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COMFORT BACKPACKING GUIDE: SUPPLEMENT

BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team

SUPPLEMENT

Revision 2

“Remember, the key to successful backpacking is to go lightly”

-Philmont Guidebook to Adventure.

This is the Philmont supplement to the BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide. That guide is oriented towards a lightweight backpacking approach and should be used as the primary source of information for outfitting a Scout with a lightweight backpacking kit . This supplement only covers the few Philmont requirements in putting together a lightweight backpacking kit and it covers lightweight alternatives to the Philmont issued crew gear. In addition, it presents a copy of Philmont’s Campsite / Bear Procedures.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PHILMONT SUPPLEMENT: RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUIREMENTS & RESTRICTIONS

Backpack

Sleep System

Shelter System

Clothing Items

An Important Advisory on Clothing Material

Convertible Zip-Offs

Trail Shoes

Rain Gear

Rain Jacket

Rain Pants

Essentials and Miscellaneous Items

Compass

Personal Hygiene Kit

Kitchen

Note about Cooking

Kitchen Clean Up Logistics

Stove

PHILMONT ISSUED CREW GEAR

Shelter

Kitchen Set

Cooking Utensil Kit

Hot-Pot Tongs

Dish Washing Pot

Dining Fly

Yum-Yum Frisbee

Scraper

One Camp Trowel

Bear Bags

Bear Ropes

Water Treatment

Other Miscellaneous Equipment Issued at Philmont

PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH’S BEAR PROCEDURE – BE BEAR AWARE

BACKGROUND

PHILMONT GENERAL BEAR PROCEDURES

PHILMONT CAMPSITE SET-UP

TENT SET-UP

SMELLABLES

GARBAGE

FIRE RING - COOKING AREA

SUMP

BEAR BAGS

OOPS BAG

PERSONAL SANITATION

NUISANCE NOTIFICATION

BEAR ENCOUNTERS

PHILMONT RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUIREMENTS & RESTRICTIONS

Backpack

Philmont recommends a minimum internalbackpack capacity of 4000 cu. In.. This capacity recommendation is based from a traditional backpacking style and not a lightweight approach. Using a lightweight approach will permit a smaller (and lighter) backpack that will still have adequate volume to carry everything needed (because your backpacking kit will be small). You should still aim for approximately 50 liters (3000 cubic inches) of volume as listed in the BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide.

Sleep System

Philmont recommends a 3 season sleeping set-up (30 deg minimum), as does the BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide.. Utilize the weight recommendations in theBSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide.

Shelter System

Philmont has a minimum capacity requirement of 2 persons per shelter and it has restrictions on which types of shelter can be used. Shelters such as a plain tarp, a backpacking hammock and a bivy sack shelter are not permitted Philmont.

Tents – Philmont’s outfitting department can & does issue two man tents, BUT their tents are 5-1/2 lbs each, so they are too heavy to be used in a lightweight backpacking kit.

Tarp Canopy– (Tarp enclosed from all sides) This type of shelter is ACCEPTABLE to be used at Philmont generally without any restrictions. Philmont prefers a bath tub type floor to be utilized in conjunction with the tarp canopies. These floors can either be from the canopy’s manufacturer,or a homemade version of a bath tub floor..

This type of shelter is a much lighter and simpler alternative to a regular backpacking tent.

Tarp-Tent. – This type of shelter is ACCEPTABLE to be used at Philmont without any restrictions. This type of shelter is a much lighter and simpler alternative to a regular backpacking tent.

Tarp –(Tarp open on one or more sides)Philmont does not permit plain tarpsas sleeping shelters, This type of shelter is only permitted (required actually) to be utilized as dining fly for your crew..

Bivy Sack –Philmont does not permit bivy sacksto be used exclusively as a sleeping shelter, plus they don’t meet Philmont’s minimum capacity requirement for shelter.

Backpacking Hammock–Philmont does not permit hammocksbecause they don’t meet Philmont’s minimum capacity requirement for shelter.

Clothing Items

All of the recommendations in the BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide, apply to Philmont. The following items have additional notes

An Important Advisory on Clothing Material

Philmont guidelines allow for cotton-blends based on the assumption of you carrying extra changes of clothes if the cotton based clothes become wet. Using the lightweight approach as outlined in BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide, cotton is NOT allowed in a backpack clothing system because 1.) if cotton or a cotton blend material becomes wet, it’s a serious heat loss liability; slow to dry combined with the problem of not being able to wick moisture way from your skin (minimizing its contact), and instead it wicks the moisture bydispersing it out to agreater area of skin contact.- not good for conserving your core warmth. 2.) For a lightweight approach, there is minimal redundancy. The lightweight kit will in general, will have only one change of quick drying clothes per layer, so all layers must be quick drying.

Convertible Zip-Offs

Convertible to shorts or pants. At Philmont, long pants are required for some of the Program Camp activities (such as horseback riding) These should be made of lightweight, breathable, quick-drying synthetic fabric. With the zip-off feature they can also serve double duty as an extra pair of hiking shorts, whichthen can be later converted to your long pants for those Philmont Program camps that require them.. The classic BSA synthetic Switchback uniform pants are good candidates for this use.

