Anthony
Early next year, you should receive Philmont's "Guidebook to Adventure" which
provides their suggested list of crew and personal equipment. I agree, it
would be great to have this list by Christmas. Our council's High Adventure
Committee gives a class on the "Big Four" (packs, sleeping bags, rain gear and
boots) in November to next year's advisors and youth trekkers so that they can
have some ideas about getting new gear if it is needed.
If you are a first time advisor, you may want to get a copy of the Philmont
Advisor's Guide. This unofficial 84 page document was written by two
experienced Philmont advisors with lots of help and input from other Philmont advisors
and rangers. It is available as a MS Word email attachment for a $10 donation
to Venturing Crew 1519. E-mail me if you are interested. I have included
the section on personal gear and packs below.
Personal Equipment
For most first time Philmont hikers, it is not unusual to spend $300 to $500
in equipment. The most often purchased items are boots, sleeping bags, packs,
and rain gear. Hopefully, the decision to go to Philmont comes prior to
Christmas so that some of the gear may be obtained as Christmas presents.
Most outfitting stores recommend leather hiking boots for Philmont because of
the support they provide when compared to high-tech synthetic boots.
However, leather boots cost more and are harder to break in. Wally's son Wes
required a new set of boots each time he went to Philmont because his foot grew.
Spending $125 to $200 on leather boots just does not make sense when a synthetic
pair of boots costing $40 to $90 will work just as well. Outfitting stores
will also say that synthetic boots will fall apart due to the ruggedness of
Philmont's trails. In his twelve trips to Philmont, Wally has never seen a
synthetic boot fail. Coop knows several Appalachian Trail thru-hikers that
experienced no problems with synthetic boots. In fact, several thru-hikers preferred
the synthetic boots because of their ability to dry out faster than all
leather boots. In 2002, Mimi Hatch used an all-synthetic boot, the Asolo GTX FSN 95
women's model, and came through without a blister. In fact, she didn't even
need any moleskin or Spiroflex. The jury is still out on Gore-Tex boots.
During Coop's 1998 Philmont trek, the boots that got the wettest during a heavy
downpour were Gore-Tex. However, we also talked to several Rangers who loved
their Gore-Tex boots. In any case, if new boots are needed, plan on purchasing
them in March. This will provide enough time to break in the boots while
reducing the possibility of them being outgrown by Philmont. If you do buy
leather boots, make sure that they have been waterproofed several times before you
head to Philmont.
Some hikers have replaced their boots insole with a more expensive gel type
insole. In 2002, Mimi replaced her insoles with SuperFeet insoles on the
recommendation of several outdoor outfitters. She felt that her new insoles
distributed the weight of her foot better and was a factor in her blister free trek.
If you choose to do this, be sure to try out the new insoles during your
shakedown hikes. Coop replaced his insoles and found that the new insole raised
his heel out of the boot's heel cup and caused a blister.
Each crewmember should wear two layers of socks. The inner layer should be
synthetic (polypropylene or CoolMax) sock liner. The liner wicks the moisture
away from the foot to the outer sock. When the foot is dry, there is a
decreased chance of a getting a blister. Some of the new high tech socks state that
an inner layer sock is not required. Christian Braunlich, a Philmont Ranger
and REI employee, still uses two layers even when he wears his high tech socks
for the extra protection. Heavy wool socks, as outer layers are great.
However, some crewmembers do not like the feel of wool socks and they take a long
time to dry out once they get wet. Coop likes the all-synthetic Thorlo Hiking
sock that does it not itch and dries quickly because it contains no wool.
Wally, Mimi and Mary Lane use Smart Wool socks. Stephen Braunlich used Dalhgren
Low Volume Alpaca wool for 75% of his hiking and never got a blister. The
rest of the time he used a set of REI Merino wool socks. Even though these
socks contain wool, they are very soft and dry much quicker than the all-wool ragg
socks. Like most backpacking equipment, it really comes down to a matter of
personal choice. Whatever type you use, pack three pairs of outer socks and
two or three pairs of sock liners. Make sure that you check the condition of
your crew's socks before you head for Philmont. Look for badly worn spots that
will lead to blisters on the trail. Too often, crewmembers will buy new
boots and neglect to buy new socks. Socks do wear out! If the socks' padding
capability is worn down, get new ones.
