[philmont] Don't knock the poncho

In 1970, Philmont still rented those wooden packboards. It was my
first backpacking trip and I borrowed a canvas backpack from an older
scout and planned to rent a pack frame from Philmont for $3.00.
However, Philmont was out of the aluminum frames, so they rented me a
plywood pack board for $2.00. The guy at who rented it to me told me
that the pack boards were old WWII surplus equipment. No hip belt and
no padding on the shoulder straps. I was 14 years old and weighed
about 110 lbs., the smallest kid in our crew. We also carried the
canvas "Explorer" tents with no floor and only ties to keep the front
flap closed and nosy bears out. With leather work boots on my feet and
only a couple of day hikes in the flat lands of Kansas to prepare, it
was painful hiking and I was gasping for air. I remember looking
forward to our first day of hiking in the rain, so I could cry without
anyone noticing. Of course, when our Troop planned to go back two
years later, I jumped at the chance.

Dan Preston
Philmont '70, '72, '02, '06
On Nov 25, 2006, at 8:52 PM, Larry Sims wrote:

> My gear for a July 1965 trek included
>
>  
> a An army surplus bent plywood pack board rented from Philmont with
> a personal BSA Yucca pack
> b An army surplus down sleeping bag
> c An army surplus poncho that doubled as my ground cloth
> d An “Explorer” tent issued by Philmont with no floor (single wall
> lightweight canvas)
>
>  It rained often in the day and several times at night. We stayed dry.
>
>  
>
> Larry. Sims
>
> Crew 444 Philmont Coordinator, Katy, TX
>
> 615-D1 and 615-D2 2007
>
> 718-G1 1965 (The Monsoons of ’65)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Received on Mon Nov 27 08:20:35 2006