Trail Shoes

Philmont recommendations are unfortunately oriented to traditional (heavy) style of backpacking, in which they promote heavy hiking boots for footwear. Using the lightweight approach outlined in BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide, .will allow the use of trail-runners which are much lighter, more comfortable, more breathable, and dry faster than traditional hiking boots. With a lightweight load, trail runners become the better choice. Remember to take Hydropel foot protection.

Socks

Philmont recommendations are a wicking liner sock combined with a heavy rag-wool type outer sock. This recommendation is oriented to traditional style backpacking, to be used in with a heavy traditional style of hiking boots. Using the lightweight approach outlined in BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide, .will allow the use of single layer wicking synthetic, wool, or wool blend socks which are lighter, more breathable, and dry faster. With a lightweight load, and combined with trail runners,this style of sock becomes the better choice..

Rain Gear

Rain Jacket

The top half of a rain suit. At Philmont ,a waterproof-breathable shell jacket with a hood is required.. Pullover style is acceptable. A lightweight shell is great for layering in the wind or chilly mornings.Thrifty examples such as Dri-Ducks and/or Frogg-Toggs jackets are extremely lightweight, but are not very durable so they will require a little extra care to preserve them.

Rain Pants

The bottom half of a rain suit. At Philmont, waterproof-breathable pants shell isrequired.. These lightweight shells are great for layering in the wind or chilly mornings. If you are considering to re-use these pants as your hiking pants, be aware they might be too hot to use as hiking pants on a sunny afternoon (shorts would be better for those situations anyway).

Poncho: Philmont does notaccept ponchos as rain protection, This is because of the risk of becoming wet from wind driven rain. Currently, at Philmont only a rain suit is acceptable for rain protection.

Essentials and Miscellaneous Items

All of the recommendations in the BSA-SDIC High Adventure Team Comfort Backpacking Guide, apply to Philmont. Only the following two items have additional notes

Compass

A simple compass with a base-plate is all you'll need. Navigation with a map is always an important skill to have in the backcountry. Philmont maps are in 1:24.000 scale, so having that scale on your compass is useful.

For a Philmont trek, most trails are marked at intersections, but they are not so well marked that you can put your map compass away and forget them. Also, those intersection signs are not to be fully trusted.

Philmont has a 4 “T” rule went it comes to their sign posts:

1.) Don’t Trust,

2.) Don’t Touch,

3.) Don’t Turn, and

4.) Don’t Tickle

At least one Philmont Program Camp will need you to use a compass & map on an individual basis as a part for its program activity.

Personal Hygiene Kit

As a reminder, Philmont is bear country so AVOID SCENTED ITEMS. Please, repackage items into smaller containers/bottles. These items can be stored in a simple plastic Ziploc freezer baggie.

Kitchen

The Philmont the kitchen set up is aligned with the patrol method, so your crew’s set up will need to be for at least for two people at a time – more likely an entire crew (which is the approach Philmont recommends and issues equipment for).

Note about Cooking

The many portions of the Philmont issued food doesn’t require cooking. Most dinners & a few breakfasts are either freeze dried or dehydrated. ."Cooking" for those meals (if that's what you call re-hydrating with hot water) is the primary method done. This re-hydrating can be done either in a pot (which is what Philmont recommends youl do) or in the lightweight stylewhere the pot is only used to boil water, and re-hydrating is done either in thepackaging bag the freeze-dried meal comes in or in an alternativeZiploc bag .

Kitchen Clean Up Logistics

We’ll go over this method when we do our training hikes.

The lightweight/minimum effort style is this: Everyone eats their food in the bag provided, or in a bag they bring (most times supported by a bowl which serves double duty a catch basin if the bag is breached). If not using a bag, then the bowl will have to be“pre-washed” by finger-washing with the portion of the Scout’s drinking water and then that "wash" water in the bowlsbe chugged down by the Scout himself(ala Leave No Trace (LNT) method – “human sump” not as bad as it soundsand it serves as motivation to eat from a bag, *smile*). Scoutsthen lick their eating utensil clean.

Washing dishes becomes greatly simplified and a chore with next to no work involved. With this LNT method there is only a little soapy grey water to be poured down the waste water sump.

Another benefit of this methodis that the screening filter for waste water sump– the “yum-yum Frisbee”, is not really needed. No use for the yum-yum bag, because any left over food particles are left in the Ziploc bag. No use for the scrubbie because there are no pots to scrub because the pots were only used to boil water..

It is recommended to double bag each bag in case of a breach, puncture or leak (which rarely happens if careful), and re-use the outer bag.Some are concerned about freezer bags giving off potentially harmful chemicals, but the Ziploc site says otherwise: (see their #1 FAQ).

Bottom line: Can’t beat the fast clean-up, and it also saves on the weight of the extra fuel that would be needed to boil more extravagant amounts of wash water. In comparison, the extra weight of the bags is negligible, Because of the time savings is so great, mostlightweight crews love this system (the rest got used to it),

Stove

Philmont requires the use of a backpacking stove, but onlysupports two types of fuel at their backcountry re-supply points: Gas and Canister.