Hikers also need to pack an in-camp shoe that can be worn once you get into
camp and can get your boots off. A set of moccasins or running shoes makes an
excellent in-camp shoe. Tevas are now permitted in the backcountry, although
Philmont recommends that they be worn with socks. Philmont still requires the
wear of a closed toe shoe or boot when cooking, branding, rock climbing,
horseback riding, spar pole climbing and your conservation project. Getting into
in-camp shoes gives your feet a rest and gives you an opportunity to sun dry
your boots. You may want to bring along a set of in-camp socks. Mimi uses a
Coolmax anklet style for her in-camp sock that is cooler and lighter than wool
and dries quickly when washed. Whatever type of in-camp shoe you choose
should have a low impact sole that keeps it from further damaging the ground of
your already over camped camp site. In-camp shoes should be easy to get on and
off for those late night visits to the latrine. And finally, they should be
comfortable enough for you to hike in to the next campsite, if you are having
severe boot problems.
You will see many different styles of walking sticks on the trail. Some
hikers prefer a single stick. However, over the last several years, Coop has
become an ardent believer in using two walking sticks. The sticks are adjustable
and can be lengthened or shortened according to the terrain. They provide
much needed support and relieve some of the pounding that would normally be
absorbed by your body. A medical study has shown that the use of two hiking sticks
results in 250 tons of pressure being transferred from the back, knees and
legs to the arms during an 8-hour hiking day. They also serve as poles for the
crew tarp eliminating the need to carry additional equipment. They can be a
pain if you are the crew photographer trying to take a picture. However, some
walking sticks have integrated camera mounts, which allows them to be used as
monopods for on-the-trail full crew shots.
An inexpensive pair of ankle high gaiters is nice to have. Gaiters help keep
your boots and socks clean and dry. They also prevent small rocks and sand
from getting inside your boots.
Sleeping bags should be filled with synthetic fiber, weigh less than four
pounds, and be rated to 25 degrees. A mummy bag is lighter and warmer than other
design types. At Philmont's higher elevations, the temperature gets into the
thirties at night and there always seems to be a stiff breeze blowing. Other
than boots, the sleeping bag is the most important piece of equipment a
crewmember will bring to Philmont. Crewmembers need to know that the one and only
place where they will always be warm and dry is in their sleeping bags, inside
their tents. Care must be taken to assure that the bag is properly treated.
Crewmembers must never get into their sleeping bags wet, because the moisture
reduces the warming ability of the bag. During the night, the bag also
absorbs moisture from the body. Every opportunity should be taken to air out the
bag. Otherwise a 25-degree bag will become a 30-degree bag the next night and
so on. Down sleeping bags are not recommended because they lose their
insulating capability when they get wet. Even though most sleeping bags come with a
"water-proof" stuff sack, an additional plastic trash bag or an Army
waterproof bag should be placed in the stuff sack to provide a second layer of
protection.
An inexpensive closed cell pad is a must for all crewmembers. Not only does
it provide a comfortable sleep even on those not-so-level places; it also
prevents heat loss downward and provides a barrier against moisture should your
tents leak in a heavy rain. Cascade Design produces the Z-Rest, an excellent
pad that is very comfortable and is less bulky than traditional pads. For
advisors, we recommend a Therm-A-Rest sleeping pad because of its ability to
provide a good night's sleep. Either pad will add 5-10 degrees of warmth when
compared to sleeping directly on the ground. While a Therm-A-Rest pad costs around
$50, it is well worth the investment. Therm-A-Rest pads come in two models;
the full length and the 3/4 length. Although the full-length model is a
little heavier, it keeps the feet off the ground that could keep the sleeping bag
dry should your tent floor get wet.
It is really difficult to give advice to crewmembers on rain gear other than
it is a must and it should be good quality. You should note that the ONLY
rain gear listed on Philmont's personal equipment list is a rain suit and NOT a
poncho. If a crewmember has money to burn, a Gore-Tex rain suit would be
recommended. Gore-Tex allows perspiration to escape while keeping rain out.
