RE: [Philmont]: Scouts minimum weight requirement

There was a thread on this a few months ago at the start of the season

My comment at that time was -
If you look closely at the height and weight charts there are three
columns -

Column 1 - Height
Column 2 - Recommended Weight
Column 3 - Maximum Acceptance

Notice there is no Minimum Acceptance column
The weight range in column 2 is the recommended range.
Philmont does not have a minimum weight for any height.

Just as a heavy person can be above the recommended weight as long as he/she
is below the maximum acceptance
A light person can be below the recommended weight.
Since there is no minimum acceptance weight, all a light person needs is to
pass the physical and get a doctor's signature.
But be ready to weigh his/her pack to make sure it is not too heavy!!

I have had at least one person in this category on every council contingent
And this is essentially the answer I have gotten each time I asked

To which Randy Pfeifer, another List participant, sent back this quote -

The text 2 paragraphs just above the weight table on the Philmont Medical
Form (page 6 of 6) says:

 <snip> The Philmont physicians will use their best professional judgment
in determining participation in a Philmont trek by individuals under 21
years of age who exceed the maximum acceptable weight for their height.
Participants under 21 years of age are strongly encouraged to meet the
weight limit for their height, and exceptions are not made automatically and
the maximum allowable exception will be 20 lbs. Discussion in advance with
Philmont regarding any exception to the weight limit for person under 21
years of age is required, whether it is over or under.

To which I commented -
The note says exceed. I do not consider being under exceeding.
But I did agree the last line says over or under
In the end we agreed that the boy needs to be fit enough to enjoy the
adventure and we would do our best to do that
and let Philmont worry about interpretation of the rules.

And now I have one final comment-
The last line says in part - discussion in advance is required
Please do this.
We had an advisor who was very close to the limit. He called and talked
with a doctor before we went.
He explained how he had lost 45 pounds and was still slightly above the line
He went over his training in detail
The doctor said that there was a possibility for an exception when he
arrived based on his efforts and previous discussion
It turns out he was within the weight limits when he stepped on the scale at
Philmont
I believe Philmont will be reasonable, if you call and talk first
I, also, believe if you just show up with an attitude and say, "You can't
keep me off the trail."
They will show you how they can keep you off the trail.

Dave Lyons
1997 - 722P
2000 - 729M-6
2002 - 709D-6
2004 - 727J-2
2006 - Council contingent application submitted
PTC - 1991, 1994, 1999, 2001 (twice), 2003
And a daughter on staff (two years so far)
(My son is Scoutcraft Director at our Council Camp)

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Received on Wed Sep 15 22:36:56 2004