The Phil-list Mar_2006: Re: [Philmont]: Cavalcade Hydration Nee

From: Mollie McAuliffe <molliem@ev1.net>
Date: Wed Mar 15 2006 - 14:14:04 CST

Philmont supplies your rain slickers and that's all you're allowed to use.
The Gore-Tex should stay home as you need a slicker that's longer and will
have enough room to go down over a rider astride a horse. It's up to the
individual Cavalcader if you want to bring rain pants. We brought them and
for the two occasions of about 1/2 hour of hard rain, I was glad we had
them. My crew had members who brought the camel-backs but the Wrangler will
not let you use anything that has straps that are on the outside of your
clothes as they will get snagged when you go through brush and/or trees.
They will supply saddle bags which hold a nalgene easily, along with lunch
and other personal items. I took one nalgene in my saddle bag and hung one
from the saddle horn by the nalgene webbed harness I purchased at TOT.
Everywhere you stay overnight has water that will not need to be treated
before you drink it. It will be up to you and your crew if they need more
than two nalgenes per ride depending upon which trek you select and how far
you ride each day.

We took minimal stuff on side hikes - lots of water, pocket knife,
neckerchief so I don't recall that all of the scouts took a day pack. I
think it was just those hauling lunch - about 1/2 of the crew and they
traded off with their buddy. We had a southern trek and our conservation
project was done near Beaubien and our side hike was at Black Mountain to do
shotguns and blacksmithing.

Our guys brought regular Nikes or the like for camp shoes. My own son
brought Converse All Stars as they gave his ankles support while smushing
down well in the Cavalcade duffel. (he wears a size 14 so smushability was
a very big issue.) we purchased the duffels from Philmont before the
Cavalcade so the scouts would see exactly how much room they had. also,
this way they were packed before we left and they packed a small travel bag
for personal toiletry items and what they wore to and from Philmont.

I wore regular Keds which were not great for the side hikes but worked from
a room standpoint and since the horses were doing the hiking each day, sore
human feet were not an issue the next day.

Cowboy hats take up WAY too much room and there's no way to take them on the
trail - they're not able to wear them except for the picture so if you're
driving to Philmont, do your crew pic with them and then stow them in the
vehicles. if they have a baseball cap, wedge it in the duffel if they like.
Our crew did not wear hats in camp - just one more thing to keep up with.

No cotton rules won't work with a Cavalcade crew due to the jeans. We wore
wick-away crew t-shirts under a denim long sleeved shirt. Our Wrangler
insisted on long-sleeve shirts at all times when on a horse. I have heard
some Wranglers feel that way and others don't. I'll tell you though, the
sleeves saved my arms from getting scratched to pieces in some areas of the
trek.

Have fun! It's a totally great 8 days.

Mollie McAuliffe
Crew Advisor
CV714, Summer 2003

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vannerson, William G." <WVannerson@foley.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list philmont" <philmont@troop47.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 10:18 AM
Subject: [Philmont]: Cavalcade Hydration Needs & Misc. Gear Questions

Our Cavalcade trek isn't until 2007, but I'm starting some crew sessions
already, including some info on gear since several items, such as
sleeping bags, can run up costs. So by educating them on what gear they
need and how to select it, they can watch for sales along the way and
become thrifty shoppers for their equipment. Last night I reviewed
sleeping gear and I shared a lot of info from the recent thread on the
same topic. Thanks for all of the great info. I also brought my bag, pad
and sleeping clothes from the backpacking trek 2 years ago.

We also discussed some other general gear issues and I wasn't able to
answer all of their questions.

1. Water/Hydration needs
For backpacking I used a hydration bladder and fell in love with it. Can
you do the same for Cavalcade? If so, my thought would be to use a
small hydration pack that also has a storage compartment for rain gear
that could double as a day pack for side hikes to program areas,
conservation project areas and even Baldy should we get a northern trek
that allows for that day hike. For backpacking, my pack's hood doubled
as my fanny pack, but I won't have my pack on a cavalcade. That would
lead me to believe we need to bring an extra fanny pack or small day
pack that would take up valuable space in the Cavalcade duffels. A
hydration pack would be strapped to my back and free up some room in
duffle. Any comments on this idea.

2. Camp Shoes & Hiking Boots
On a backpacking trek, these were a necessity to give our tired feet and
boots a rest, as well as to minimize the impact on the campsite. Most
cavalcade shoes or boots will be smoothed soled instead of the lug sole
on hiking boots, so I would guess that camp shoes are not a requirement.
But then I could see where they would be a welcome relief from cowboy
boots as well as more suitable for some program areas. Also, if we were
to take a side hike up Baldy, we'd have to pack some type of hiking
boots as I would doubt cowboy boots would be my choice up the trail.
What have other cavalcade crews done with regards to shoes and boots?

3. Hats
Several boys asked about cowboy hats. My first reaction was "Sure." But
then I remembered that we'll all be wearing helmets on the trail, so
where would be the hats get stowed? In the duffle? That already seems
way to small for the required gear. Are they better off packing a
crushable boonie hat or baseball cap for camp and save the cowboy hat
idea for souvenir shopping in Cimarron after the trek? Or is there
another way to have the cowboy hats on the trek?

4. No cotton?
In 2004 my crew training mantra was "No cotton. No cotton." as
synthetic clothes are the best solution for trail, camp and sleep gear.
But then I read about cavalcade crews wearing blue jeans and flannel
shirts! Are their suitable, but equally macho alternatives, such as
wool shirts? I'd still insist on synthetic T's, underwear and socks (or
wool socks).

5. Rain gear
I've read where Philmont will issue rain coats and you need to bring
rain pants. One member asked if he could use the gortex coat from his
rain suit. Would that be allowed?

Thanks for any help.

BTW, I'm still looking for an old PACKS guide to borrow so I can become
more familiar with the Cavalcade program. Thanks.

Willie Vannerson
Asst. Scoutmaster
Troop 149, McHenry, IL

http://www.troop149mchenry.org

Save Owasippe Scout Reservation
Owasippe Outdoor Education Center
www.ooec.org
Owasippe Staff Association
www.owasippe.com

The preceding email message may be confidential or protected by the
attorney-client privilege. It is not intended for transmission to, or
receipt by, any unauthorized persons. If you have received this message in
error, please (i) do not read it, (ii) reply to the sender that you received
the message in error, and (iii) erase or destroy the message. Legal advice
contained in the preceding message is solely for the benefit of the Foley &
Lardner LLP client(s) represented by the Firm in the particular matter that
is the subject of this message, and may not be relied upon by any other
party.

Internal Revenue Service regulations require that certain types of written
advice include a disclaimer. To the extent the preceding message contains
advice relating to a Federal tax issue, unless expressly stated otherwise
the advice is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by
the recipient or any other taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding Federal tax
penalties, and was not written to support the promotion or marketing of any
transaction or matter discussed herein.

-------------------------------------------------------
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 Wed Mar 15 18:00:13 2006

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Wed Jul 26 2006 - 12:00:04 CDT

Re: [Philmont]: Cavalcade Hydration Needs & Misc. Gear Questions