RE: [Philmont]: Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

I think you just have to look at the lion's share of the rangers at Philmont
to get an idea of the optimal body style that works. These guys all look
like tall marathon runners, with a few exceptions. My son, as I said be
fore 5'11'' and 115 pounds, was one of our best hikers. I am sorry to say
he carried more than a third of his body weight (about 45 pounds), but
appears to have had no ill effects from it.
 
The biggest problem I have seen is managing the pack sizes. The strongest
person on our crew managed to slip in with a pack that was entirely too
small. We tied stuff to his pack daily, but the load was still much less
than it should have been. Goes back to our inexperience on the preparation
side, we should have looked at that closer then.
 
Joe

  _____

From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On
Behalf Of Perkins, Mark
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 12:31 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: RE: [Philmont]: Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

John,

I learned the same lesson this summer on our Philmont Trek. I was the lead
advisor, my son the crew chief. We actually were part of a council
contingent crew, which was made up of two separate troops (mine and one
nearby). By the first few days into the trek, there was a clear distinction
between the boys. A few of the boys from the other troop were the shortest
and lightest of the bunch (~ 5-5 and 110 lbs). I had concerns about them
during our training hikes, but they held up fine. I had the same concerns
about their ability to have the mental toughness and physical endurance for
a 12 day trek, but neither flinched the entire time. They were like the
energizer bunny, kept going and going and going, without a complaint the
entire trip. They both carried heavy packs, including their share of crew
gear every day and climbed up Mt. Phillips (11 mile day) and never
complained. I wish I could have said the same for a few of my guys, who were
older and bigger. After the trek I complemented them and their ASM (who was
also part of the crew) on their abilities. Never judge a book by it's cover,
very true.

Mark

Troop14 ASM

Phx, AZ

704-G8

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On
Behalf Of John LeBlanc
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 4:50 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: [Philmont]: Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

<<My son is 5'11' and only about 115. Clearly way under the chart. He had
no problem with the medical this summer, they didn't even ask him about his
weight.

Joe >>

When I first went to Philmont in 1959, at age 14, I was 5-4 and weighed 95
lbs. I hiked over Mt Phillips carrying a U S Army molded plywood packboard,
a canvas Yucca Pack and a cotton duck sleeping bag.

In 2002, at age 57, I was5-8 and weighed 165 lbs. and hiked over Mt Phillips
using modern lightweight gear.

Obviously I had less problems in 1959 than I did in 2002, but in actuality I
had no real problems either time.

The reason I'm saying this is that in 1959, I was the youngest and smallest
Scout in the contingent. Many well meaning parents told my parents I was
too small and would have trouble. Thank goodness, the contingent leader, a
senior guard on the Bear Bryant coached Texas A & M football team who also
was the waterfront director at our council Scout camp told my dad that from
what he had observed of me at summer camp, that I would have less trouble
than most of the "older and bigger" Scouts and that my dad needed to let me
go on the trek. This proved to be true.

He and I remain close friends to this day. He is still a huge man both in
stature and statue. Built on the lines of Clint Walker, "Cheyene" and a
prince of a man.

Ever since that summer when I enjoyed my trek to Philmont tremendously, I
have been a champion of the "little guy".

True, there is a minimun size that can efficiently carry the necessary gear,
but don't judge a Scouts ability just by size no more than you would a book
by it's cover.

John LeBlanc

  _____

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Received on Thu Sep 16 13:06:23 2004