The Hike
by P.J!, as told at the 1998 and 2003 Philmont Ranger Rendezvous; updated in 2003. 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.
Scene one. A Ranger is hiking behind a crew, and
in the back of the line is a camper who says: "Wow, you really have
it made, you get to come out here for the summer and have fun hiking and get paid to do it. 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...showing them the wilderness,
helping them have a good time, and teaching them to work as a group.
I especially like helping them to grow and reach their potential, physically
and mentally. 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 says, "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 hardly getting paid, and just wasting time 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, the leadership skills I am gaining, and 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. The Ranger knew his mom wouldn't understand this, so he was content on referring to it all as The Hike.
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 plan years in advance to have this experience. We only get to hike
ten days, while you are out here 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; awesome people from across the country and world, from all variety of backgrounds. I've made
friends who I wouldn't trade for anything, and have learned from them. Sure we have hiked together, but we will be friends well after this summer. 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 outdoor methods are only a front for the Ranger's real work: the Ranger facilitates growth in boys and girls, men and women; the Ranger experiences much himself; 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 asks,
"Philmont, that's the Boy Scout Camp in
"I was one of them this summer" said the
Ranger.
"Wow, I heard you guys can really hike. You must have had lots of fun."
"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)