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Philmont Equipment |
The following equipment is essential during our Philmont
training. If you don't have it, buy it immediately !! Training begins as
soon as the snow melts, late March or early April. We list some
suggested camping stores below to help you find the equipment you need.
Sources for these items: REI Coop - Route 30 Framingham (Exit 13 off Mass Pike, Route 30
East towards Framingham, 1/2 mile) - excellent!! |
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ANY ITEM ON THIS LIST MARKED AS OPTIONAL
SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN ON THE TRAIL, UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE IT AS
A LUXURY ITEM. Remember – An ounce in the morning equals a pound at night! ANY NON-ESSENTIAL ITEM THAT DOESN’T HAVE AT LEAST TWO USES SHOULD PROBABLY BE LEFT BEHIND! |
Travel Items for the Plane Trip and the first 2 daysTravel
items you should bring, but not for the trail -- to
be left in base camp. DO NOT put in your backpack. Put in a
separate bag (Mr. Durant plans to get a special red Boy Scout travel bag
for each participant, which we ask you to use because they are easily
identified):
books (maybe take 1 on trail) (optional) cards, playing (optional) clean clothes for base camp & return home (pants, crew t-shirt, socks, shoes, underpants, etc.) CPR & First Aid certification cards (only if you have them) (required for adult leaders) deodorant and after shave (do NOT take on the trail!) duffle bag or sports equipment bag in which to stuff your pack for transporting on the plane (do not check your pack "as is" with the airlines,
you must use a large athletic bag or at least wrap it up in a "contractor
quality" trash bag with duct tape, Maynard Outdoor Store has an excellent
selection of backpack-sized gym bags). food for travel on plane and bus (solid food OK
through airline security check, yogurt and drinks are NOT allowed) Guidebook to Adventure booklet that you received
about Philmont gym bag (small) for stuff on plane and leaving behind in base camp fleece or jacket for base camp luggage tags (at
Philmont you will receive a blue tag for your backpack) magazines (optional) medical cards (copy of insurance carrier & pharmacy) (attach copy to your medical form!) medical forms (Philmont only) (should be given to advisor before the trip) (adults carry two crew copies) medical waivers & information - as required medication not needed on trail (all dates on medicine must be current!) money not needed for trail (take no more than $100 total for souvenirs, snacks & trail) running/walking clothes (if you exercise) (optional) Scout uniform (complete Class A except neckerchief) (Wear on the plane!) tickets (airplane) (will be held by your advisor at all times) towel & wash cloth travelers checks (optional) (about $100 total
spending money is sufficient) wallet (BRING ID! -- picture ID is required for everyone !!!
SPECIAL PACKING NOTES:Pack all smellables together in a small ditty bag. DO NOT MIX ANY SMELLABLE ITEMS WITH ANY GEAR WHICH MIGHT END UP IN YOUR TENT. This includes chapstick, toothpaste, sunscreen, duct tape, scented toilet paper and wipes, snacks, soap, shampoo, first aid items, etc. Do not put any smellables with your clothing. Anything that smells -- except a Scout -- is subject to close inspection by a bear! Advisors – Cell phone coverage in the backcountry is spotty at best. If you feel the need to bring one, then limit it to one per crew for emergency purposes only. They have been on the Philmont prohibited items list, but I have been told that policy is changing. Put your name and expedition # on all personal items – clothing and gear! Put your name, expedition #, Philmont address and Philmont telephone number on your luggage tag and in your backpack! Tents must be 2-man and must be used. No sleeping under the stars. No bivy sacks are permitted at Philmont. We will be given tents at Philmont. Do not bring your own without permission! Pack heavier items near your body and high in the pack. Blue jeans are not recommended for the trail. Leave
them home. Bring a 2 piece quality rainsuit (REI, LL Bean, Outdoor Store), and/or a large poncho. No knives may be carried on the plane (put
in your backpack)! No large "bowie" or sheath knives, only
