[at-l] RE: Group Hiking Query

[charles at uswnet.com (Charles Copeland)]

Speaking for my Troop:

1) We always split into patrols of 6-10 people.  I'm very lucky in that I
have about 20 trained adult leaders.
2) The patrols hike and camp separately.  Sometimes they are on different
trails going in different directions.  Sometimes they are on the same trail,
separated by time.  Occasionally, they will end up together if the campsite
(like Jack's River) is large enough.  Even when we're together, the patrols
remain separate from the other patrols.
3) We have many adult leaders that are Council LNT trained - and one who was
LNT trained at Philmont.  He is the adult LNT instructor.  We take LNT very,
very seriously - although we've seen many individuals, groups, and even an
occasional Troop that does not.
4) We have a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster that is responsible for making
sure the boys are trained in LNT skills.

The boys saw, first-hand, the effects of no LNT.  We hiked the Jacks River
trail in 3 groups.  When we arrived at the campsite, we remained separated
in this huge camp area -but- there was almost no vegetation between the
different campsites so it seemed that we were all closer together.  The area
has been stripped clean of anything that could burn - mostly by partying
college students.  They closed the campsite a couple of months ago because
it was so overused and trashed.

Charles


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Martino" <yumitori@montana.com>
To: <at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:21 PM
Subject: Re: [at-l] RE: Group Hiking Query



> I hear what you're saying and I don't entirely disagree. We all should be
> sensitive to the issues you raise.
>
> But as a Boy Scout leader I find that advice is also impractical.
>
> In order to give a group the "intimate relationship with the outdoors"
they
> are seeking, and yet maintain the safety and training they need, it is
> usually not possible to break up the group into sub-groups that small and
> still keep sufficient leadership.
>
> This is especially true in Boy Scouts. We are required to maintain at
least
> two adult leaders in every group, regardless of group size, and there are
> only so many leaders to go around.
>
> Scouts are taught to follow Leave No Trace principles, so hopefully that
> mitigates the situation.
>
> -jns

Since traveling in smaller groups is itself often considered part of
the Leave No Trace ethic, how do you reconcile the two? Then, I must say
that on the face of it, the argument that one needs to keep larger
groups together in order to provide an "intimate relationship with the
outdoors" seems to be an oxymoron.

I curious - how much training in traveling gently in the backcountry do
the leaders of your troop receive?

Ron

--

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determine our fate. There must be no limit on the range of temperate
discussion, no limits on thought. No subject must be taboo. No censor
must preside at our assemblies.
William O. Douglas

yumitori(AT)montana(DOT)com
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