Done most of the suggestions raised! This is my take on them...
My crew did Trek 4 (it was 9 then) in '99. Half the crew slept in and half got up very early on our layover day at Beaubien and side-hiked Trail Peak (our Cons project the previous day was working on the new trail and it was a long way from done, so we used the old trail which went straight up the mountain - the steepest trail I've ever been on. While that trail is still on the overall map, it no longer exists.) We had horse rides that afternoon.
My Autumn Adventure crew in 2002 had a layover at Beaubien and sidehiked the new trail, which is a constant gradual up and therefore much longer. A very nice hike. We continued on down to Fowler Pass and came back along Bonito Creek - you probably would not do that.
In 2003, I was an advisor to one of two Scoutreach sister crews doing short treks. The first four days were identical to Trek 4, but they we did not have a layover. We were scheduled for Cons projects at Beaubien, but not horse rides, and needed to get over to Phillips Junction for a food pickup. My crew wanted to climb Trail Peak - the only way to do that and everything else was to do it with packs. The trail from Fowler Mesa to the top has not been rebuilt and is steep (though nothing like the old trail on the other side). We paused for breakfast at Fowler Pass and then caterpillared the whole way up. Then down the new trail. Really pushing (with a crew that would be on the lower end of the physical preparation scale), we made it to Beaubien a little after noon.
Our sister crew decided to continue on to Fish Camp, up along the Rayado, stopped at Phillips Junction for their food pickup, and got to Beaubien just before we did.
Bottom line? Depends what the crew wants to do. This is one of the cases where there are three real options available. I'd recommend discussing them all and tentatively deciding on one. When you get to Trail Planning and get the time for your horse rides, you can then re-evaluate. And do so again when you are at Bear Caves.
If I had a vote? Continue on to Fish Camp Day 5 on your way to Beaubien and sidehike Trail Peak Day 6, scheduled around your horse ride and doing Cons. Why not try to do it all?
One other note - Trek 4 has an anomaly regarding food pickups. You are scheduled for a one-day food pickup Day 6 at PJ during your layover. However, since you will have the chuckwagon dinner that night, all you will get is the next day's breakfast and lunch. Day 7 on your way to Crooked Creek you pass through PJ, carrying the lunch back there, and pickup the food for the next three days. My '99 crew skipped the Day 6 pickup, left Beaubien a little after 7 to get to PJ by 8 when the commissary opened, got both of our food pickups and then sat down to eat breakfast.
-- Al Thomson, Troop 236, Schooley's Mountain, NJ Treks 1999, 2001, 2003 Autumn Adventures 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 ------------------------------------------------------- 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 May 25 14:49:06 2005
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