jacknives or "leatherman" combo tools. No glass or aerosol containers are allowed on the trail! Do not bring radios, CD or tape players, PDAs, or other electronic equipment! No hammocks are allowed! Hiking sticks: are not really needed, but bring one if you normally use it. You will not find "dead wood" sticks along the trail to use. Bring your own hiking stick if you want one. Don’t forget to bring sanitizing gel (Purell) for personal hygiene. It must be used on your hands every time you go to the bathroom, after touching contaminated water and before food preparation. We don’t want anyone to get sick on the trail. Trim your toenails and fingernails before
leaving for Philmont ! Get a short haircut (short hair will be easier to deal with on the trail) Chaplain must bring "Eagles Soaring High" booklet for trail worship SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT PACK WEIGHT
Maximum pack weight without food, water, tent, and crew equipment should be no more than 20-25 pounds (depending on your body weight). Shared crew gear and water will add about 20-25 pounds (food, water, and shared tent adds 14-16 pounds per person, while the other common crew gear adds another 6-9 pounds per person). Total pack weight should be 25-30% or less of your body weight. When you leave home your pack should feel incredibly light. If your pack weighs 25 pounds without food, tent, water, and crew gear, then it will weigh about 50 pounds when you hit the trail! So, unless you weigh at least 170 lbs., that’s way too much. Try to share items like toothpaste and sunscreen. REMEMBER -- an ounce in the morning is a pound at night! When you have finished packing, put your pack in a large cloth laundry bag. You may also want to reinforce your pack frame with a few wooden dowels to defeat the baggage gorillas of the airlines. |
Items
to take on the trail:
Items marked "Optional" are not really needed. They should go only if you have a strong personal need or medical/physical condition. TIP: PUT CLOTHING IN ZIPLOC BAGS AND COMPRESS OUT THE AIR! (or put in a compression stuff sack) INDIVIDUAL ITEMS --addresses, postcards, stamps & contact telephone #'s (mail can be sent from staffed camps) (optional) athletes foot or talcum powder (optional) backpack tag (blue plastic Philmont tag - one per Scout)(will receive at Philmont) backpack & cover (compartmentalize all gear in ziploc bags) (line with plastic bag) bags (a few small plastic ones from grocery store) bandannas (2) (you can use one for a target at black powder rifle shooting) batteries for flashlights (new!) bowl (deep one for eating - forget the mess kit!) (strong plastic - tupperware is good) bungee cords or compression straps business cards (optional) camera & film (extra batteries) (4+ rolls of film) (panoramic camera is good) camp shoes (lightweight) (NO SANDALS OR OPEN-TOED SHOES ARE ALLOWED!) cards, playing (optional) caribiners (optional) chapstick clock/calculator with electronic alarm (optional) coffee cup (large plastic with handle) coffee/tea bags (adults only) (optional) comb / hairbrush (optional) compass (GPS unit is optional) (learn to use a compass!) contact lenses, case and cleaning solution (bring
glasses also!!) (optional
if you wear them) daily itinerary and schedule (adults & crew leader) dental floss (this is a great emergency repair item!) dirty clothes bag (small plastic) ditty bags for personal stuff (small) (helps compartmentalize gear) earplugs (optional) eyeglasses repair kit (if you wear glasses) (optional) fanny pack or small day pack first aid kit (put in small, red, stuff sack) (small personal kit – see crew gear for items to include) flashlights / headlamps (2 very small ones with new batteries) flint & steel (with dryer lint & soapless steelwool in waterproof containers) (optional) gaitors (optional) glasses (if you wear them) (consider a backup pair or contacts) glasses strap holders (optional) gloves (1 pr. lightweight polypropylene) (socks can be used as extra gloves if needed) groundcloth (one for each tent - heavy duty, fitted to tent size - consider taking a small, lightweight tarp for severe weather) hand lotion (at altitude your skin will become uncomfortably dry) hat (baseball style) hat (wide brim for sun and rain) (also put a shirt on your head if it's really cold) highlighter/marker (optional) hiking boots (not new ones!)(use Kiwi Camp Dry Hvy Duty Water Repellant Spray or
