Old Eagle Scout here (1987). And Philmont Scout Ranch Trail Crew plus Rayado Trek guy as well. I spent a lot of time at Philmont in the mid eighties doing hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles all at altitude with full packs. I saw troops and Scouts from all parts of the country and can tell you some were more proficient than others. My Scoutmaster...an old time Air Force guy and wildlife biologist in Uwharrie National Forest (retired)...he told me in the early nineties Scouting changed a lot after Vietnam. Scouting has gone through its up and downs over the decades... particularly since the end of the Vietnam war era. There is an element in America that would love to see Scouting watered down to the point it's not worth joining anymore. I don't like that. Hopefully, Scouting will bounce back and recover to what it was. It is the same crowd that protested against the Vietnam war in the sixties and early seventies that has grown up and are now in some positions of financial strength that are changing Scouts.
Old Eagle Scout here (1987). And Philmont Scout Ranch Trail Crew plus Rayado Trek guy as well. I spent a lot of time at Philmont in the mid eighties doing hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles all at altitude with full packs. I saw troops and Scouts from all parts of the country and can tell you some were more proficient than others. My Scoutmaster...an old time Air Force guy and wildlife biologist in Uwharrie National Forest (retired)...he told me in the early nineties Scouting changed a lot after Vietnam. Scouting has gone through its up and downs over the decades... particularly since the end of the Vietnam war era. There is an element in America that would love to see Scouting watered down to the point it's not worth joining anymore. I don't like that. Hopefully, Scouting will bounce back and recover to what it was. It is the same crowd that protested against the Vietnam war in the sixties and early seventies that has grown up and are now in some positions of financial strength that are changing Scouts.