Unity on the Trail
Keith Wood (kwood@CJNETWORKS.COM)
Mon, 16 Aug 1999 16:23:18 -0500
This ties to Bob Taylor's request on requireemnts,which dissolved into how
to hike by size/ability groups, to group unity. Our SMF taught us to work
as a group, and we try to instill that in our Scouts. Always stay together,
never faster than the slowest hiker for whatever reason, never separate the
group except to get help in an emergency, etc.
A quick story: in '94 on the Appalachian Trail, we had three groups, all
following the same route but with different speeds and abilities. On the
2nd day out, one of our best adult hikers, a physician, came down wiht the
flu - his diagnosis. We had a resupply on day three and he agreed that if
he could not make it, he would drop out there. The Scouts were almost in
rebellion. They wanted to keep the group together. They got out the maps,
reworked our planned camp sites, shortened the hike for the next couple of
days, and convinced the leader to stay if he felt up to it. He improved,
we shortened the hike by over ten miles, and he stayed with us.
The point should be obvious - keep the group together.
Obviously, if the leader had been physically unable to continue he would
have opted out at the resupply point. But the Scouts made sure if he
choose to stay that the work load would be easier during his recovery.
They gave up the 50 miler award to make the trip possible for that leader.
That was one of the proudest days of my Scouting career.
YIS,
Keith Wood
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Keith Wood
Support Services Manager
Morris Systems Support Group - Topeka
Morris Communications Corporation
kwood@scilab.com
800.777.7171
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"The mountains are calling and I must go."
John Muir