However, a Gore-Tex rain suit typically costs $150 to $300 and can be heavier than
coated nylon. Both Coop and Mimi have switched to Marmot's PreCip jacket, a
less-costly alternative to Gore-Tex for breathable, waterproof raingear for
under $100. A lightweight coated nylon rain suit works almost as well and costs
under $60. Do not purchase the less expensive, but much heavier PVC rain
suit. The beauty of a rain suit is that the jacket can also be used to keep warm,
when layered with a wool or fleece sweater. Our Philmont Rangers thought
that an inexpensive rain suit was far superior to the most expensive poncho.
Before you buy any type of rain gear, make sure that it states "waterproof" and
not "water resistant". Water resistant fabric may handle a light dew, but will
become water logged and soak the wearer after only a few minutes of an
afternoon Philmont rain. Prior to going to Philmont, you should test your rain
gear. Your neighbors might get a chuckle, but wear a light colored t-shirt under
your rain gear and get sprinkled with the water hose for about 10 minutes.
This will provide a good test to determine whether your raingear needs to have a
treatment such as Nikwax's TX-10 Direct applied. Sarah Rogers, a Philmont
Ranger, has been known to stand in the shower at home to check out her raingear!
Most crewmembers wear hiking shorts and t-shirts throughout their trek. What
we have found that works the best is to have a set of hiking clothes and a
set of in-camp clothes. After setting up camp, wash the body salt from the
t-shirt, shorts, and socks you have worn on the trail. Philmont has recently
established a new policy of no clotheslines in the backcountry because of the
damage 20,000 campers can cause to the trees at campsites each season. So we
suggest stringing clotheslines between tents, draping your clothes on rocks, or
hanging them from the ridgeline of the crew tarp. In the morning, even if your
hiking clothes are not completely dry, put your t-shirt and shorts on. Don't
worry; they will dry out while on the trail. Wet socks can be safety pinned
to the outside of your pack to dry as you walk along the trail. Diaper pins,
because of their size, make excellent drying pins.
Cotton underwear? No way. Both Wally and Coop use nylon blend hiking shorts
with an inner brief to provide support. The smooth surface of the nylon
shorts also helps to reduce the chaffing for hikers with thunder thighs like the
two of us. George Kain wears a set of synthetic (CoolMax) underwear under his
Philmont cotton shorts. Other advisors have worn unpadded nylon bike shorts
or a Speedo swimsuit under their hiking shorts for support. All of us agree
that cotton underwear is impossible to keep clean and dry.
We recommend as a minimum that the t-shirts be 50/50 cotton. If you can find
an all synthetic t-shirt (Philmont now sells a Duofold t-shirt in the Trading
Post), use it for your hiking t-shirt. Both Road Runner Sports, (800)
551-5558, www.roadrunnersports.com and Campmor, www.campmor.com, sell CoolMax shirts
at very competitive prices. Synthetic t-shirts will wick the sweat away,
protect you from losing heat due to moisture during colder weather, and dry
quicker when washed.
Crewmembers will also need a set of sleep clothes (t-shirt and a set of nylon
running shorts) that is only worn while sleeping. When getting ready for
bed, each crewmember takes off his in-camp clothes and places them in a plastic
bag. This past year, crews got conflicting guidance from their Rangers
concerning where to put their in-camp clothes when they headed to bed. Some crews
were told to put their in-camp clothes back in their packs, which were then
placed inside the "Bearmuda" triangle (see Camp Setup). Other crews were to throw
the plastic bags containing their in-camp clothes away from their tents. The
only time crewmembers were told to put their in-camp clothes in the "Oops
Bag" (see Bears and Bear Bags) was when they had major food spills on them
thereby making them a smellable. The bottom line is that in-camp clothes should
never be stored inside tents because they could contain food smells.
