Re: Philmont Weight Limits
Bruce E. Cobern (bec@PIPELINE.COM)
Thu, 26 Jun 1997 13:08:33 -0400
> From: John E. Bush <jbush@OKWAY.OKSTATE.EDU>
> Date: Thursday, June 26, 1997 12:00 PM
>
> On Saturday, June 21, there was some discussion on SCOUTS-L about the
> Philmont weight limits and how strictly they are being applied. Can
> anyone tell me if this is new this year? I know this is the year that
> the minimum participant age moved up from 13 to 14, so I suspect that
> they tightened this up also.
Have you, or anyone else for that matter, CALLED Philmont to ask them
about what exactly they mean? It would seem that the easiest way to get
the answer would be to call them and then to post the response, rather
than the question. I have always found the people out there to be easy to
deal with and willing to accommodate.
In planning for my council's 1998 trek I have the unit planning guide for
1997 with the weight chart in it. I read that page, carefully I thought,
and, like you, came away with the impression that these are RECOMMENDED
MAXIMUMS, not absolute maximums. Philmont has always taken the basic
approach that it was YOUR doctor who had to determine your physical
ability to do the trek, unless they found some major red flag. BUT,
remember, it is the STAFF that has to respond to any medical emergency,
oftentimes at risk to themselves, so it is understandable that they want
to make sure that everyone who goes out on the trail will be able to
successfully complete it AND enjoy it.
All of that being said, all you can get here is conjecture. The ONLY
people who can answer the question with certainly are the people at
Philmont. I would think that the 4 or 5 months you have spent preparing
for the trip would make it worth the cost of a phone call. :-)
Good luck and let us know what they say. It might be important as I
recruit leadership for next year's trek.
(BTW: right now I wouldn't make the requirements either, but I would only
have to lose about 5 pounds which I would expect to do anyway if I were to
go into training for the trek, which I don't plan on doing.)
--
Bruce E. Cobern
mailto:bec@pipeline.com
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
