Philmont Newsletter #3

Philmont 1998, Crew 704-H

Newsletter #3, 3/3/98

In Followup to Meeting Number 2

NOTE: THIS NEWSLETTER HAS ACTION ITEMS FOR A NUMBER OF FAMILIES; PLEASE READ IT, THOROUGHLY, AND COMPLETE TASKINGS. THANK YOU!!! 1A) Missing Items, by Family; please complete as soon as possible.

John A. - $250 payment due 3/1
J.T. B. - USAFA Release Form (mailed 3/2); Health Insurance Card (need plus xerox of back.)
Chris B. - Troop 111 Emergency Medical Treatment Form; $5 Payment for 25/10 Hike; Health Insurance Card (need better xerox of front, plus xerox of back.)
Dan H. - Health Insurance Card, both sides.
Jay P. - new email address for Gordon.
Al M. - $5 Payment for 25/10 Hike
Matt S. - $5 Payment for 25/10 Hike ($10 if David is going); Health Insurance Card (need plus xerox of back.)
Michael S. - $250 payment due 3/1; Health Insurance Card, both sides.

1B) Additional Needed Information; please call or email as soon as possible.

All Scouts - Immediate determination if they want to switch back from Trek 21 to 26 (see #3 below.)
All Scouts - Selection of their "Colorado Combo's" Options (see #4 below.)
All Scouts' Families - Call/email "Danger Rick Wolff to volunteer their services for the 25/10 Hike (see #5 below.)

2) Initial Weight Survey Completed at Meeting # 2 - Many Scouts were either missing a number of items, or had items which were very heavy. Notable problems with respect to weight included sleeping bags, sneakers, daypacks, ponchos, long-sleeved shirt/fleece pullover, eating gear, canteens, and work gloves. Several backpacks were also entirely too small, and need to be replaced by borrowing, purchase, or refitting a Troop backpack. Your time to begin addressing your deficiencies or weight reduction needs is NOW. Do not forget to take advantage of the upcoming Casual Adventure Sale on Wednesday night, March 18^th.

3) Trek Selection Falls Through!!! - For those who left early, we had a fairly rapid series of switches from the more difficult "super-strenuous" trek (#26) to the "strenuous" trek (#21). Note that both the 1996 and 1997 crews did trek 21, so all of our experienced trekkers have already "been there/done that" on Trek 21. I don't advise doing the same trek again, but (as always) it's up to you. Note that, with our usual enhancements, Trek 21 is also a Super-Strenuous trek. Regardless, however, both treks are marvelous experiences, and hit the majority of activities and programs selected by the Scouts (including Baldy and the Tooth of Time.) Treks 23, 15 and 13 round out our top 5 selections.; all three of these latter treks are also excellent.)

At present (and pending JT's selection), only Brad, Brendan and Chris W. want to do Trek 26. The Ranch minimum crew size is seven (including the two required Adults), so two additional Scouts would have to switch back in order to make a viable crew for Trek 26. If you want to switch back to 26, I MUST KNOW IMMEDIATELY!!!! The reason why is that the 1998 PEAKS were mailed to us today (not March 16th, as is usual), and I will probably get them this Wednesday or Thursday. DON'T DELAY! If I get the PEAKS Book without hearing from at least 2 Scouts who want to switch back, I'm going with the dual Trek 21 choice. In this case, I will make both of our SECOND choices #26, since it appears that my presence is more important to everyone than the difficulty of the trek.

For those Scouts who had their hearts set on Trek 26, if we end up with dual-21, we will de facto create a more difficult trek day-by-day for those who want more challenging hikes (or an opportunity to get away from me) by selecting more ambitious trails or side hikes versus those that the "main crew" will be doing. For most days, this is easy enough to do; in some (but not all) cases, there are as many as 3 or 4 different routes from one camp to the next.

Don't worry, we'll work it out one way or the other....

4) Possible Colorado Combos - Your VOTE Needed! - Note that the Colorado Rockies will not be in town during our short stay in Colorado Springs, so that selection has become a moot point. In addition, since we will definitely have a horseback ride on either Trek 21 or 26, I am less concerned about also doing one in Colorado (but we can still do it if you really want to....) An additional activity is now on the schedule - I have tracked down a fireworks display on the 3^rd of July (the same one we saw/heard from a distance last year, but had no prior knowledge was going to happen.) I am assuming we can fit this in after our Buena Vista activities - we could have last year, with a little time to spare, if we'd have known about it. Now we do.

I am asking each Scout to select between the following 4 pre-activity plans. Note that majority rules. Also note that our activities on the first day (July 1^st) may be curtailed if we don't get a very early arrival time into Colorado Springs (and will definitely be cut if we have to fly into Denver, which is an extra 2 hour drive further North.)

Option 1:

July 1^st, Royal Gorge, Miniature Golf
July 2^nd, Pike's Peak, Rock Climbing, Movie

July 3^rd, (Buena Vista) Whitewater Rafting, Mountain Biking, Fireworks

Option 2:

July 1^st, Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods Visit (Visitor Center), Miniature Golf
July 2^nd, Pike's Peak, Rock Climbing, Movie

July 3^rd, (Buena Vista) Whitewater Rafting, Mountain Biking, Fireworks

Option 3:

July 1^st, Mountain Biking, Miniature Golf
July 2^nd, Pike's Peak, Rock Climbing, Movie

July 3^rd, (Buena Vista) Whitewater Rafting, Horseback Riding, Fireworks

Option 4:

July 1^st, Horseback Riding, Garden of the Gods Visit (Visitor Center), Miniature Golf
July 2^nd, Pike's Peak, Rock Climbing, Movie

July 3^rd, (Buena Vista) Whitewater Rafting, Mountain Biking, Fireworks

5) 25/10 Hike in 12 days! Help Needed! - If you did not give "Danger" Rick your information on how you can help, please call or email him by this weekend in order to get an assignment. Note that each family is expected to provide support.

Parents, please share and discuss this letter with your sons. Scouts, please share and discuss this letter with your parents. Seven months to go....

- Dr. Bob, SM-111

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4 March 1998