Re: Philmont trip report(a bit long)
Susan Ganther (susan@EMAIL.UNC.EDU)
Mon, 31 Jul 1995 15:44:11 -0400
On Mon, 31 Jul 1995, Bob Myers wrote:
> If you allow up to an hour of separation, a hiker or group of hikers in the midd
> le
> or at the end could take the wrong trail by mistake and easily be several miles
> appart before they even realized they were lost. The other group on the right
> trail would only then begin to wunder what happened. That distance could easily
> double based on the reactions of the two groups.
Bob, we always left trail signs at trail crossings so the people coming
behind would know what the people ahead had done. This was part of the
fun, tracking the folks ahead or having someone from behind catch up
with a message from the rear. Also, the separation for the sake of pace
and privacy was on well marked linear trails where the only
decision making to take place was is this the trail or isn't it, not
which one should we take. As I mentioned, having predetermined times or
places for the frontrunners to stop and wait for the rear periodically
keeps everyone accounted for. I think we are both talking about the same
thing, it is really just a matter of degree. In some areas and some
trails having the frontrunners stop every hour might be too often, on
other trails every half hour might not be enough. Having the rear person
able to be in voice contact with the front person may be necessary with
real young Scouts, and in light of two deep leadership I guess you
really cannot get away from it unless you have two adults in the front
and two in the rear or SPL in front and two adults in the rear. Good
point. BTW, the troop from hell was keeping a group of 30 Scouts marching
together, also a violation of the guidelines. I preferr to err on the
side of low impact if I am going to err, and I'm sure I am.
YiS, Susan
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
