Greetings to All. Some Updates:

1) Cleaning and Packing Help Needed this Weekend
As previously discussed, I wish to do a thorough cleaning (hosing out) of our tents and related gear this weekend, plus package up our stoves for shipping, and do our final Crew Equipment Check. I need about 4 Scouts to give me a hand. I can work anytime Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, with Friday and Saturday being slightly preferred. If you can help, please let me know by return email asap, giving me which days and times work for you. I'll let you know which day ends up as the "winner".

2) Trek 32 may happen after all....
Philmont has received some rain almost every day since my last Newsletter (good news!) According to Brad, the North Country fire zones have been re-seeded, and the inside info is that they will reopen by mid-July (just before we are due to arrive). I don't want to get everyone's hopes up too high, but this is the best news we have had in some time. Let's hope it happens.

3) Equipment Issues
I hope everyone has been getting their final equipment kits together. If you haven't looked at it recently, please re-read Newsletter #4 (dated 6/22/02) for a summary of who needed to improve what.

I have discussed the issues of thermal underwear and daypacks with Brad and several of my fellow Philmont Phanatics. Everyone is of the opinion that if we get Trek 32, we do NOT need thermal underwear, but we DO need daypacks (for Baldy). Conversely, if we get a southern trek, we probably DO need our thermal underwear, but do NOT need our daypacks. This is because (believe it or not) whichever southern treks we would be given would likely have several high altitude (cold!) campsites, whereas Trek 32 has a relatively low altitude set of camps; go figure.

So, unless I hear for sure that we're getting our original trek (32), please bring both your thermals and your daypacks, and we'll make the final call the day we arrive at the Ranch.

By the way, the first reports back from the early Crews indicate that the food is considerably heavier than past years, so much so that a four day food pickup weighs about 5 pounds more per man than last year. This is a staggering amount, and really emphasizes the need to minimize our carry weights (and also get in shape) here. Fight for those ounces, gentlemen!

4) Diaper Pins
These are a recent addition to our equipment list, and are for pinning still drying clothing (socks, etc.) to the backs of our packs in a fail-safe (can't fall off) manner. They can also be used as clothes pins, if you prefer them over binder clips. Diaper pins are preferred over regular large safety pins because their bright plastic heads make them much easier to spot if they're dropped, especially at night (and yes, we will probably break camp several times either in the dark or at first light).

At the last PA Trek Meeting, I was told that people were having a hard time finding these anymore, so I did some checking around. To my surprise, no grocery stores and even most pharmacies (like Rite Aid and Prestons) don't carry them anymore. However, CVS Pharmacies still stocks them. I checked two CVS's and both had at least a dozen packs each. One package of 4 runs $1.49; cheap insurance against losing much more valuable gear. I suspect a single package is enough, unless you're intending to use them as clothes pins too, in which case get 2 or 3 packages.

5) Other Washing Issues I
As expected, bear sightings are way up at the Ranch this year, so bear safety will be more important than ever (that's why we're washing the tents and other Crew equipment bags). Don't forget to spend a few minutes hosing out your backpack (with a hard stream from your garden hose). Turn it upside down and get inside all the pockets and flaps, etc. - make sure it's really clean.

In addition, also do a final wash of your camping clothes, just using hot water WITHOUT SOAP and drying WITHOUT DRYER PADS. Again, this will keep them virtually odorless (at least to start, ha ha ha....)

6) Other Washing Issues II
To no one's surprise, the early summer Crews at Philmont had zero opportunities to take showers in the back-country (they could at Basecamp, but only at Basecamp). We will therefore likely bring additional Anti-Bacterial Wet-Ones to enhance our personal cleanliness.

7) Medical Forms
Remember, no Philmont Medical, no Philmont. Don't forget, I also need photocopies of your Health Insurance cards, front and back, attached to your medical forms.

8) PRACTICE!
As some of you have seen, I started my 2-a-days this past Sunday, and have been keeping at it even with the ridiculous conditions these past two days. I'll be out there at 5am again tomorrow morning. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING??? I will say it again folks, sports training is NOT backpacking training, and anyone who convinces themselves otherwise is just being foolish. Get out there and backpack!

9) Other Reminders
* Get your uniforms up to snuff. No excuses.
* If you haven't gotten it yet, get your photo ID's from the DMV asap.

Don't forget to email me with your availability over the Holiday weekend to help clean up and pack up.

I will be sending a fair amount of additional information this weekend; stay tuned.

- Bob

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11 July 2002