how do you choose your adults for Philmont

On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 08:06:28 -0500 Bill McGhee wrote:

>For Philmont in 2000 18 boys and 6 adults have signed up and put down a
>deposit. That would make two crews of 3 / 9. Two of the adults have a
>lot of previous high adventure experience including Philmont. These two
>adults have no boys in the troop (one has a son that has moved on, the
>other never has or will have a son in the troop.) The other 4 adults
>have little or no backpacking experience and no past Philmont
>experience.

>Now, two more boys want in. It has always been our policy to put the
>boys first, so two adults will have to be cut. Who do you cut?

>So I put it to the collective Solomon like wisdom of the list. How
>would your unit handle this?

Based on our council contigent's Philmont experience this summer, I would
recommend leaving the number of adults at 3 per crew. Three of our adults at
one time or another had to come off the trail, one permanently. We were
fortunate in that an adult from another one of our crews was able to switch to
the crew that was down to one adult. Without two adults the crew goes nowhere.
Philmont can supply a ranger but I believe there is a charge and possibly some
delay.

Based on my own experience from my three prior Philmont treks (number four
coming up in 1999), the safety factor (not just the possibility of an adult
having to come off the trail) of three adults per crew is worth the sacrifice.
If I was to err it would be on the side of safety. Prior Philmont and
backpacking experience can only add to the safety factor so I recommend that
you don't ask those adults who have no sons on the trek to step aside.

Put the two scouts that now want to go on a waiting list. The chances are good
that someone will have to drop out before next summer.

Jerry Jung
Troop 117
DesPlaines Valley Council

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