Re: [Philmont]: Catapillaring

Picture the tracks on an Army tank. Half of the track is always standing
still in one place, but the tank is always moving forward.

When someone in your crew needs a breather, they yell "Caterpillar."

The person at the head of the line (hiker A) IMMEDIATELY steps off of the
trail, usually to the right side, but can vary depending on terrain. The
next person in line (hiker B) will walk a pre-determined number of paces
past the first person, then step off of the trail. This cycle continues.
When the last person in line (hiker Z) walks past hiker A, hiker A steps
back into the trail. When hiker Z, passes hiker B, hiker A begins hiking
again. This cycle can continue as many times as needed for a brief rest.
The person who yelled "caterpillar" is responsible for yelling "caterpillar
off" when he has had enough rest.

Our Philmont crew's pre-determined number of paces is 9. That is what works
for 10 to 12 in a crew. When going to Colorado with only 4 or 5 adults, we
caterpillar at 20 pace intervals.

I've taught the technique to people who swore they would HATE it. Once they
experience the caterpillar climbing a long trail, they see the light, and
become caterpillar converts. The only downside is that with a weak crew, the
caterpillar can become a crutch instead of a nice break when needed.

We start our hikes off with a caterpillar just to enforce the preferred
distance between hikers on the trail - about 9 to 10 paces.

Shane Hoffman
Advisor Crew 445 - www.crew445.org - SHoffman@crew445.org
ASM Troop 445 - www.troop445.org - SHoffman@troop445.org
"Keep your nose in the wind and your eye on the skyline"~Del Gue
----- Original Message -----
From: <ps-johnson@comcast.net>
To: "Multiple recipients of list philmont" <philmont@troop47.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 1:25 AM
Subject: [Philmont]: Catapillaring

>I have heard about this technique (catapillaring), but am completely
>unfamiliar with it. How
> does it differ from the sprint and drift technique?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Pete
>
> Trek 21 '99
> ???? ?? '05
>
>
>
>
>
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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.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Mon May 2 01:43:30 2005