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Philmont Crew Advisor's MinutesA series of communication from the 2007 Crew Advisor to the members of the crew. Wednesday, July 18, 2007Congratulations to both Philmont Crews on a successful expedition. Spirits were high on the train ride home with lots of stories and memories of our adventures. Below is a photo of Crew 702-H2 on top of Mt. Baldy, the highest point at Philmont. Thursday, June 28, 2007
Today's Weather in Cimarron, NM:
Partly Cloudy, High 78, Low 49. Wind SE at 10 mph. Scattered thunderstorms
afternoon and evening. Precip chance 40%.
Forecast is for decreasing thunderstorm activity and warmer temperatures over
the next 5 days.
Parents, keep the following information handy:
Philmont emergency contact number: 505-376-2281
Mailing address (parents, mailing time is today if we are to
receive the mail before our hike.)
Your Scout's Name
Expedition number 702-H2
Philmont Scout Ranch
47 Caballo Road
Cimarron, NM 87714
See you Saturday.
Bill
Tuesday, June 26, 2007Greetings Philmont Crew 702-H2
Tonight’s Subject: The Adventure Begins!
The long months of practice and team building have ended. You have all come a long way and that in itself is a tremendous accomplishment. Congratulations on truly becoming a “Philmont Crew”.
In the next 19 days your lives will change. You will learn more about yourself than you ever knew. You will be pushed to your limits, and you will conquer your fears. You will be a key part of your team’s success and rely on that team for your own success. You will see storms and rainbows in an unspoiled part of our country. You will meet scouts from all over the world, and most of all you will have fun!
And now for some reminders: 1. You will attend the mandatory final pack check this Wednesday. (Contact your crew leader for details.) There will be important announcements there. Don’t forget your stave. 2. We will all meet Saturday at Prince of Peace for a 3:00 pm departure for Union Station. We need as many vehicles as possible. All parents and families are encouraged to accompany us to the station for a final sendoff. There will be a Crew photo at the station at 4:00 or as soon as we are checked in. Please do not be late to the church or to Union Station, the train will not wait.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity as your Advisor to share my admiration for each of you and for your families for accepting this challenge. I couldn’t ask for a better group of scouts and scouters to share the trail with.
The Philmont Arrow you all will earn, Depart as boys, as men return.
Fossil Monday, June 18, 2007
Congratulations on successfully conquering Mt. Baden Powell. Nice to know we
were up there with his monument on his 100th anniversary of scouting.
Incidentally, look closely at the crew photo at the monument. You'll notice
our pack line in the background. Proof that we carried our packs up all 42
switchbacks!
Today's subject: Uniforms for Philmont
As representatives not only of Troop 22 but also the entire Council, we WILL
ADHERE to these requirements. No exceptions.
On the train: Full Class A uniforms, including scout pants or shorts, belts,
neckerchiefs, sliders, and scout socks if you wear shorts. Your scout shirt
will have the Philmont Contingent Council Patch (yellow border) and all
appropriate patches for rank, OA, quality unit, etc. National or World
Jamboree patches should be worn over the right pocket. Please remove all
temporary patches, especially those from Northern Tier or Florida Sea Base, or
they could wind up on the target range at Philmont. You may remove your
neckerchief while in your seat, but it must be worn and your shirt tucked in
before you go to the dining car or move about the train. Remember, we are
being judged by the other passengers and Amtrak crew and we are the
ambassadors of BSA. We will dress and behave accordingly.
At Philmont Base Camp: Class A uniforms are worn at certain times, including
the crew photograph, religious services, Opening and Closing Campfires, and
for any touring we might do in nearby Cimarron. When appropriate, we will
switch to Class B. On the evening of Day 1 after Opening Campfire, we will
launder and store our Class A uniforms for the trip home. You will never be
so glad to put on a clean scout uniform as you will when you come off the
trail on Day 12.
On the trail: We will hike and dress as a crew. Our matching crew t-shirts
(we each will have 2 different shirts) will serve as our Class B. The crew
leader will have the final say as to which shirt will be worn on a given day.
