The Hike
by P.J!, as told at the 1998 and 2003 Philmont Ranger Rendezvous. Note: I Like/The Hike is a call/response thing.
This is a story about a Ranger, it could be any
Ranger- perhaps you; probably me. This is also a story about hiking. Actually
it is about The Hike. Not “To Hike”...that is a verb. The Hike is more of a state of mind.
This story also involves some audience
participation. Whenever I raise my arm and say, “I like”, you need
to yell, “The Hike.” (Let’s practice a few times)…
Scene one. A Ranger is hiking behind a crew, and
in the back of the line is a camper who is talking: "Wow, you really have
it made out here, you get to come out here for the summer and have fun and play
and hike and get paid to do it all. You really are lucky, and you really must
like hiking!"
"Yeah", replied the Ranger, "I like
The Hike". He said, "I like The Hike". He said, "I like The
Hike". He said, "That's what I like". As the Ranger continued
on, he was thinking, "What I really like is teaching campers like this
one...helping them to grow and reach their potential. I like to show them the wilderness,
help them have a good time, and teach them to work as a group". The Ranger
knew this explanation would never fly with the camper, so he was content on
just referring to it as The Hike.
Scene two. The Ranger is back in base between
crews, and is on the phone with his mom. She is saying, "You go out there
for the summer and have fun, while all your friends are working. You should
have a job...maybe earn some money or get some experience in your field.
Instead you are out there not getting paid anything, and just having fun hiking
around."
The Ranger replied, "You are right, I like
The Hike". He said, "I like The Hike". He said, "I like The
Hike". He said, "That's what I like". But as he hung up the
phone, he was thinking, "I am getting more out of this than any other way
I could be spending my time. What I really like is everything I am learning
about working with people, all the leadership skills I am gaining, and all the
practical things that I would never learn anywhere else at this age. Sure I could
get paid more elsewhere, or get some trade experience, but I am gaining skills
that will be valuable in any setting." But the Ranger knew his mom
wouldn't understand this, so he was content on referring to it all as The
Hike…What the mom called hiking really had much deeper meaning to the
Ranger.
Scene three. The Ranger is back on the trail, and
this time an advisor is talking to him. "You are quite lucky to be out
here getting paid to do this kind of stuff, when we have to pay hundreds of
dollars and call years in advance to have this experience. We only get to hike
ten days, while you are out here hiking all summer having fun. You must really
like to hike."
The Ranger replied, "Yep, I like The
Hike". He said, "I like The Hike". He said, "I like The Hike".
He said, "That's what I like". But as he hiked on, he thought,
"What I really like is all the friends I have made out here. I have
awesome friends in my Training Crew and in other departments. I have made
lifelong friends who I wouldn't trade for anything. Sure we have gone hiking
together, but we will be friends for well after this summer—I will have
countless life adventures with them around the world. That's what I like".
But the Ranger knew the Advisor wouldn't buy this, so he was content on simply
calling it all The Hike.
***
The Philmont Ranger is known for hiking.
The Ranger can hike faster and longer
than any other breed of hiker. The Ranger can carry amazing loads, can bushwack
over rough terrain, and can find his or her way back home from anywhere. But
the hiking is only a front for the Ranger's real job description: the Ranger
facilitates growth in Scouts and Advisors, the Ranger experiences much growth
him or herself, and the Ranger makes amazing friends...all things which are
hardly recognized compared to the Ranger's hiking ability.
***
One final scene. The Ranger, at the end of the
summer, is back in class and wearing a shirt one of his crews gave him. After
class, the professor notices it says "Philmont" and states,
"Philmont, that is the Boy Scout Camp in
"I was a Ranger this summer" said the
Ranger.
"Wow, I heard you Rangers do a bunch of
hiking around. You must have had lots of fun hiking this summer."
"Yeah", he replied, "I like The
Hike". He said, "I like The Hike". He said, "I like The
Hike". He said, "That's what I like". But as the Ranger left the
classroom, he was thinking other things. He could have been thinking about how
much he gave to help the Scouts this summer. He could have been thinking about
how much he learned in return. He could have been thinking about all the
friends he made. But instead, the summer being over, the only thing he could
think was
I...
(lead into Ranger song)
