Preparing for a Philmont Expedition Venture Crew 140

Personal Hiking Techniques

The Expedition Coordinator Responsible for ALL contact with Philmont Correspondence Payments Base Camp administrative matters Responsible for ALL individual, crew, and contingent paperwork Final responsibility for all logistical aspects of getting to, attending, and getting home from Philmont

Required Paperwork Individual Paperwork we require: Participant Physical Exam/Insurance Card copy Parts ABC of BSA MedForm Proof of YPT (all participants over 18) IN THE YEAR OF THE EXPEDITION CPR & Wilderness First Aid certifications (all participants needs these if at all possible)

Required Paperwork Crew paperwork required: Completed crew roster for check-in Completed talent release for check-in CPR & First Aid certifications for check-in Proof of YPT APPROVED National Tour Permit

Monetary Considerations The Philmont expedition fee Contingency/transportation fee Personal gear purchases Shakedown expenses Contingent/crew t-shirts, hats, patches Tooth of Time Traders Other spending money

Payment Schedule $100.00 deposit due January 31, 2014 Philmont Expedition Fee ($855.00/ person): $100.00 deposit due January 31, 2014 $377.50 payment due Sep 30th, 2014 $377.50 payment due April 15, 2015 Travel Fee (approx $250.00 per person): Due May 15th

Participant Agreement Each participant agrees to: Monetary commitment Training commitment Shakedown commitment Any other commitments or requirements deemed necessary by the unit Conduct expectations (Scout Oath and Law)

Philmont Age Requirements Scouts/Venturers: Scouts/Venturers MUST EITHER be 14 by January 1 of year of expedition, OR be 13 and finish the Eighth Grade prior to the expedition. Participants between the age of 18 to 20 years old can be classified either as youth participants or advisors.

When is a Scout ready for Philmont? Physically, the Scout must be capable of accomplishing the trek and he/she must be the one who wants to go. The Scout must have demonstrated an ability of being able to take care of their own personal affairs (maturity). The Scout must have demonstrated the ability to work within a patrol or crew environment either as a leader or follower. The Scout's parents must have a willingness to cooperate with the advisors for the high adventure trip.

The Philmont “Crew” Minimum 7 people – maximum 12 people Majority must be youth participants – no more than 4 adults (over 21) per crew Must have at least one advisor over 21 per crew Crew is led by the youth Crew Leader with the backing of the adult lead advisor

The Philmont Crew Leader The Crew Leader is the youth leader of the trail crew. All Philmont staff will work with the crew through the Crew Leader. Staff will generally only approach adulst advisors in front of the crew if there are problems. Responsible for the day to day operation of the crew.

The Lead Adult Advisor Each crew needs a “lead adult advisor” this is the advisor that the youth Crew Leader and Philmont staff will approach with problems or questions The lead advisor should include ALL advisors in making any needed decisions concerning the crew

Role of Advisors The #1 responsibility of the advisors is to build and train crews that will work together successfully at Philmont. Train the Crew Leaders in what is expected from them. Train the crews in the techniques needed for Philmont success. Get out of the way! Philmont is the ultimate youth-led Scouting experience.

Crew Gear Thoughts Philmont provides a long list of gear that crews can borrow if they do not own certain necessary gear. C140 uses almost uses some of our own crew gear. Tents and stoves Our gear is usually lighter than Philmont’s gear. Our crews train using our gear. See handout of gear list.

Crew Gear Inventory & Assignment Inventory and acquire needed crew gear before shakedowns begin. Put together crew gear kits for each crew. Each crew uses the same gear from shakedowns through Philmont. Once gear is assigned, each crew is responsible for maintaining or replacing gear lost or damaged on shakedowns or at Philmont.

Personal Backpacking Discipline Proper care of personal equipment Proper packing of equipment Personal neatness and cleanliness Understanding of the mental and physical requirements of long-distance backpacking. Willingness to work as part of a team

Personal Hiking Techniques

Personal Backpacking Gear We require fairly strict adherence to our personal gear list. The overall average Philmont pack is 52 pounds. You can do better! We have personal gear “check-outs” on every shakedown campout. See attached example gear list from Philmont and from previous trekker.

Personal Backpacking Gear Special comments Plan to wash clothes and only carry 1-2 changes of clothes. Can wash anytime with water and 2 galloon baggie! Plan to carry 3 liters of water, each liter weighs 2.2 lb! (total: 6.6 lb of water) Bring gear that is lightweight and compactable. You will carry some crew gear: pot, first aid kit, rope, etc.

Physical Preparation High altitude backpacking simulation – stuff a wool sock in mouth, duct tape mouth shut, clothespin on nose, run 5 miles Need aerobic training, strength training, and MILES in a pack to prepare for Philmont.  Each participant needs to begin a SERIOUS training regimen by January of the expedition year. Participants AND advisors that do not prepare physically will be left at home. The reason I push physical preparation for advisor so hard is that Philmont is the ultimate highlight of a Scout’s time in the program. An advisor who is unable to keep up, or becomes a hindrance to the crew will cast a darker light on this experience.

