Mike's Helpful Philmont Hints

Body bathing

A happy backpacker is an individual who is healthily and clean. Now how do you clean yourself on the trail.

Since we will not always be at staff camps with showers on our trek we will need to clean ourselves without the aids of hot showers (hopefully when we get to the showers there will not be a fire ban, if so then its cold showers-BRRRRRR!). At the end of the trail each day after camp is set up and we have participated in programs you will want to take the crew basin ( this will be the bottom half of a milk jug that will be carried on the bottle of the Bear Juice Milk jug) fill the basis with water and then wash arms, underarms, legs, feet and face. I always carry a small body scrubbier to wash with. If you do this before 3 pm you can use some Camp suds, but after 3 pm you never place anything on your body that has an odor- Philmont Bear Policy (you will wash with only water). Then you will need a small hand towel to dry off with. You will use this same towel to dry off when you take a shower. Now we all are used to large towels we have a home. But you really don't need a towel that big or HEAVY. I use a pack towel that is designed to dry fast and is superlight in weight (1.5 ounces). These are available at many camping stores and even at Target. The one that I use is 27"x10". In the Campmor catalogue they cost $5.50. However, a small thin hand towel from home would also do. This is also a great time to do laundry also. After you finish with the wash basin you pour the water down the sump ( a pvc pipe in the campsite) NEVER POUR WASH WATER INTO THE STREAM.

Remember keeping your clothes clean and your body clean will reduce the problems of body rashes and blisters. The only soap that we carry on the trail will be Camp Suds and one of the Advisors will carry this item. Camp Suds is the all around soap product that we will use to wash dishes with, take baths with, etc.

Washing clothes

Yes, you will need to wash clothes while you are on the trail. At Staff camps that have showers they have wash buckets with scrub boards. However, you will need to wash cloths also in trail camps. The trail method is to carry a 2 gallon ziplock bag. Take the bag and add water, a dab of Camp Suds ( I will carry the Camp Suds ) and then add your item of clothing that you want to wash. Seal the bag and then shake and squeeze the bag for five minutes. Drain the water into the sump ( the sump is a pvc pipe in the ground that all waste water goes into at a campsite). Add clean water to your bag and repeat the shaking and squeezing. Drain the water and wring out item of clothing and hang up to dry.

Now you might think that you are too macho to wash your clothes and you don't mind the smell, well your crew members do mind the odor. BUT MORE IMPORTANT YOU WASH SOCKS, SHIRTS AND PANTS TO REMOVE SALT DEPOSITS THAT ARE IN YOUR CLOTHES FROM SWEATING. IF YOU DO NOT THIS WILL CAUSE BODY RASHES THAT ARE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AS YOU HIKE. THE SALT DEPOSITS IN SOCKS WILL DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE CHANCE FOR BLISTERS ON YOUR FEET.

And you will also feel better wearing clothes that do not smell.

Blisters

Now is the time to start your preparations to prevent blisters on your feet.

Before we depart:
1. Break in your shoes. Shoes are not broken in till they have had at least 50 hours of being walked in. Yes, they feel comfortable when you tried them on but feeling comfortable and being broken in is really two different things. When you break your shoes in you actually cause the foot pad in your shoe to conform to your foot. The shoes leather and sole of the shoe becomes custom to bending with your foot as you walk.
2. Break in your feet ( THIS IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM FOR BLISTERS) The average backpacker will do the work to break in their shoes and then grab them the morning of their trip and start wearing them. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR YOUR BOOTS A MINIMUM OF A WEEK BEFORE WEARING THEM TO BACKPACK. You must toughen your feet up and get them accustomed to the boots.
Personal example- I wear my boots daily at least one month before departing and walking 4-8 miles each day. By the time I get to Philmont my feet and boots feel as if they are one.
3. Cut your toenails before you get on the trail. I would recommend trimming you toenails the week before we leave. It is very important that when you trim them that you trim them straight across and not rounded.

On the trail:
1. Change socks and liners daily. Never wear the previous day's socks without washing them to get dirt, sweat and body salt out of them.
2. When you get to camp, change out of your boots into your camp shoes.
3. Wash off your feet. It doesn't help to have clean socks with dirty feet. (your tent mate will appreciate this also)

If your boots hurt on the trail:
1. One way to stop this is to change the way you lace up your boots. By using different lacing methods you will put pressure on different parts of your foot.

2. If a hot spot develops on your foot put some mole skin on it before it develops into a blister. Everybody should carry on packet of mole skin. Used all your mole skin or forgot to bring it, well duct tape can also be used. Warning, don't pull the duct tape off the blister till you get back into base camp. When the duct tape comes off so will any dead skin and probably some other skin also.

