Chapter 61 Scout Class - part 8 - Pushing our Limits

Chapter 61

Scout Class - part 8 - Pushing our Limits

In the Standard Class at Trackerschool, we learned a lot very fast through lectures and demonstrations.  The dirt time was minimal compared to the rest of the Trackerschool classes I went to through the years.  In the Standard class we were told, “You can practice when you get home.”  Tom was cramming as much information into our heads as he could.

In Scout Class, we spent most of our time going and doing, after brief lectures.  Scout Class was mostly dirt time, and much of it was at night.

To take Scout Class, we students had finished the prerequisites of Standard class, Advanced Standard class, and Advanced Tracking and Awareness class.  We were beginning to advance in experience to the level I comparable to grade 1, compared to Tom.

My non tracker friends would think I was able to survive in the wild now.  They would say, “When the s#*% hits the fan, I’m coming to you.”  But honestly, I was still a baby compared to my teacher.  Had I been experienced, they would never find me.

Scout Class was all about dirt time and pushing our limits, especially when it came to sleep.  Tom said, “You can sleep when you’re dead!”  Each and very night every team would be out, moving quietly over miles of sand roads, paths, and through brush to other sites; stalking and raiding till 2 or 3am.  Falling into bed only to have to wake up at 7am to get ready for the day.

There were stories of people falling asleep while standing up in line for food.  Personally, I did doze off momentarily in the lecture hall while Tom was talking to us.  And once I fell asleep while laying down in the bushes waiting for the point person to lead out.

Being in that state of presence and exhaustion some interesting experiences occurred.

For me, once while laying in the bushes on my back I felt a line of ants crawling under me in the debris.  I was surprised I could feel them through my clothing!

Another time, I had to pee.  We were all laying under the bushes, spread out, waiting to move on.  I pulled my pants down right there where I was laying and peed as quietly as I could, hoping we didn’t move out while I was in the middle of relieving myself.  I never told my team, but as a female who usually has the convenience of a toilet and paper, I was so proud of myself!

The fact that we had each other during these classes was such an advantage.  We could compare notes and learn from each other.  Peeing without toilet paper, while laying in the bushes, with other people around me, and as a woman, was a first for me.  Hearing about other women doing the same led me to try it and find out it wasn’t that big of a deal.

And in an earlier experience I mentioned previously, having been told before class by a friend, “You have to go through the swamp,” led me to do it and find out it was not only doable, but very memorable and a highlight of class.

I think being told that something is doable and not a problem is very valuable.  When people are in a unique and unknown situation, having someone who has been through it and shares their knowledge and calm attitude, is invaluable.  This person can reduce the level of fear or panic for those who are new to the situation.

This concept is one of the reasons I went into the wilderness with an adept teacher, so I could learn and be ready to share.

I still have a lot to learn, but this is a lifelong pursuit.