This is the registration page for Scouts in Troop 479 to register to go to Philmont in 2010. The dates of the trip are June 12 ~ June 26, 2010. Travel itinerary TBD. Must be a First Class Scout, age 14 before 9/1/2010 and no older than 18 by the start date of the trek. Presently we have 2 crews available. Each crew can up 8 Scouts and 3 Adults. Payment schedules and mandatory prep hike schedules will be posted in the near future.
Physical Preparation for a Philmont Trek To enjoy the Philmont experience, participants must be physically prepared to carry a 35- to 50-pound pack over steep, rocky trails at elevations ranging from 6,500 to 12,500 feet. A regular program of physical conditioning for at least three to six months prior to taking a trek is essential. A longer period is required for those unaccustomed to physical exercise.
Staff physicians at Philmont reserve the right to deny access to the trails to any adult or youth on the basis of the physical recheck at Philmont. All medical evaluation forms will be checked by Philmont medical staff. Areas of concern include but are not limited to heart disease, seizure disorder, sickle cell anemia, and hemophilia. Blood pressure without medication must be less than 150/95 for any participant to be permitted to hike at Philmont. If there are any doubts after the individual has had a physical examination, contact Philmont.
A program of regular aerobic exercise is highly recommended to become physically conditioned for Philmont. Plan to exercise 30 to 60 minutes three to five times a week. Jogging, running uphill, climbing long flights of stairs, walking along abandoned railroad tracks, and hiking with a full pack are all excellent preparation. How fast you run or how far you go is not nearly so important as regular exercise. Other aerobic exercises such as swimming, bicycling, stationary cycling, and aerobic exercise classes can supplement your training. Start slowly and gradually increase the duration and intensity of your exercises. Start a journal to record your progress. If anyone has questions, have them contact their family physician or exercise physiologist.
Backpacking is the best way to prepare for a Philmont trek. It is highly recommended that everyone in a Philmont crew fulfill the requirements of the Backpacking merit badge. These include three 15-mile treks with two overnights each, and one five-day trek covering at least 30 miles. Fulfilling these requirements will enable you to enjoy a Philmont trek. Be prepared!
Ninety percent of the crews that participated in 2002 indicated on their evaluation forms that additional physical training by all members of their crew would have been helpful.