Tectron Boot/Shoe Protector) iodine tablets & neutralizer (optional)
(use the Polar Pure Philmont provides - take extra so you have one bottle for every 3 crew members) (water filter is not necessary!) jacket or sweater (fleece, wool or Polartec is best) knife (small pocketknife that locks) (sharpen before leaving) (no sheath knives) leather for branding (souvenir item) (also brand boots & hats) lighter (Bic) long johns (polypropylene) lozenges (optional) matches in waterproof container medication required on a daily basis plus Tylenol, Advil or aspirin (all dates on medicine must be current!) mesh bag (can be used to dry clothes on backpack while hiking) (optional) mirror, small (non-breakable) money for the trail ($25 - $35 should be plenty) (adult crew advisor must take a credit card) "O" rings and pins for backpack repairs (optional) pad or notebook for writing (optional except for crew leader, journalist and lead
advisor) parachute chord (6-10') parafin / votive candles (optional) pen personal hygiene items (toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, etc.) pillow case (small, stuffed with clothing to use as
pillow) (leave pillow home!) (optional) poles for tent rainsuit (jacket with hood and zipper legs) (leave your poncho at home) razor (use soap to shave) (or grow abeard!) (optional) rubber bands (optional) safety pins sahara convertible pants (shorts with zip on/off legs) or other long pants (not jeans) sanitizing gel for hands (Purell at Wal-Mart or similar) (must use for personal hygiene!) Scout t-shirts (3 only) (2 shirts to wear and another to stay in your
sleeping bag at all times!) shampoo (optional) (use Camp Suds) shirts (one very lightweight long sleeve and one long sleeve polypropylene) shorts for hiking (2 pair mesh or lightweight synthetic -- only 1 pr. if you have
convertible sahara pants) shorts for sleeping (stays in sleeping bag at all times!) sleeping bag rated to at least 30° (20-25° is best) (line stuff sack with a plastic bag) sleeping pad (foam or small thermarest) (optional) soap (biodegradable) (Camp Suds) sock liners (2 pr) socks (2 pr) (heavyweight synthetic/wool) (SmartWool is good) stakes for tent (take 2 extra per person) (needle-type -- ground can be hard as a rock) string (a little) stuff sack lined with plastic bag (at night food, toiletries and other
smellables go in here and in the bear bag) sunglasses (optional) sunscreen (at least 15 SPF non-scented) (share this) survival blanket (silver) (optional) tape (just a small amount of duct & electrical)
(wrap around a pencil, flashlight, or something) tent & tent fly (seal seams at least 1 week before leaving) (1 for every 2 Scouts) toilet paper (about 1/4 roll) (put in plastic ziploc bag) towel (old & lightweight or super absorbent synthetic) trail tape (a very small amount of bright surveyor's tape for emergencies if lost) (optional) trash bags (2-50 gal. bags) tripod (lightweight -- for camera) (optional) trowel (for catholes) twist ties for trash bags & emergency repairs (just a few) underpants (2 pair CoolMax, nylon or polyester -- no cotton) utensils (Lexan is best -- no plastic) (2 spoons - no
forks or knives) (mark
with your name) vaseline (optional) vitamins (optional) wash basin (collapsible or use large zipbag) (optional) wash cloth (optional) (use one of your bandannas instead) watch with an alarm (especially crew leader!) water bottles, bladder bag or folding water bag (be
able to carry 4-5 qts. of water and drink 4 qts./day-8lbs. or 8 qts/day-16 lbs. in hot weather) (dry camps will require each person to carry at least 4-5 qts. of water - that’s 8-10 lbs.) whistle on lanyard wire (small amount -- thin & medium thickness for repairs) wipes for hygiene ziploc bags (one small, one big and one extra large to wash clothes on trail) CREW ITEMSThese items will be distributed among all crew members: Crew
equipment provided by crew: bag for carrying water from water source for
purifying (or use