Canister Stove – Philmont does carry canisters at its backcountry resupply points, but does not have approved disposal capability at its backcountry camps. So empty canisters will have to be safely punctured & crushed then carried out.(A Jetboil Crunch-It tool works well for this task) Philmont recommends these type of stoves.

Gas Stove – Philmont does carry white gas at its backcountry resupply points. Philmont recommends these type of stoves.

Alcohol Stove – Philmont does not have carry alcohol fuel at its backcountry resupply points. So, that would require carrying a 10 day supply of fuel, which would negatively offset an alcohol stoves weight advantages over a canister stove, Per BSA mandate these type of stoves must be commercially sourced – no homemade ones. While Philmont does not prohibit these type of stoves, it does give them a “not recommended” rating.

Solid Fuel Stove – Philmont does not have carry solid fuel tabs at its backcountry resupply points. So, that would require carrying a 10 day supply of fuel, which would negatively offset a solid fuel stoves weight advantage over a canister stove, While Philmont does not prohibit these type of stoves, it does give them a “not recommended” rating.

Wood Stove– Philmont prohibits wood cooking fires or wood fueled stoves,.

No Stove –. Philmont requires a backpacking stove,so this approach is prohibited there.

PHILMONT ISSUED CREW GEAR

Philmont will issue gear to your crew if you do not bring your own. The Philmont gear is very heavy and is designed to take the constant abuse that Scouts can deliver (assuming they are not careful). If you plan ahead you can use lightweight alternatives and NOT have to take Philmont's heavy gear.

Each crew of seven to twelve is issued the following equipment free of charge (except for damage or replacement charges when returned). As stated above, lightweight crews can choose to bring these items from home so that they can have the benefit of 1.) Carrying a much lighter load, and 2.) Practicing using their own equipment on their shakedown hikes.

Philmont gear is particularly heavy for their sleeping shelter, the dining fly, the kitchen kit, and the ropes for the bear bag.

Shelter

Philmont’s outfitting department can issue two man regular backpacking tents, BUT their tents are 5.5 lbs each, which are too heavy to be used in a lightweight backpacking kit. They also issue a heavy ground sheet with it that adds another pound! A much lighter and better shelter alternative is to bring a tarp-canopy (especially a pyramid type) or a tarp-tent.

Kitchen Set

Depending on the size of the crew, Philmont has two kitchen sets that it can issue. Both are VERY heavy weighing in at 4 and 6 pounds respectively. The 4 pound set is a thick walled (heavy) aluminum.

4-pound Kitchen Kit contains: (Aluminum)

  • 6-quart pot
  • 4-quart pot with lid
  • One fry pan with handle

6-pound Kitchen Kit contains: (Stainless Steel)

  • 8-quart pot
  • 4-quart pot with lid
  • One fry pan with handle

In both cases a frying pan and the larger pot will not be needed by a lightweight crewthat is following the lightweight approachof cooking by re-hydrating in a bag. In addition, since the crew is bringing a water filter, the need to boil large amounts of water in a large pot is not needed as well.

Most stoves are not designed for a 4 quart pot, so a lightweight crew will bring two 2 quart pots to be utilized withtwo stoves (each pot on its own stove) which will meet the needs of the crew. This will make for a smaller kit and will be able to be distributed among the crew more evenly.

Cooking Utensil Kit

Philmont issues two large spoons, and one large spatula (total weight about 1/2 pound). The lightweight crew will have a bring their own lightweight plastic utensils, with the exception ofa spatula because it is simply not neededwhenfollowing the cooking method of re-hydrating in a bag.

Hot-Pot Tongs

The Philmont units are unnecessarily heavy (two pair weigh about 1/2 pound).. An inexpensive single aluminum pot holder can suffice as a lightweight alternative. There is also the possibility of using a bandana as a pot holder.

Dish Washing Pot

Philmont issues one extra 8- or 6-quart pot for washing dishes (weight about 1 pound). A lightweight crew following lightweight style of the cooking which is re-hydrating in a bag, so they will not need this pot.

Dining Fly

Philmont requires crews to have a dining fly (which is a flat tarp). The Philmont issued item is a heavy nylon dining fly (12'x12') weighing more than 4 pounds. Its two collapsible poles add another pound to the total. Needless to say, it is too heavy, a lightweight crew will be a lightweight sil-nylon fly which is a much better alternative. Trekking poles can be used as shelter poles.

Yum-Yum Frisbee

A “Yum-Yum” Frisbee or the Sump Frisbee is used as a strainer for disposing the kitchen’s “grey” (=dirty or waste) water down the camp site’s sump. The Philmont issued system (with scrapper) is about a ½ pound.. A lightweight alternative is to bring & use Paint Strainer bags. Home Depot sells a 2 pack. Use one for 5 days trash-it, then use the other. (for your 10 dinners in the field). The two bags weigh in at 0.4 oz!