[philmont] Shake Down Report

I agree with both points made by Wade.
45 Minutes to have the whole crew reform is about 30 minutes too long.
"S----" happens on the trail! You can't wait 45 minutes for all to be together to
be able to react to the stuff. If an injury occurs and you need to send a
party out for help you can't while waiting for all to regroup. Also even if no
emergencies occur ( we all hope!) the 5 and 15 minute rests get skewered by
such a spread out crew. You need to put the slowest walkers in front. The faster
boys will be impatient first 2 days with ranger but once the treks get
longer the crew will start to appreciate the pace.
I also agree about the GPS. My first trek we did not have one and we did
just fine. Second crew different Troop all different boys, the adult advisor let
the crew chief use the GPS as "back up". Well by day 4 or 5 I was fighting to
 keep it as a back up. Becomes to easy to rely on and guess what? When there
are 3 or 4 trails intersecting YOU NEED A MAP AND COMPASS! I like that you
sent a few guys out to investigate the different trial heads. We did that on
both treks.
Third, you need to discuss the start of the day with your crew.We were up in
the dark and hoping to have camp broken down and packs on at first light.
You will want to walk in the cool morning air not the heat of the day. We ate
breakfast at our first long break of each day. 3 hours to break camp will not
be acceptable.
Finally, please take all comments as natured advice from one adult to
another. We all have different crews. We each know them better than any of us
"experts" on this message board. Do what works for you!
AND PLEASE ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE.
If you want to know the truth I am more disappointed than the boys we did
not win the draw this year. I waited 52 years to get there and now I want to go
every year!
If I can ever be of assistance just give a holler.
YIS
Ted Cotter
Troop 27
Staten Island, NY
2006 trek 32
2007 trek 28
2008 Sea Base "More sail please"
BTW what trek is your crew doing?

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Received on Thu Mar 27 22:30:58 2008