Over the past several years, because of the poor snow pack and lack of rain,
there was very little for the bears to eat, so they moved into Philmont's low
country looking for food. Rangers will spend a great deal of time discussing
your crew's actions to minimize the chance of a bear incident occurring,
including the use of sleep clothes. Another way that crewmembers can bring
non-human smells into the backcountry is through the use of fabric softeners on their
trail clothes before they arrive at Philmont. Fabric softener fragrance will
last on trail for several days until an individual's natural body odor takes
over. You may have to wash your clothes several times without soap at home to
ensure that there is no detectable odor. Or you can purchase non-scented
soap from stores that sell hunting supplies. Remember, bears don't see well, but
they have a tremendous sense of smell. The bottom line is if you are going
into bear country, it is best to sleep in clothes that have not been exposed to
any smells.
A set of lightweight synthetic (polypropylene or other type fabric) long
underwear can be a plus on the trail, especially if you are scheduled to arrive at
Philmont early in the camping season when the mornings are still cold. Long
underwear can also be used as a means of increasing the warmth of your
sleeping bag, especially if your trek has you camping at higher elevations. We
suggest bringing your long underwear with you and making the decision whether you
will bring it on the trail during your shakedown at base camp. In 1997, no one
in Mimi's crew (with the exception of one adult) brought long underwear on
the trail and they did not miss it. However, Peter Bernier, a member of Coop's
1996 crew, wore his polypro and fleece to keep warm during several hailstorms
and heavy rains that occurred during his 1997 Rayado trek. Again, it is a
matter of choice.
An outer warm layer is absolutely required. Although wool has been a
traditional choice, synthetic fleece has taken over because of its lightweight,
ability to dry quickly, and softness. DO NOT rely on cotton sweatshirts to keep
you warm! A fleece or wool knit hat is an absolute must in the backcountry.
The body does not have the ability to reduce blood flow to the head to save
heat as it does with other extremities. A knit hat offers tremendous warmth for
minimum weight. Both Wally and Coop have used their knit hats each year they
have gone to Philmont. Buy these items before the end of January before the
stores change over to their summer stock.
Long pants are required for spar poling, horseback riding, branding, and the
conservation project in addition to the obvious of keeping warm. Most crews
we saw wore high nylon content pants that were extremely lightweight and dried
out very quickly. Convertible pants with legs that zip off allow you to carry
long pants and an extra pair of shorts with just one garment. An acceptable
substitute is to wear your long underwear bottoms under a pair of hiking
shorts. Rain pants will also work, but there is the possibility of damaging them
during spar pole climbing. Stay away from jeans or sweat pants. Both are made
of cotton and are impossible to dry out once they get wet.
Some hikers like wide brim hats. They provide protection from the increased
level of ultra violet rays found at higher elevations, but are cumbersome
while hiking. If a baseball cap is used, be careful of severe sunburn on the tops
of the ears. For fair complexion crewmembers, we recommend a 30 SPF
sunscreen as a minimum. Coop uses 50 SPF because he has fair skin. The sun and low
humidity can also cause severe chapped lips. The one lip balm that seemed to
work best and received outstanding reviews by both our crews was Carmex. There
are also other lip balms, like Chapstick, on the market that contain
sunscreen that can reduce the possibility of sun burned lips.
Each crewmember needs a minimum of three 1-quart canteens. If you know that
your itinerary will have a dry camp, we suggest that each crewmember bring
along a lightweight 1-quart plastic bottled water bottle (or better yet, a
roll-up canteen made by Nalgene) in addition to the regular canteens. Because it
was exceptionally dry at Philmont in 1998, 2000 and 2002, each member of Coop's
crew had the ability to carry four quarts of water. It is a lot easier to
supply the crew with water if each crewmember carries an additional quart of
water into a dry camp instead of having one or two members try to carry the very
bulky and heavy 2 1/2 gallon plastic water containers.
We have seen more crews using hydration systems (Camelback, Platypus) on the
trail at Philmont. Although these systems offer the convenience of being able
to take a drink through a tube without having to take off your pack, Wally,
Mimi and I are not big fans of them for several reasons. When you drink from
one of these systems, it is really hard for an advisor to tell if a crewmember
is really drinking enough, unless you are aware of who is urinating and who is
not. Wally knows of one crew in 1999, where a crewmember became dehydrated
even though he was using a Platypus, because he was simply not drinking enough
and his advisor was not aware of his fluid intake. In 2002, Mimi decided to
try a hydration system on her shakedown hikes, but switched back to her Nalgene
canteens because she felt that she was not getting enough water. Hydration
systems can also build up mildew in their drinking tubes if they are not
properly cleaned. Personally, we like taking a water break, whether it is a short
"packs on" break or a longer "packs off" break and taking a good slug of water.