Labelling: As at any scout camp, all articles of clothing should be labeled
with your name and expedition number (702-H2), especially t-shirts and
uniform items which all look the same. Remember, one or two of us will be
doing laundry for the entire crew.
Please make it a point to attend the Monday night troop meetings before our
trip. We will need those times to tie up last minute details, and show the
younger scouts what a well prepared High Adventure Crew is like. Our last
crew meeting and mandatory final pack check is Wednesday night, June 27.
In addition, parents signatures are required on certain documents, including
the Talent Release form which must be completed before we leave. If you
haven't turned in your medical form, do it now.
The days dwindle down to a precious few......13 to be exact!
Hike on, 702-H2!
Bill
Monday, June 11, 2007
Hello Crew! The excitement increases as July draws near.
Today's subject: Early to Bed and Early to Rise.......
By now we have had several opportunities to practice teamwork on the trail.
Let's talk about what each of us can do to get up and get going each morning
at Philmont. More often than not, an early start on the trail each day will
make all the difference in the amount of fun activities we can enjoy at each
camp. Afternoons are for fun at Philmont, and the occasional rain storm
usually hits around 3:00. So the time to put in the mileage is in the
morning, when the air is cool and clear, and the wildlife is most abundant.
Depending on our goals each day, many mornings will find us on the trail
before the sunrise.
1. Wake up!
2. Take off your sleeping clothes and put them in your stuff bag, or leave
them in your sleeping bag.
3. Get dressed. Wear only enough layers to stay warm, remembering that you
will soon get warmer hiking.
4. Compress your sleeping bag.
5. Roll up your sleeping pad.
6. Open the tent door and put on your boots which you left in the alcove
overnight.
7. Put your flashlight and any loose items in your pockets. As you exit the
tent, you will have 3 things in your hands: Your sleeping bag, your clothing
stuff bag, and your sleeping pad. There should be NOTHING left inside your
tent. Zip the door closed behind you.
8. Go straight to your pack and load your sleeping bag, pad and clothes. You
have now spent 5 minutes since you woke up!
9. Do your job as assigned on the duty roster (Water, rainfly, bear bag,
cook, cleanup.)
10. Those not cooking then take down the tents while waiting for breakfast.
11. Retrieve your personal smellables pouch from the bear bag and pack it.
12. Say Grace, eat breakfast and clean your dish.
13. Fill water bottles, and grab some trail snacks.
14. Pack up all food, personal and crew gear.
15. Campsite inspection. Leave it better than you found it.
16. Packs on.
17. Navigator checks the map. Last minute instructions from Crew Leader.
18. "Is anybody not ready?"......."Hike on!"
The well trained crew will complete the above 18 steps in less than half an
hour! We have the skills and the team to do it! Those who are faster will
help their slower teammates and we will soon be running like that "well oiled
machine."
Remember too that going to bed early is just as important. Organize your gear
so that the morning will go smoothly. Keep your stuff bags and clothing in
your tent where you will find them quickly. We need to get at least 7 hours
of good sleep each night. You will fall asleep quickly in the cool mountain
air after each vigorous day.
That goes for the weeks and days leading up to the trip as well. Get plenty
of rest, eat healthy foods and as always drink plenty of water as you
condition your body for this experience!
And now for another gentle reminder: WE STILL NEED EVERYONE'S MEDICAL
FORMS! You will be left at the train station without it. DO IT NOW. If
you have prescriptions or any medications, let Sandra and Bill know what it is
and when you are supposed to take it. You will need two sets of each
medicine, one for you and one for the Advisors to keep as a spare.
Keep up the good work. Only 20 days to go!
Bill
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Manditory training hike for all crew members, SAT JUNE 16. Meet at POP at
6:30. We will carry our packs with all Philmont gear, packed as we will for
Philmont. Minimum 4 quarts water per person.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Greetings crew. Congratulations on completing the 3-T's hike. See attached
photos.
Today's subject: Personal hygiene on the trail.
Let's take a look at what you will need to take care of personal needs
at Philmont. As we know, the chief concerns are weight and "smellables".
