[Philmont] popular itineraries

As many have mentioned, there sometimes seems to be no rhyme or raason to itinerary choices. Usually, democracy has a part to play in that but, as we all know, democracy can go awry when the competition is between uninformed choices.

My advice would be: Look at the maps, look at the maps and look at the maps again. Get the sector maps, not the souvenir map and certainly not the black and white itinerary guide. With study, the contours "come alive". Spend some real time with this, not an hour or so on a shakedown or evening crew meeting. (The problem with this approach is that it is usually only the adults who want to take the time or trouble, when the trip is for the youth). Nevertheless, see if the crew leader and his compadres would want to spend a few hours over pizza or wings on this all important mission.

Program features are for the youth, so I will leave that on the side. I'm a scenery and hiking guy, and have been sticking to Autumn Adventure of late, so program doesn't really enter into my equation. Again, let the kids choose.

I don't place much stock in the categorization of itineraries into Rugged, Challenging, S and SS. Look at the MAPS, and what each day's hike will bring. If the itinerary takes one day to get from the Cito area to Upper Sawmill and then another day to get to Sawmill itself, look at the MAP and see if that's really two good hikes.

I have previously written about getting mesmerized by Baldy and "over the Tooth", to the detriment of some really fine itineraries that do one or neither (see Selden's list for that screed).

I would even venture to say that some hours poring over the sector maps would be a better investment of time than someone's recommendation of a particular trek (After all, that person cannot have gone EVERYWHERE on this outstanding piece of real estate).

Study the detail maps when choosing an itinerary. Hope you can get the kids involved in this. That's my two cents.

Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:

     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe philmont@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------

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 29 16:37:33 2006