Remember your feet are your tires and just like a car if the tires are flat the car will not go! So if blisters develop and get serious you can expect to have serious problems.

If you get blisters:
It is very important to keep the blister area clean. Dirt can cause infection and serious problems.

MY BEST ADVICE FOR PREVENTING BLISTERS IS TO WALK NOW DAILY WITH YOUR BOOTS.

Money matters

Several members of our crews have asked me how much to budget for spending money for our Philmont trip. My recommendations:

Food
June 15th- Fast food dinner- $7.00
June 27th- Lunch in Cimarron $10.00
June 28th- Fast food dinner- Airport- $10.00
Basecamp snack bar- $8.00

Mementos:
Philmont
Recently I was told on the Philmont Discussion group that the average camper spends $75 at the trading post.
Sample pricing:
patches- $4.00
Philmont leather belt w/buckle- $28.00
Philmont web belts- $10.00
baseball caps- $12-$15
Philmont t-shirts- $15-$20
Philmont coolmax shirts- $17-$20
Philmont "I made it" plaque - $2.00
Philmont laser engraved photo frame 8x10- $50.00
Philmont caribbeaner- $3.00

US Olympic Training Center
Store has hats, T-shirts, etc
pricing is steeper compared to Philmont

recommended amounts
Food- $35 (food for traveling and snacks at the snack bar in basecamp)
Backcountry money- $10.00 (for snacks, film)
Mementos- $100

If there are items that parents would like to purchase in advance, I do have a copy of the Trading Post catalog. Recommendation for advance purchase is the laser engraved photo frame. A great way to show that great photo of your scout at Philmont. Every crew member will receive a 8x10 crew photo of the crew with the Tooth of Time in the background. To contact the Tooth of Time Traders (trading post) 505.376.2281, ext 243. These frames are available in 8x10, 5x7, 4x6, and 3.5x5.

A great memento for adults this year is the US Geological Survey Bench Markers. These are round elevation markers that you will find on top of the mountains that show elevation. These are available for Tooth of Time, Mt Phillips and Mt Baldy. We will be going over Tooth of Time & Mt Baldy. They are great paper-weights!

Mail/Telephone Services

If parents would like to send mail or care packages to their scouts...... They should realize that mail will only be received upon check in at basecamp on 6/14 and check out on 6/27. Mail should be addressed to:

Scout's name
616-A1 (Mike's crew), 616-A2 (Paul's crew), 616-A3 (Doug's crew) or 616-A4 (Bill's crew)
Philmont
Rte 1, Box 35
Cimarron, NM 87714

Emergency Phone number- 505.376.2281

This number is manned 24 hrs a day. Telephone calls must be restricted to extreme emergencies only. Since Philmont comprises 215 square miles of rugged mountain wilderness, it may require several hours to transport someone to basecamp to return an emergency phone call.

IF YOU HAVE TO CONTACT PHILMONT IN AN EMERGENCY YOU MUST HAVE THE EXPEDITION NUMBER TO GIVE TO THE OPERATOR.
Mike's crew- 616-A1
Paul's crew- 616-A2
Doug's crew- 616-A3
Bill's crew- 616-A4

There is a yellow tear out page inside of the 2002 Philmont Guidebook to Adventure. I highly recommend tearing this page out and putting it in a place where you can quickly get it. This page has the emergency phone on it. I would also go ahead and write the expedition number on this page. In a emergency you might not remember the expedition number. In my house I place this card on the refrigerator for a quick reference.

About Sunglasses

I never wear sunglasses here in Georgia, but in 98 I took them along because they were on the pack list. I just knew that this would be an item I would not use. Boy, was I wrong. I wore my sunglasses everyday. The higher elevation just makes the sun brighter.

Our dress code for Philmont

June 15- Travel day- Full Scout Uniform- Class "A"
The only exception is hiking socks in lieu of scout socks.
WEAR YOUR HIKING BOOTS TO THE AIRPORT. This prevents this very important item from being forgotten. You can purchase replacement gear at Philmont, but you cannot purchase broken in hiking boots. Overnight delivery service by UPS, US Mail or Federal Express is not available at Philmont.

June 16th- Basecamp- Scout Shorts and Appalachian Trail t-shirt that will be issued to each crew member. - Class B

June 17-June 26- individual backpacking clothes. One Crew backpacking t-shirt will be provided.

June 27th- Basecamp- Scout Shorts and Crew T-shirt that will be issued to crew members who complete their treks.

June 28th- Travel day- Full Scout uniform- Class A

Advisers who do not have Scout Uniforms may wear a Troop 149 T- shirt in lieu of Class A's. If you do not have a Troop t-shirt they may be purchased from the Troop.

