Re: [Philmont]: Route selection

The short answer is, there is NO "must do" trek at Philmont. What your
Crew "must do" is find the trek that is right for them.

In general, the higher number the trek, the more challenging. Increased
challenge means more miles, more peaks, more total elevation change,
fewer staff camps, more dry camps, fewer programs (for the highest
number treks), and/or more time in the Valle Vidal. However, trek
selection is more than just a matter of taking on the toughest thing you
can find, and I am sure most of the contributors to this List would
agree. Especially if this is your first visit to the Ranch. You should
consider (as a Crew) what aspects of Philmont are most important to you,
e.g., seeing as much as you can (or concentrating on one area like the
Valle), bagging as many peaks as possible (or just certain peaks), doing
as many programs as possible (or just certain programs), etc. Note that
your various goals may not be mutually compatible. Also, it is (very)
important to determine whether your Crew is willing to be a dawn-to-dusk
Crew, or prefers late nights and later wakeups, relaxed breakfasts in
camp, and leisurely camp breakdowns. Finally, how willing are the Crew
members (especially the Advisors!) to properly prepare for Philmont,
notably with respect to reducing pack-weights and most importantly in
getting in proper backpacking shape. Failure to take all these
variables into account, and instead just looking at the raw challenge,
can lead to "over-trekking" - taking on a trek that is more (perhaps far
more) than you should have, and having a truly miserable experience. As
any experienced contributor to this List can tell you, overtrekking is
common at Philmont. "Be careful what you wish for".

Here are two resources which you may find helpful. The first is one of
my Newsletters to my 2002 Crew, which details out our own trek selection
process. Note that they received about 3 hours of yapping from me
during a 20 mile hike that covered many of the details in a lecture and
Q&A type give and take. The second is the Selection Sheet that is
referenced in the Newsletter.

Selection Process: http://www.troop111.org/phil022.html

Selection Sheet: http://www.troop111.org/phil02sel.html

- Dr. Bob

Pete Swiggum wrote:
> First post in this forum so please excuse me if this topic has been
> posted ad nauseum.
>
> We're heading to Philmont next summer with a group of 14, 15, and 16
> year olds. Most, if not all, of the boys are strong, experienced
> hikers, or at least athletic enough to adapt to anything thrown at them
> in the way of trek difficulty.
>
> With the 35 available treks, are there any specific treks that are
> considered toughest or "must-do"? We prefer to take a trek that offers
> challenge and gratification once it's completed. What is the best way
> to determine which trek to take?
>
> Pete Swiggum
> Green Bay, WI
> Troop 1173
>

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Received on Fri Sep 3 04:13:02 2004