During the break, you can quickly assess by looking at the water level in
each canteen, to see how much water each person has consumed. In addition, most
packs have external pockets that provide easy access to a canteen if you need
a drink while you are walking.
A butane lighter works better than matches and is more dependable. Get a
see-through type so that it is easy to determine when the lighter is out of
butane. Each crew needs a sewing kit with safety pins. If an advisor travels a
lot, ask him to take one from a hotel where he stays. Heavy-duty thread and
needles need to be added to this kit in case a pack comes apart. Duct tape comes
in handy along the trail for all sorts of jobs from patching tents to
attaching a loose sole of a boot. An easy way to carry duct tape is to wrap it
around a fuel bottle.
If you can find an old closed cell sleeping pad, you can make your own
"Advisor's Pad" to sit on by simply cutting out a two foot square section. An
alternate is a closed cell kneeling pad sold at most lawn and garden shops. It
sure is a lot more comfortable than sitting directly on the ground. For those
advisors who may have a "deep seated" problem, fold the pad in half to double
the cushion. We are also seeing more Crazy Creek chairs on the trail. They
provide both bottom and back support, can be used as a sleep pad by those who are
really trail nuts and are practically part of a Ranger's equipment. If you
are using a Therm-A-Rest pad, there is a kit that utilizes the pad for a seat.
However, if you do use either of these items, be very cautious when eating.
If you spill anything on them, they become "smellables" and must be bear
bagged.
Be sure to mark all common items such as canteens, ragg socks and sock liners
with a permanent marking pen. Things begin to look alike after ten days on
the trail and it becomes hard to tell them apart. A suggested personal
equipment list is contained in Appendix E.
Finally, try to get your total pack weight as light as possible. Heavy packs
just sap energy and strength, make you more prone to injury, and reduce your
potential for having a good time on the trail. Both Bob Klein and Troy Hayes
are real sticklers when it comes to reducing total pack weight. Bob even
gives his crew a list of equipment with the maximum acceptable weight for each
item of personal gear. He even brings a postal scale to gear shakedowns and
weighs each item to make sure that meets his criteria! If an item is too heavy,
it is rejected! You may think that this might be extreme, but Bob's crews
typically leave Base Camp with water and food with packs that weigh less than 35
pounds, compared to most crews with pack in the 40 to 50 pound range.
Some advisors are still in the car camping mode when they arrive at Philmont,
bringing along that extra something "just in case". This is a huge mistake
and the extra pounds will soon begin to affect their performance on the trail.
The idea is to leave Base Camp, with the lightest possible pack, with the
right amount of personal and crew gear for your trek and no more. Start
eliminating ounces from your very first shakedown. A requirement for Backpacking
Merit Badge is to discuss ten ways to reduce your pack's weight. Some ideas from
Troy Hayes and Stephen Braunlich include:
· small rather than large (as in flashlight, knives, etc.)
· right size (e.g., a 4 ounce bottle of sun screen instead of a 6 or 8, a
small tube of toothpaste)
· just-as-good-but-lighter (coated nylon rain gear instead of PVC, grocery
store water bottles instead of canteens)
· double duty items (bandanna can serve as a towel, handkerchief, and
headband; synthetic long underwear top can keep you warm in the campsite and serve
as sleep shirt)
· avoid gadgets (such as Leatherman, hydration systems, heavy camp stools)
· sharing (one set of toothpaste or Camp Suds bottle per tent)
· smart purchasing (mummy bag versus a rectangular bag)
· clothing system based on layers
· take only what you need (a cup and spoon for eating gear instead of a
cup, bowl, spoon and fork)
· eliminate dead weight (walkman radios, footballs - yes Troy Hayes has
seen one!)
