Amen, Dr. Bob!
Any crew member or crew advisor who suffers through a Philmont trek with a
Category #III Advisor learns one thing the hard way: NEVER AGAIN.
My horror story: On my second trip to Philmont several years ago, we had
one advisor who (1) hadn't prepared himself physically, except for 1
shakedown and 2 day hikes; (2) was so anxious about NOT being able to
complete the trek that he compensated by hiking at an extremely slow pace
(about 1 mile/hour); (3) was grouchy, cranky, and unsociable because of his
anxiety and fatigue; (4) immediately got into his tent each afternoon or
evening to rest up for the next grueling day and didn't do a thing to help
out the crew, to socialize, or to contribute to the crew camaraderie.
My son, who was 17 at the time, was the crew leader, and I was the crew
advisor. Although it's been 4 years, my son still expresses anger over how
this leader's lack of fitness had a negative impact on the crew.
Last summer, on my third trek, this time with my younger son, I did my best
to avoid repeating the problem of the Category III advisor. We stressed
training for 6 months prior to the trip, beginning with 3x weekly evening
hikes from Dec. 1 through early June. The good news: it paid off, and we
had a great trip, and I'm proud to say we completed Trek #32. The bad news:
the preparatory hikes were encouraged, but not required, and we still ended
up with some Category II adults.
What would I do differently if I went again? Something I've learned from
reading this site: "signed agreements." I would make crew members and crew
advisors sign a contract saying they would complete (1) 75% of the 3/weekly
evening hikes, and (2) 75% of the extended day hikes, and (3) at least 1
mandatory shakedown hike. In 2004, among our 2 sister crews, there was a
very strong correlation between those who didn't show up for the optional
evening hikes, and those who struggled on the trail.
One last item: make sure your extended day hikes and your shakedown hikes
are scheduled far enough in advance to troubleshoot. If you have a
considerably weaker scout or adult, you'll still have time to discuss the
problems, and help them come up with a better training regimen. Then make
sure that they show improvement. There's just too much time, money, effort,
etc. involved by the rest of the crew to allow one member to wreck the
experience.
Twelve days of high altitude backpacking with a 50-lb backpack is tough
stuff. Be prepared. If you're not physically prepared, it's a death march.
If you are physically prepared, it's terrific.
Jon Mather
Kingsport TN
Troop 387
Philmont 1998, 2001, 2004
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-PHILMONT@troop47.com [mailto:owner-PHILMONT@troop47.com] On
Behalf Of Dr. Bob Klein
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 3:35 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list PHILMONT
Subject: [Philmont]: Different Categories of "Deficient" Advisors
A dangerous topic, but here goes: Regarding unScoutlike contempt of
"deficient" Advisors, I think it is important to recognize that there
are a variety of categories of Advisors who can't cut it on the trail.
First are those who are simply physically overmatched despite their best
efforts. One of the sadder moments I have ever witnessed on the Ranch
was a 20+-Arrowhead graybeard taking himself off the trail because he
simply couldn't do it anymore, and knew it. Based on a brief
conversation we had, he'd half killed himself getting ready, knew
exactly what it took, did his best, and realized that he was impacting
way negatively on his Crew's experience. His Crew repeatedly offered to
basically carry him, really they just about begged him, and he refused
as a matter of pride and honor. Two tears traced down his stern face as
his Crew disappeared down the trail. That man had my utmost respect,
and I hope I have that kind of courage when that same inevitable reality
faces me.
The second type are those who trained hard and got their carry weights
down, but simply didn't do enough and got surprised. They were first
timers, and didn't understand what it took, despite all the counsel and
warnings. But they soldier on manfully, with a rueful grin. Their
Crews treat them with respect, because they knew they had been training,
had faithfully made the meetings, hikes, and shakedowns, and were full
members of their Crews. In such cases, the Crews do what they have to:
lighten their loads, slow down, take breaks, pick easier trails, etc.
And usually with humor on both sides. I've got no problem with that
situation, and hope no one else would, either.
But then there are the members of the third category: Folks that didn't
do a damn thing other than pay their money. Meetings? Too busy.
Hikes? Too busy. Shakedowns? Too busy. Training? - "I'll get in
shape on the trail". Gear? - "I know what I need, and I'll take
whatever I want". Crew? - "Hey, what's your name again?" Crew-Chief? -
"I'm the "Advisor" - you do what I say". And so on and so on. Sound
familiar? Every experienced member of this list can read you chapter
and verse on these types of Advisors. They are a boat anchor around
their Crew's collective necks. As well as being jerks to the Philstaff
and fellow Crews/fellow Advisors. Their Crews usually have little pity
for them, because they know full well they didn't do squat to get ready.
It is common for these Crews to implode on the trail, and fall apart
into 3 or 4 sub-cliques in absolute dysfunctionality. They keep the
Camp Directors and Chaplain Staff busy.
Some members of this list have tagged me for what you regard as the
overly aggressive preface on each of my on-line diaries. Do you know
why that is there? Basically because I have had numerous emails through
the years from Advisors who blamed me for their miserable Philmont
experiences because my diaries paint them as being too easy. The first
two or three times I got these, I thought maybe the senders were joking
or something. Wrong. So I have to put an explicit warning on my
diaries so they can't use me as their excuse - or at least won't to my
face via email. "You have been warned".
Am I contemptuous of such "Category III" Advisors? Yes, I am. I've
earned the right. How many thousands of times has that damn alarm clock
gone off at 4:15 - 4:30 am, insistent that I get my fat ass out of bed
and do what has to be done to get prepped for Philmont, or the
Appalachian Trail, or the Swiss Alps, or the Sierras, or the northern
Rockies? Does anyone think I really enjoy backpacking 50 pounds of
telephone books for two hour stretches up and down death hill day after
day when it's 95 degrees out, or backpacking 10 miles to the National
Airport Metro through thunderstorms, 80 percent relative humidity, in
sleetstorms, or when it's 10 degrees out? Or running 2 or 3 miles up
and down hills, or spinning an AirDyne as hard as I can for 30 minutes,
with my arms and legs on fire and my pulse too fast for me to measure?
Or completing those last 10 agonizing miles of a 50/20 Hike? I'm typing
this sore as hell from this morning's 5 am run and workout (I pushed a
little too hard today) - and my next Philtrek is 10 months from now.
This is what it takes for Bob Klein to keep up with his Scouts, and he
may not like it but he does it. It's either that or surrender and get
busy dying (no thanks).
So yes, I don't have a lot of pity for folks who were "too busy" or
whatever other excuses they have, then go out there and make life
miserable for their Crews and anyone else who is unfortunate enough to
cross their paths. They deserved what they got - but the rest of us
(and the Philstaff) don't deserve the spin-off grief. As far as I am
concerned they are the single worst aspect of Philmont, and - yes - they
deserve our contempt. They've earned it. Commitment is more than a
flush checking account.
End of rant.
- Dr. Bob
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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------
Received on Fri Sep 24 20:37:15 2004
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