[Philmont]: Learning vs Fine Tuning

Blue Kazoo or thereabouts is plenty for Philmont. In fact, it's really too much insulation if you consider the double duty of your insulated jacket, socks, long johns and watch cap which all are or probably will be needed at other times.
   
  An experienced backpacker takes NOTHING that isn't a double duty item.
   
  Sleeping pad. I use a 3/4 length Thermarest and use my Crazy Creek lounge chair for the leg portion at night. The chair is comfortable to my 61 year old body in the evening and in the morning provided a dry platform to set my stuff on while dressing, repacking or whatever.
   
  Dining Fly. Why don't you consider letting the ranger teach the crew how to set it up instead of practicing it ad infinitum? Every campsite has it's own requirements and modifications, so there is no "proper" method. If they want to practice skills, then let them practice lighting stoves in pouring rain and cooking meals in the rain. That is a useful skill.
   
  The only thing different about dining flys at Philmont as opposed to most places is "leave no trace" in that they don't want the ropes tied to trees.
   
  Sometimes I think we practice things too much and take some of the discovery and learning away from the Philmont experience.
   
  As an advisor you would do more good if you let them learn instead of fine tuning a perfect backpacking machine before arrival.
   
  John LeBlanc

                
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Received on Sat Mar 18 05:40:43 2006