Re: Philmont info. request
Bill Euerle (wjeuerle@CECI.MIT.EDU)
Tue, 7 Mar 1995 17:05:52 -0500
>>There are many non-Rangers who do not like being called Rangers, and
>>depending upon their opinion of the rangers, may not be a hospitable as
>>they might be otherwise (meaning just offering you only the minimum
>>services, won't go out of their way to accomidate you).
>I appreciate the information in your post, especially since this will be our
>first trip ever to Philmont. Our boys are really looking forward to the
>experience.
>Something troubles me, though.
>By the time we get there, our boys will have been through serious fund-raising,
> and our adults will have had difficult discussions with their places of
>employment trying to get three weeks off. This is the experience of a lifetime
>and now we have to worry about the treatment we can expect based upon the
>petty rivalry between staff and Rangers? It sounds to me as if there might be
>a management problem. It also sounds like both groups are forgetting the
>people who pay their bills and for whom they work. AND, it sounds like
>someone is forgetting a significant portion of the Scout oath, not to mention
>Scout spirit
Both groups haven't forgotten who is paying their salary, and what they are
supposed to be doing while they are there, although some staff members go a
little loose on their scout law interpretation. Some inter-staff tension
usually does develop over the course of the summer, for what amounts
to be stupid reasons. Its usually that a ranger waltzes into a backcountry
camp and acts like he/she owns the place, to the irriation of the staff. It
generally stays a personal thing, although some backcountry camps develop a
particular dislike for the ranger department. About the most you are going to
get if you accidently call a backcountry staffer is a stiff reminder that they
are NOT a ranger. You aren't going to get stuck with the campsite that runs
like a river when it rains, or get stiffed out of program, or anything else
that will interfere with your trek.
As for picking what itinerary to take, lets the scouts decide based on the
programs and things they want to do. That includes program at staff camps, and
the peaks and sights. Having done one of the harder itineraries several years
ago, we only got to camp once after about 1:30 in the afternoon, which was
after our longest day. That night we were staying at an unstaffed camp, so we
did a challenge course along the way.
I guess my suggestion is to use the PEAKS book as a guide, and remember that
milages and activities usually only include those on the shortest route to
where you are going. you don't have to do program at all the camps you go
through, and are allowed to sidehike and take longer routes if you want to hit
some activity that is out of the way. There is usually even a little
flexibility in changing overnight locations. (although you can't try and do
that in advance of your arrival at Philmont, and they may not let you, based on
crew loads at the various camps)
Bill Euerle
Ranger '91, '94
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