· only have two knives and two compasses per crew (one for use and one for
redundancy)
· don't take water pumps. Philmont is going to make you carry Polar Pure
anyway
There are a growing number of ultra-light backpackers who would have a
field day with the gear that we take to Philmont. We would have to give up our
full-length Therm-A-Rest pads, our in-camp clothes and our camp shoes! These
minimalists, however, have the experience, confidence, and physical
conditioning to compensate for any mistakes they might make in packing that we as
advisors cannot. We encourage you to work with your crews to reduce the weight that
each member will carry and believe that the equipment lists in Appendices D
and E have been tested over time and represent what you will need on the trail
at Philmont. However, for those of you who might be tempted to try the
ultra-light method of backpacking (on your own first and not at Philmont), an
excellent resource is Beyond Backpacking, Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking,
AdventureLore Press, (800) 247-6553. While we don't agree with everything
Ray Jardine has to offer, he does present a different way to approach gearing
up. However, many of Philmont's established backcountry protocols rule out most
of Jardine's suggestions such as tarp tents, hammocks, etc.
Packs
Unless you come from a very unusual Scout troop, this will probably be
the first time that you or your crewmembers have ever carried personal and crew
gear, food for several days, and several quarts of water in a pack at one
time. Packs that made it for years on troop campouts simply don't have enough
volume to handle what you and your crew will be carrying on the trail at
Philmont. We find that most Philmont hikers get a new pack before their trek. As an
advisor, it is difficult to recommend a type of pack to bring to Philmont.
Pack selection really boils down to individual choice and the amount that you
are willing to pay for the pack. External frame packs are the most common and
cost significantly less than internal frame packs. They allow you to strap on
additional equipment giving you greater flexibility in what you can carry.
External frame packs usually come with lots of built in pockets that provide
easy access for needed gear. They are also cooler to wear which is a significant
plus in the New Mexico afternoon heat. An external frame pack for a Philmont
trek should be a minimum of 4000 cubic inches.
Internal frame packs are basically bags that are built around a hi-tech
suspension system. They fit closer to your back and almost become a part of
you while on the trail. External frame packs feel more like wearing a ladder
when compared to the fit of an internal frame pack. Since sleeping bags are
carried inside of an internal frame pack, minimum size for a Philmont trek should
be no less than 4500 cubic inches. Both Wally and Coop began backpacking
with external frame packs but have switched because we like how internal frame
packs feel and carry the loads.
No matter which type of pack you have, there are four things that you
must do to ensure that your crew is ready to go. First, check to see that the
pack is fitted to the individual crewmember. An improperly fitted pack
significantly increases its apparent weight and carrying difficulty. The hip belt
must fit snugly around the waist to allow the full weight of the pack to be
carried on the crewmember's hips while at the same time providing enough padding
to protect the hips. The shoulder straps should be padded and fit the width of
the shoulders. When viewed from the side, shoulder straps should be level
(or a little upward) from the shoulders to the pack frame. If you don't know
how to fit your pack, find someone who does. Second, check the condition of the
pack. Most crewmembers have probably never rinsed the salt and sweat from
their pack's suspension system. Dry rot of pack's stitching and fabric may
already have started. Check the stitching at all stress points in the pack
material. Check the grommets on the shoulder straps and hip belt to ensure that
they have not pulled out of the pack material. Check the pack frame welds to
ensure that they are not cracked. Third, make sure that the pack is large enough
to carry all the crewmember's personal gear plus his share of crew gear.
Make sure that each crewmember brings along one or two replacement clevis pins
and O-rings. JanSport packs require special nuts, bolts and wrenches that are
not readily available at Philmont. Finally, we both recommend bringing a pack
cover that is designed to fit your pack. A pack cover will beat a trash bag
any day. However, trash bags will work. Just plan on bringing several (4-5)
because they will rip and tear on the trail. If a crewmember does not have a
pack that you deem adequate, he can rent one at Philmont for a very reasonable
cost (2000 cost was $20.00).
Cooper Wright
Associate Advisor, Crew 1519
Co-author of the Philmont Advisor's Guide
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Received on Thu Nov 27 09:41:21 2003
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