[Philmont] The hare and the tortice

John LeBlanc wrote:

> Since Jim addressed the "punishment" I don't have to. If you as a
leader feel it is punishing the stronger, faster kids, then you are a
little prejudiced toward them and against the others in the first place.
>
> I'll use our AA trip for example. Not using names, we started out
for Hart Peak. At the top, some wanted to go back the switchback trail
while others continued on to Indian Writings.
>
> Quite often it is found in a contingent rather than an established
troop and the older/faster crew member s are out to prove their prowess.
  There are many ways to correct this depending on how hard core their
case may be but cure it you must least the younger/slower/weaker of the
group have a miserable time.
>

###############################

John:

Wonderful discussion. Ask a question and get attacked. You have a
great way of setting the tone so your opinion becomes the only correct
answer. Lord knows I am truly one of the big strong guys who likes to
pick on weaklings and set cats on fire. Damn good thing you pointed
that out quickly.

I was not talking about the AA trip. I was on that hike with you, John,
and you KNOW that I spent a lot of time at the back of the crew, the
middle of the crew and yes, a bit at the front as well. I do that on
most hikes as it lets me spend time with the entire crew. I do not wish
to discuss that day in this forum. It turned into one of the worst in
over 30 years of Scouting. Your memories of that day is very different
than mine and it is best that you leave it alone.

It took me 30 years to get to Philmont for the first time. Less than a
year for my second trip. Since that first trip I have been able to take
the excitement and lessons learned back to my home troop. Many of those
lessons have come from asking "dumb" questions at camp and on the list.
  I have a thick skin and a small brain so I don't mind taking a chance
and putting myself out on the line.

My troop that may never field a crew to Philmont (or just might, ya
never know) It is a troop that is now getting into backpacking and is
facing many challenges.

One of those challenges is that we have a couple of people who want to
go on trips but are dead slow. I don't mean they lag behind enough that
they are stopping the rabbits. I mean that they stop and take pictures
of everything on the trail and don't care that they are taking 2-3 times
longer than the rest of the troop.

One of these young men is planning on going on a 5 mile backpack trip in
  four weeks. If he goes and we put him in front it is probable that we
will not be setting up camp in daylight and since none of is have been
to the area his presence puts the entire troop in jeopardy. I am not
kidding when I say there are boys who could carry this kid and his gear
and still make better time.

The word "punish" is the correct word for what happens to the rest of
the troop. They are forced to move at a pace that causes cramping and
depletes water supplies. They are forced to do what should be a 2-3
hour hike in 5 hours and they lose the chance to enjoy resting and
playing at camp.

So again, I ask the list, what do you do if you are me? If the problem
is not fixed we will never get these guys to the ranch as the troop will
quickly revert back to a car camping country club.

Mark

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Received on Fri Oct 19 01:16:13 2007