Several days ago I had mentioned on both Twitter and Facebook that I had some bad news. I have also been struggling to put my feelings about this topic into words. Due to height weight regulations I was unable to make the trip with the crew. I spent most of Saturday digging deep down and thinking about what I should do. I was trying decided if I wanted to spend 2 days driving to New Mexico where I would denied to go into the back country. I would then have to spend $200 on a train ticket home. My other option was to contact Philmont in advance and speak with their medical staff and plead my case. I pleaded my case stating that I had been training for 6 months conditioning myself and loosing upward of 40 pounds attempting to get to their “required weight”. I also pleaded that I was in great health and the only slight concern I had was altitude. My concern for altitude is mostly due to the fact that most of Kansas sits below or close to 1000 feet above sea level. The medical staff and the director told me that even if I had lost an additional 10 pounds in four days they would have still denied me.

Due to the fact I had no other options or ways to make weight in four days I made the call to the Scout leader and broke the bad news that I was not able to go. There have been many feelings running through my head but many of them only make one a very selfish person. As the crew I helped train to get ready for Philmont is speeding towards it as fast as the highways allow, I feel sad that I am not with them but at the same time I feel a sense of pride and comfort knowing that the boys are in good hands of the other leaders and that their training will indeed be very useful to them. I am disappointed and feel that even though I worked my hardest I could have worked harder.

This is only a temporary setback and will not change the ultimate goal. I will complete my Philmont gear list and continue to test and review my gear. I will also continue my work out regiment and continue training for both the Appalachian Trail and to one day run a 100 mile race with my good friend Donnie.

Keep putting one foot in front of the other. No matter how hard it gets just keep going.

Adam

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