large heavy-duty zip bags) (optional) combination locks for base camp crew lockers (2) dining fly tent stakes (10) (needle-type -- ground can be hard as a rock) duct tape Eagles Soaring High for trail worship (chaplain's aide carries) first aid kit (crew size): absorbent pads w/ sticky side (2), acetominophen (25 tablets), adhesive tape (1 in. x 10 yds.), antacid (20) & Pepto Bismal tablets (12), antibacterial cream, antiseptic, bandages (2 large triangular), bandaids (12 large), Benedryl, butterfly strips (10), chapstick, cotton balls (12), elastic wrap, eye protection, gauze (2 in. roll) & pads (6-4x4 and 20 1x1 or 2x2), hydrocortisone cream, ibuprophen (25 tablets), ice packs (2 - crushable), imodium (25 tablets), latex gloves (8 pr.), mouth barrier device, moleskin & foam (2 sheets of each), oral thermometer, Q-tips (12), safety pins (10), sanitizing gel (Purell), syrup of ipecac, small scissors, liquid soap, tongue depressors (4), tweezers, wipes - soap & alcohol based (10 each). Take an Epi pin if someone is allergic to bee stings! crew flag (make before leaving) (string & markers) (optional) frisbee fuel bottles (3 - 16oz.) (ship with stoves) (16 oz. allows for better weight distribution) insect repellent (no aerosol) (optional) maps (put in ziploc bag) (2 large overall and 2 for areas in which you will be hiking) (purchase at Philmont or order from the Tooth of Time Traders) measuring cup (8 oz) nylon or plastic sheet (3' x 5' for kitchen items while preparing meals) (trash bag or
emergency blanket works well for this) nylon cord (1/8 in. - 3x50’) packing material, labels & postage to mail stoves & bottles home radios (2-way) (with fresh batteries) sewing repair kit w/ buttons and fishing line shovel (small, cheap, metal trowel for moving hot ashes from fire ring) snake bite kit songs, cadences, skits, cheers, etc. stoves (2) (white gas/dual fuel -- not propane/butane) (name marked on stove) (must
be purged of fuel & transported by land [USPS] with fuel top off) (wrap
in plastic, bubble wrap & tape) (cannot be transported by plane --
even if empty!) strobe light (small) (for emergency rescue at night) tools (multitool) turkey roasting bags (one for each dinner) (large enough to fit an 8 qt. pot – 24lb. capacity) (optional) water jugs (two collapsible plastic) (2.5 gals)
Crew
equipment provided by Philmont: bear bags (3)(1 ˝ lbs.)(In 1999 Philmont began issuing lightweight polyethylene bags instead of burlap) cooking pots (weight 3-4 lbs.) (this is all you will need -- leave the rest behind in your locker):
1 - pot with lid (6 or 8 qt.) (use 8 qt. for 12 person crews) (when cooking dinner everything goes in one pot!) (we also cook dessert in this pot)(bring a sturdy pie pan for the lid instead of using the frying pan – it’s lighter) 1 - extra pot with lid (6
qt) (for washing dishes) (nest this in the 8 qt. pot) (some crews carry another 8 or 6 qt. pot, but this is not necessary, if you do one pot cooking) dining fly (12’x12’) (weight 4 lbs.) dining fly poles (2) (weight 1 lb.) dishwashing soap (Campsuds) food (up to 4 days worth) hand sanitizer crew lockers (one or two) to leave gear at base camp
(21" W x 22" H x 31 1/2" D) (extra gear can be stored unsecured in the backcountry warehouse) 2 bottles Polar Pure for purifying water (bring
extra so you have 1 bottle per 3 crew members) pot tongs (1) (weight 1/2 lb.) (leave the second tongs behind) rope (150' of 1/4" nylon rope)(weight 2 1/2 lbs.) (for bear bag) salt & pepper sanitizing tablets for rinse water scrub pads (8) sump frisbee (strainer) sump scraper tents toilet paper trash bags (10) utensils for cooking (2 large spoons, 1 large spatula) (1/2 lb.) yum-yum bag (for food scraps) Approximate weight of all shared crew equipment (not including food, water, and tents) is about 72-76 pounds or 6-9 lbs. per crew member. Food, water, and shared tent adds 14-16 pounds per person for a total of 20-25 pounds per person. Small crews will carry more weight per person. NOTE: Food adds about 2 lbs. per person per day (if stripped of packaging - otherwise add another half pound per day). A stripped 4 day food pickup will add 8 lbs. to an individual's load. A 6 pound tent split two ways adds three pounds per person. A dry camp may require each individual to carry about 128-144 oz. of water (8-9 lbs). All good reasons for packing light. |
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The Troop 1 Bolton Philmont web page is written by Ed Sterling