> 1. Water/Hydration needs
A hydration bladder is fine. I'm not aware that you'll have an
opportunity to do significant side hikes during Cavalcade as you'll be
at staff camps each night, and your crew members won't have hiking boots.
Philmont supplies a "slicker" as rain gear to each crew member as they
work well when riding a horse. I seem to remember that talking a light
rain jacket for wear around camp is recommended too.
You'll receive a specific equipment list recommended for Cavalcade in
early 2007.
One important thing you'll receive is a sample stuff sack to show your
crew members. Except for what you carry in saddle bags and the crew gear
which goes on the pack horses, all personal items, including a sleeping
bag, will have to fit in the stuff sack. You'll quickly see that you
won't have much room for extra "stuff." Adults are allowed to take a
Therm-A-Rest pad on the pack horses but youth members probably won't be
allowed to do that unless they have a pad which compacts into a very small
space.
> 2. Camp Shoes & Hiking Boots
Light weight camp shoes are fine for wear around camp but your hiking
boots, if you take them, will probably stay in the locker at CHQ as your
wrangler will laugh and tell you that hiking boots aren't needed. I
believe a hike up Baldy will be impossible but you can call Philmont to
check on that for sure if you wind up with a north country trek.
> 3. Hats
Many of our crews members have taken cowboy hats and left them in the
lockers at CHQ for use during the gymkhana at the end of the trek. The
gymkhana takes place at Cattle HQ so you'll be able to get the hats for
that event.
Taking a cap is fine but I don't think you'll want a cowboy hat on the
trail as you'll be wearing helmets while riding.
> 4. No cotton?
Jeans are the recommended wear for Cavalcade. Synthetic underwear is fine
but cotton works well on Cavalcade too. If you do opt for synthetic, be
sure to tell your wrangler as he will probably get a laugh out of that.
BTW, all of our backpacking and Cavalcade crews have used t-shirts of 50%
cotton & 50% synthetic without any problems so, in my opinion anyway,
advice to only take synthetic t-shirts to Philmont is way overrated.
> 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?
See #1. The PACKS booklet will have more advice on this.
> BTW, I'm still looking for an old PACKS guide to borrow so I can become
> more familiar with the Cavalcade program. Thanks.
My copy of the 2003 PACKS booklet is still "lost" somewhere in my house.
Excellent advice, provided by former Philmont wrangler, on preparing for
Cavalcade is here:
http://www.lns.cornell.edu/~seb/philmont-wrangler.html
BTW, you'll find out that Cavalcade crews are treated "special" by
Philmont as there aren't many of them.
Each year, less than 400 campers participate in Cavalcade. If your
wrangler has established a good reputation at the staff camps at which
you'll be camping, your crew might even have a few special treats in store
for you. Of course, you have to enjoy riding a horse to enjoy Cavalcade.
That isn't something for me but several Scouts, Venturers and adults from
our troop have enjoyed the program and we'll have another crew in 2007.
YiS,
-- Calvin H. Gray Scoutmaster, Troop 405 Associate Advisor, Venturing Crew 405 Georgetown, Texas I used to be an Owl (WM-62-2-98 @ Philmont) http://www.troop405.org/ ------------------------------------------------------- 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 19:37:50 2006
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