Travel Bags

Each crew member will be provided a travel bag to carry their basecamp items. This bag will be secured in a crew locker while we are on the trail.

Suggested pack list for travel bag:
1. Toilet items ( soap, hair shampoo, etc) REMEMBER ITEMS SUCH AS RAZORS SHOULD BE PACKED IN YOUR PACK AND NOT YOUR TRAVEL BAG. RAZORS, POCKET KNIVES, TOE NAIL CLIPPERS THAT ARE IN YOUR TRAVEL BAG WILL BE CONFISCATED BY AIRPORT SECURITY
2. towel & wash-cloth
3. three changes of underwear
4. shower shoes
5. basecamp clothing- (Scout shorts, socks, Two crew t-shirts)
6. You may also carry a portable cd player for use on the plane, bus and in basecamp ( it may not be taken on the trail)
7. two large trash bags w/duct tape to wrap your pack for travel back to Athens ( you also need to wrap your pack in this fashion to travel to Philmont) We will demonstrate this at a Troop meeting.
You must limit your basecamp personal items to this bag size due to the limited basecamp storage space.

Other possible bag items
1. basecamp flashlight if you do not want to use your trek light at basecamp.
2. Personal basecamp comfort items- such as small pillow

REMEMBER ALL TRAVEL BAGS WILL BE SEARCHED BY AIRPORT SECURITY. ANY ITEM WITH A SHARP OR DULL EDGE SHOULD BE PACKED IN YOUR PACK. Your pack will be checked baggage and these type of items can be carried in checked baggage.

Expedition Behavior

Here are some points on Expedition Behavior from Howard Tomb. ( a Philmont ranger)

"A good expedition team is like a powerful, well oiled, finely tuned marriage. Members cook meals together, face challenges together, and finally go to bed at the same time.
A bad expedition, on the other hand, is an awkward ugly, embarrassing thing characterized by bickering, fifth, frustration and crispy macaroni.
Unfortunately, too many rules of the expedition behavior remain unspoken. Some leaders seen to assume that their team members already know about the unspoken rules of a team.

Rule #1 Get out of bed in the morning
The easiest way to get your team members mad at you is for you to stay in bed while they are up doing camp chores and breaking camp. Never be the last one out their tent.

Rule #2 Do not be cheerful before breakfast
Some people wake up perky and happy. They put stress on those who wake up as mean as rabid wolverines. The best early morning behavior is simple: be quiet

Rule #3 Do not complain. About anything, Ever!
It's ten below zero, visibility is four inches and wind driven hailstones are embedding themselves in your face. Must you mention it? Do you think your fellow crew members have not also noticed the weather. Tell a joke. Lead a prayer. Do not lodge a complaint. Your pack is heavy. Did somebody promise you this was going to be easy. If you can't carry your weight, get a motorhome.

Rule #4 Learn to cook at least one thing right
If you don't like to cook, then offer to wash the dishes. Remember that talented cook always gets invited to go again.

Rule #5 Either shampoo or do not remove your hat.
After a week of no baths keep your hair covered by your hat. Most people after a week look like an escapee from the mental ward when they are not wearing their hat. Also brush your teeth daily. If you don't you will never see any wild animals because they will be chased away by your bad breath.

Rule #6 Do not ask if anybody's seen your stuff
Experienced backpackers have systems for organizing their gear. NEVER ASK YOUR TENT MATE IF THEY HAVE SEEN THE TENT POLES AN HOUR AFTER YOU LEFT CAMP. It is unprofessional to lose your spoon or your toothbrush. Keep up with your gear.

Rule #7 Never ask your adult advisor where you are or how much longer?
That is the job of the navigator, ask him. Remember your adult advisor is on vacation. One day when you have children you will understand the effect that this question has on an adult after the 20th time.

Rule #8 Always carry more than your fair share.
When the trip is over, would you rather be remembered as a rock or a sissy? Keep in mind that a pound of two of extra weight in your pack won't make your back hurt any more than it already does.

Rule #9 Do not get sunburned
Sunburn is not only painful and unattractive-its also and oblivious sign of inexperience.

Rule #10 Do not get killed
The worst thing to have on your outdoor resume is a list of possible locations of your body. Besides, your demise might distract your team members from enjoying what's left of their vacations.

All expedition behavior really flows from this one principle: Think of your team-the beautiful machine-FIRST. You are merely a cog in that machine. If you have something to prove, forget about joining an expedition. Your team will never have more than one member."

While Howard's ten points are funny, they are true. Howard has served as a Philmont Ranger and has had many experiences with crews who were not prepared for their treks. I must agree with Howard that our success at Philmont will be our ability to work as a team and not as crews of ten or nine "Individuals". Our success is our ability to work together as cohesive crews.