The Philmont Weight Chart Height Weight Recommendation Maximum Allowance 5’0” 97-138 166 5’1” 101-143 172 5’2” 104-148 178 5’3” 107-152 183 5’4” 111-157 189 5’5” 114-162 195 5’6” 118-167 201 5’7” 121-172 207 5’8” 125-178 214 5’9” 129-185 220 Height Weight Recommendation Maximum Allowance 5’10” 132-188 226 5’11” 136-194 233 6’0” 140-199 239 6’1” 144-205 246 6’2” 148-210 252 6’3” 152-216 260 6’4” 156-222 267 6’5” 160-228 274 6’6” 164-234 281 6’7” & over 170-240 295

Personal Hiking Techniques Posture and stride The “Lock Step” Strong exhalation breathing

“Smellables” No deodorant No sun screen after morning Anything with food on or in it must go into bear bag at night. “sleep clothes”

Restrooms

Typical Issues (some avoidable) Blisters Chafing avoidable Gear breakdown Sprains / cuts

Philmont Shakedowns For 2015, we will hold at least three - four shakedown trips. Participants will be expected to participate in a minimum of two of these shakedowns. Shakedown planning meetings are held outside of regular Troop/Crew meetings. Work in at least 7 hours of conservation for each participant, so each will earn the 50 Miler award upon completing their trek.

Philmont Shakedowns Train specific skills: Camp set up "Philmont style" – “bear-muda” triangle, smellables and bear bagging – 45 minutes Camp tear down – 30 minutes Cooking, KP, etc Map and compass (GPS and UTM if using a GPS at Philmont) Crew and individual hiking techniques Water purification using tablets Simulated Philmont meals (freeze dried)

Typical C140 Trail Day at Philmont 5:30am – Rise and Shine 6:30am – On the trail 7am – Breakfast 11:30 – Lunch 1:00-3:00pm – Arrive at next camp 3pm – Program 4:30pm – Watermen, and cooks begin work 5:30pm – Dinner 6:30pm – KP done 7:30pm – Thorns, buds, and roses 9pm - Taps

2015 Philmont Shakedowns January – Lone Star Hiking Trail March– Hill Country State Natural Area May– TBD

Our Philmont Duty Roster We build a duty roster that includes responsibility for each participant each day The Duty Roster is the Law Lists all daily crew duties For example: Navigator Weatherman Trashman Bear Bag Team (4) Waterman (2) Cook (2) KP(2)

The Philmont Itinerary The ITINERARY is the “roadmap” you will follow on your 12 days at the ranch – includes camps, programs, food pick-ups, etc. Philmont offers a wide range of experiences – from “typical” to “super strenuous” – 35 different itineraries Maximum of 2 crews can start each itinerary each day

Crew & Itinerary Planning Worksheet Participant Preferences: Type of trek Program features Crewmates Prioritize crew placement based on: Parent on trip Crewmate requests Knowledge of participants ability level

Itinerary Selection Meeting A mandatory crew meeting is needed in February of the expedition year to select each crew’s top 5 itinerary selections Find a TREKS itinerary book from the previous season if possible – use internet sources if not Use a worksheet to list camps/programs for each itinerary selected See attached itinerary treks List of internet sources for itineraries – Dan Yoder, Selden Include trek selection worksheet in handout

2005 Contingent T-shirts Can design our own. Coolmax material.

Keys to Crew Success: A strong Crew Leader (youth leader of the crew) A crew that understands each other's strengths and weaknesses A crew that makes a good team Advisors that stay out of the way Understanding what is expected and what is to come Teaching, preparation, and practice Day to day discipline

Keys to Youth Participant Success: The DESIRE to go to Philmont A personal understanding of the day to day demands and expectations at Philmont Personal backpacking discipline Dedication to physical and mental preparation before the trek If mom & dad want Little Johnny to go to Philmont, but Little Johnny does not want to go, Little Johnny should not go to Philmont – period.

Keys to Adult Advisor Success: PHYSICAL PREPARATION - if you are not willing to get into the proper shape for this type of experience, do the crew a favor and stay home Take care of the "little things" - trip related logistics and requirements Take care of the "big things" - build the best crews possible, then train those crews to be self-sufficient

Itinerary Selection You are in and you are getting ready. What are you going to do when you get there?

Pre-Philmont or Post-Philmont activities can add to the fun. Expedition Add-Ons Pre-Philmont or Post-Philmont activities can add to the fun.

Philmont Day 2 How well did you do? Your first day on the trail. This is where your vacation begins. How well did you do?

Questions and comments Remember, we all pay a lot of money to do this…