stream and walking to
Ponil for the cantina show that evening. We, and our sister crew along with
our Rangers darn well knew it had been raining we also knew that the rain
had been sort of heavy and we had seen that the stream had gotten a bit
deeper (the stepping stones were now covered and we had to make use of the
logs.)
On our return, the bridge was no more, the stream was running real high and
real fast and our Rangers had to build a makeshift bridge to allow us to
cross. In retrospect, as Advisors we should have realized the potential
problems and either just said no or made it clear to everyone that the path
back would be the one from the direction of the turn around, bypassing the
stream. (Remember Safety is job one for the Advisor and on this there is no
democracy.)
On the positive side, nobody got hurt; and our crewmembers now understand a
vital point of backpacking and trail safety from much more than a
theoretical point of view.
--Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On
Behalf Of Dave Parmly
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 8:23 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: RE: [Philmont] - philmont Digest - V01 #1293
2004 / Trek #3
Six Mile Gate to Anasazi and IW takes you along the North Ponil the
whole way.
Crossing the North Ponil Creek in late July was one long string of
"Challenge Events". You are hiking in the New Mexico backcountry and
come to a stream that is too wide to jump, too fast and deep to wade
safely and you have 40 pound packs on. How will you get across?
We crossed the N Ponil 4 times on Day one, and three times on day 2 and
every one was different due to availability of bridge building material,
depth, etc. What looked like 2 easy days took a lot longer than
anticipated, but the crew had a great time figuring things out for
themselves and making it happen.
We would hear the thunder and see big rain off to the northeast and
about an hour later, the creek would double in size and volume. Flash
flood conditions, no doubt. Let's be careful out there.
Dave Parmly
717N1 Philmont 2004
Advisor, VC 506, Knoxville, TN
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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.
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Received on Mon Mar 21 01:26:12 2005
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