Re: Philmont trip report(a bit long)
Bob Haar (rhaar@ALBERT.CS.GMR.COM)
Mon, 31 Jul 1995 17:26:21 -0400
> > From: Susan Ganther <susan@EMAIL.UNC.EDU>
>
> Well folks, I have just realized why I never experienced having to search
> for a stray hiker when we were hiking our own hikes. Just remembered that
> I was that stray. The group, we were teens at the time, was bellyaching
> about the really tough climb we had been told about for that days hike
> and the group leader had called for a meeting at the base of the Mtn to
> decide if we were going to cancel the remainder of the trip to avoid it.
> I expected the group to vote to wimp out and had no intention of
> stopping, I was Katahdin bound, so I hiked up and over the Mtn without
> them. ....
Susan,
Let me make sure I understand this.
You were part of a group, but you took off on your own when you
thought they *might* not choose the path you wanted. I gather that
you didn't tell anyone that you were doing this. And you said you
didn't have any food, so the leaders knew you were not equiped to
be off on your own.
This was very irresponble and inconsiderate. If anyone in our troop
(scout or scouter) did this, they would be in serious trouble with me.
Not only did you cause concern and worry, but you also caused them
to search for you, putting themselves at risk in order to find
you on the assumption that you were in trouble.
And you use this story as an argument for groups to hike spread out
all over the trail. What happens when another youth with your attitude
decides to take a "short cut" without knowing that the rest of the
group changed their plans as to where they were going to camp
that night?
Solo hiking can be fine if you are prepared properly, but if you start
out with a group, then you stay together and work together as a group.
Bob Haar (email: rhaar@gmr.com )
Asst. Scoutmaster, BSA Troop 188, Clinton Valley Council, Michigan
Chippewa Lodge #29, WWW
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