Since we will all need many of the same items, it makes sense to share some
items such as sun block, toothpaste, and bug repellant as a crew, rather
than each person carrying their own. Also, be sure to keep all personal "smellables"
in a single pouch or ziplock so that it is easily placed in the bear bag at
night, without the need to search through your entire pack for all the
smellable items.
Brushing teeth: Don't neglect this at Philmont. You can use the sump in
the campsite for tooth brushing. Use a small lightweight travel type brush
and keep it in your smellables pouch.
Bug repellant: Insects are generally not a problem at Philmont, and we
will use repellant only if needed. Avoid the aerosol cans and sprays as
they will get on your clothes and make them smellables. Use the rub on DEET
type, which we can all share. We should not use any bug repellant after
2:00 or so in the afternoon, on order to keep the smell out of our tents at
night.
Sun block: Very important to use sun protection at high altitude! Again,
this is an item we can share as a crew. Use it early in the day, so that
the smell is not in our tents at night.
Foot powder: The question has arisen about whether or not to take foot
powder to Philmont. It does help in keeping your feet feeling better after
long hot days on the trail. But remember, most medicated powders such as
Gold Bond are scented and extremely smellable. Never use it in your tent!
The problem with these products is that they come in a shaker bottle which
you are supposed to sprinkle on your toes. Well, any powder that misses
your foot goes on the ground and then you have a campsite that will attract
bears and you have a big problem. A better idea is to take a gallon size
ziplock bag and place less than a quarter cup of powder in the bag. After
washing your feet with a damp towel, simply place your entire foot in the
bag with the powder, and then immediately put on your socks and shoes. Keep
the bag sealed and in your smellables pouch. One bag will last you the
entire trip, so leave the powder bottle at home. Again, use it as early in
the day as possible, to keep the smell out of your tent.
Deodorant: While it will be useful on the train and at base camp, we
will NOT take deodorant on the trail with us. As unpleasant as it seems, we
will all smell the same, and bears are not attracted by the "human" smell.
Deodorant is extremely smellable, represents unnecessary weight, and when
you use it, you and your clothes become a "smellable".
Chapstick and lip balm: It is a good idea to bring lip balm with sun
protection at least #15. There are also medicated lip balms which help with
previously chapped lips. These must be kept in your smellables pouch. It
is easy to accidentally leave a chapstick in your pocket at night, so make
it a habit to empty your pockets as soon we we set up camp.
Medications: Keep your advisors informed about any medications you need to
use at Philmont. We can discuss these individually.
Refer to your Philmont Guidebook for more information, and don't hesitate to
ask the advisors if you have any questions.
Keep up the good work, team. Only 30 days to go!
Bill
Friday, May 18 2007
Greetings Crew,
Today's Subject: Rain gear.
At last Wednesday's crew meeting, we experienced a good hands on demonstration
of the importance of rain gear at Philmont. A sudden cloudburst at Prince of
Peace! The crew had to function as a team under some stressful circumstances,
not unlike those we will encounter at Philmont. I think we all learned that
teamwork needs to happen, especially under duress.
Now is the time to ask, "How did my rain gear function?" Did it keep me dry?
Was it easy to put on? Was I able to function while wearing it? Was it
comfortable? If the answers to any question is no, you may want to rethink
your choice of rain gear.
Remember, at Philmont, your rain gear is not something you put in your pack
and forget about. You will use it every day. You will need to have it with
you at all times, even when you are not carrying your pack. When we
participate in activities at various trail camps, while at base camp, even on
the way to the mess hall, we will need to carry our rain gear with us. So it
needs to be compact and light, packaged in a pouch or bag that you can clip or
tie to your belt or stave. It also needs to be sturdy and waterproof, with
separate jacket and pants. You need to be able to put it on quickly. The
cheap vinyl suits and ponchos will not hold up at Philmont.
I encourage you all to re-read the Philmont Guidebook, and refer to pages
11-12 regarding rain gear.
As always, your adult advisors are available for any questions, comments or
concerns. Keep up the good work. Remember the importance of teamwork, a good
mental attitude, and physical conditioning in being prepared for Philmont.
Only 42 days to go!
Thanks to Mr. Elias for providing the movie set rain stand. Watch
your e-mails for schedules and announcements from your Crew Leader.
Bill
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