Photography

Several suggestions to consider in choosing film speed and brands:

When you purchase your film ask the salesperson about film speed and if there is a discount. Wolf Photos gave me a 10% discount for purchasing more that ten rolls.

Fuji film is normally considered better film for blue skies. I normally use 200 ASA speed film with a roll of 400 & 800 ASA speed film for rainy days and sunsets.

Purchase 36 count rolls instead of 24 count to conserve in pack weight and volume.

Remember that film will go in bear bags at night.

How many rolls of film should I take? My response is how many memories of this great adventure do you want? You could easily take a roll of film a day on the trail. Minimum number of rolls I would suggest would be 4-5 rolls of film.

What type of camera should I take? Lightweight and if possible weather-proof. Point and shoot cameras are more lightweight.

Take an extra camera battery. A dead battery is really a downer when you have the film, camera and the photo opportunities of a lifetime.

How about disposable cameras? Normally photos will be of less quality.

Do I need a camera? I can get copy of photos from someone else. That is true, but remember it is their camera and they are carrying it. Other crew members are not going to be excited of taking photos of you with their camera that they are carrying. If you want copies of photos of other people then that is okay.

What is Mike using? I am taking a small weather-proof Olympus camera that has an adjustable lens to 80. Very lightweight and will fit in my front pocket of my hiking shorts for that quick shots on the trail. I will take 15-18 rolls of 36 count fuji film. With a least ten rolls of 200 ASA, three rolls of 400 ASA and two rolls of 800 ASA.

My photography logic- This is a lifetime experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. I want plenty of photos to show my grandsons how their dad's backpacked with me and to excite them about wanting a Philmont experience.

Packing

As you prepare for your packing of your gear for Philmont, remember you will have two items of luggage- pack & coke gear bag. You will pack basecamp items in your gear bag ( EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE IS THAT ANY ITEM SUCH AS RAZOR, TOE NAIL CLIPPERS, ETC SHOULD BE PACKED IN YOUR PACK).

Packing your pack- remember your pack will be thrown around by the baggage personnel. Pack all breakable items such as water bottles, flashlight inside your pack with clothing items around them. Trekking poles should be either put inside your pack our attached to the outside of your pack. After packing your gear place your pack in a large lawn trash bag and then tape it securely with duct tape. It is very important that you pack your pack in this manner. If you do not pack your pack in a bag then your pack straps will be caught in the baggage equipment and it will tear your pack. Your should also take an extra bag and duct tape to secure your pack for the trip home. I always recommend taking one-two large trash bags on the trail. You will be surprised how useful they are on the trail. Crew members who are carry the pots want to carry a bag to put the pot in before they put it in their packs. After cooking on top of the stoves the pots will get blacken and this will get inside your pack unless you use a bag to protect your gear. The bags will also be very useful when we are going to dry camps and we are carry the water bladders full of water in our packs.

The coke gear bag will be left in a small locker at basecamp.You will be able to leave items that you do not want to carry on the trail in your bag. A good place to store items from the trading post while we are on the trail.

Coke gear bags- do not have locks on them. You might want to purchase small suitcase locks to secure the bags on the airlines if you choose to check these bags.

Crew members will be limited to their pack and one coke gear bag per person. The only exceptions will the extra gear bags that our crews will use for crew gear. Each crew has been issued two such bags.

Packing - part 2

Crew members should use the recommended Philmont personal gear packing list that is found on page 12 & 13 in the 2002 Philmont Guidebook to Adventure.

recommendations:
1. In the past I have not taken a long shelve wool or flannel shirt. You can use your insulated underwear, polar fleece and rain jacket to provide warmth by layering these clothes. Remember when its the coldest you will be in your sleeping bag.

2. You do not need to carry the following personal items on the trail. One of the adult advisers in your crew will be carry this as a crew item:
soap
toothpaste
sunscreen
bug spray

3. I would recommend each crew member carrying 1- 1.5 ounce bottle of unscented hand sanitizer. Great to wash hands with before cooking, eating and after using the latrine. (latrines at Philmont are a box covering a hole in the ground- no water sinks to wash hands)

4. All items that have BB next to them are required to be put in the bear bag at night. These are considered smellable items and SHOULD NEVER BE PLACED IN YOUR TENTS.

5. I recommend each crew member to carry a lighter in lieu of matches. Wet or damp matches are of no value on the trail.

6. I highly recommend sunglasses. The sun is brighter at higher elevations. I normally do not wear sunglasses, but at Philmont I wear them every day.

7. Make sure you have fresh batteries and spares. I take a spare flashlight just to use at basecamp.

This Philmont gear packing list has been refined over the years at Philmont for crews to have the best Philmont experience.

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