1. Topics Treks, Itineraries, Expeditions…
Factors to consider in selection
The timeline and why its important
A method to select
For 2009 Treks

2. Treks, Itineraries, Expeditions…
4 levels of difficulty
Challenging, Rugged, Strenuous, Super Strenuous
Defines the experience
Difficulty & Distance
Dry Camps, Trail Camps, Layover Camps…
Campsites & Program Features
Dictates routing to some degree
The terms Trek & Itinerary tend to be used interchangeably
For 2007 there were four defined levels of difficulty – Challenging (previously typical), Rugged, Strenuous and Super Strenuous. The change from ‘typical’ to ‘challenging’ seems to be two fold – there is no typical trek, and, some groups ‘over trekked’ because they saw ‘typical’ as being ‘easy’ and thought themselves as anything but ‘typical’. The fact is all Philmont Treks are ‘challenging’, some more so than others.
Trek difficulty represents a number of factors of which distance is but one factor (see the chart at the end of this presentation). There are Strenuous Treks that are quite a bit shorter than some Challenging treks.
In the end the trek a crew selects will ultimately define the experience the crew has. The trek selected implies not only difficulty and distance, but they types of camps the crew will experience, the program features available and even the route the crew will take through the ranch. While, as a rule, Philmont does not direct a crew to take a particular trail or trails, practically speaking there are but one or two ways to get from point a to point b and often times really only one choice.
For 2009 Treks

3. Factors to consider in selection
Difficulty
Geography
Program Features
Layover
Under Trekking & Over Trekking
So, when selecting a trek there are a number of factors that should influence trek selection.
Difficulty covers distance, altitude and terrain.
Geography is more about the type of terrain than the specific challenges … be it the Shorter trails, Mountains, Passes, shade, meadows, “alpine feel” of the South Country; the Rimrock, longer trails and scrub oak of the Central & North Country or the open pine woods and meadows of the Valle Vidal.
Program Features are the easiest to understand. Many popular programs are available at multiple locations, others in only one.
Layover Days reflect opportunities for crews to take a break and influence difficulty. Most treks feature one layover day, a few have two and more than couple have no layover days at all. Layover days often occur at larger staffed camps and often are co-located with cons project locations. It is easier to execute these when crews aren’t also hiking as they take some energy and 3 or so hours of time.
There is a very real concern that groups may either under or over trek. Like the three bears, you want the trek to be just right … I’d offer the suggestion that it is possible, even easy, to make a trek more challenging but difficult, or perhaps impossible, to make a trek less challenging. A specific example. Trek 4, a Challenging Trek, can be made more challenging by perhaps taking Trail Peak with packs on the way from Bear Caves to Beaubien rather than hiking around it it and taking it as a side hike during the layover day at Beaubein as indicated in the itinerary. Instead you could side hike Black Mountain and add another peak to this trek.
For 2009 Treks

4. The timeline and why its important
Typically no more than two expeditions leave each day on each itinerary number.
Philmont mails the treks books (and response cards) to arrive more or less simultaneously.
Philmont assigns itineraries on a first come first served basis as the response cards are returned.
Early respondents get their first or second choice, late respondents get their fourth or fifth.
This is a controversial point. Many Advisors are more focused on the speed in which they return the trek card than on getting the numbers on the card right. You need to understand how the ranch works in this regard. Typically only two expeditions per day will leave on a specific itinerary number. So for many popular treks it is difficult to get the trek you desire. Philmont process trek requests more or less in the order in which they receive them, so punctuality counts. Philmont staggers mailing of Treks Books in an effort to have them arrive simultaneously and therefore level the playing field. In 2007 however books arrived over a ten day period starting in the west. In the end those that respond punctually have a better chance at getting there first or second choice than those that delay. The key is to have five treks that you are happy with and to get the card in quickly.
For 2009 Treks

5. For 2009 Treks

6. A method to select A Six Step Process Treks Educate the crew
Gather Crew Feedback
Consolidate
Ballot
Verify
Respond
Treks 35 10
5 (ranked) 5
The Chester County Council trek selection process is *A* method that can be used to help a crew get to the point of having 5 really good choices on deck before the Trek’s book arrives. It is designed to get you from 35 to 5 in a structured way that is designed to ensure that the crew gets the treks they want.
For 2009 Treks

7. Resources PhilSearch (Chester County Council, BSA)
Web Based Trek Modeling
Watchu (Patriot’s Path Council, BSA)
2008 Treks Book / 2008 Guidebook to Adventure
Philmont (National Council, BSA)
2008 Itineraries / 2008 Treks Book
Resources to help with Trek Selection.
PhilSearch – An interactive modeling tool and virtual tour.
Watchu – Patriot’s Path Council’s HA website hosts historical Philmont Documents including last year’s Treks book.
Philmont – Philmont’s official website is vastly improved over previous years and includes detailed information on the previous year’s treks.
For 2009 Treks