[Philmont]: RE: Pre-Trek Training

Our training motto: Train for Day 11, Not Day 1.

Get the backpacking MB book. Look at the requirements for the treks
needed to meet that badge and make it your outline for pre-trek
training. Demand a high percentage of attendance at any training,
whether outings, weekly meetings where training is done, or PT (Physical
Training). BTW, we also used the Personal Fitness MB as our Fall/winter
before going outline. Our plan was individual physical prep in the fall
and winter, with one 2 day trek in November with full Phil-list of gear.
Spring was when the outdoor training started with three 3-day treks. We
found 3-dayers build better skills since any mistake on day 1 or 2 has
to be lived with on day 2 AND day 3. Lots different then waking up day
2 knowing you're heading to the trailhead.

We mixed up the lengths of trek on the outings, too. One 16 mile trek
would be 1.5 miles on Friday, 5 miles on Saturday and then a long trek
on Sunday to the cars. That gave ample time Saturday to train on other
stuff. There is no substitute for mileage under a pack.

Group PT can be done at a HS track. We'd meet with our packs (filled
with sand in 5-lb increments or Stearns water sacks), and walk hard for
a mile, then do 5 sets of stadium steps (slow) then another mile, then
steps again, etc. The track let us monitor our times, not from a speed
perspective, but just as a measurement tool. We increased weight,
increased distance, reps of steps, and tracked time throughout. It made
for goods team building to stand together at the end of a hard practice
and partake of the fellowship of shared suffering. (Also helped break in
boots!)

Boys or adults do not participate in prep activities, have alternates
and replace them. As Coop and Bob and many have said, tell them up
front. Have them sign something if you want, but have the guts to make
the tough call when the day comes.

Dave Parmly
GSMC Philmont Contingent Advisor
2004 Trek

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Received on Fri Sep 9 15:58:31 2005