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I am now writing this final blog entry to let any readers know that we are all safely home and the Philmont adventure is over. Rather than trying to continue writing blog entries to fill in the gaps of the past two weeks, I think I'm just going to close the blog with this entry and ask that you get our stories of daring and adventure directly from those of us who lived it. I guess this blogging stuff was marginally successful, but simply does not work well when mobile phone coverage is not available as was the case during much of our trek in Philmont.  For a full dose of photos from the trip, explore our main website at www.scouttroop94.org. I'll close with this photo of the whole bunch at the airport over two weeks ago as we are about to board a plane to adventure. Note how clean everyone looks. 

Cons

Hike Day 9 started doing teamwork activities at Head of Dean. The point was to ensure the team could work together including everyone to accomplish difficult tasks - like scaling a wall or placing a gold ring (old tire) on a sleeping giant's finger (vertical pole) without waking the giant (don't touch the pole). We then left camp and packed over to Baldy Skyline camp where the Cons (short for Conservation) team met us to explain what we would be doing. Our job was to close an old trail and to prepare it with rotting logs and wood such that it would quickly be absorbed by the forest and disappear over the course of several years.  The day ended with a hike into Ute Meadows to camp.

Head of Dean

Today, Hike Day 8, was one of the longest with packs on thus far. We left our campsite at about 8am and initially descended to Highway 64 which is the lowest altitude we will see for the rest of the trip. From there we started climbing. Along the way we passes through Santa Claus Camp, which did not look much like the north pole. There was a cabin there that had a sign on the door that read "Do Not Enter. Hantavirus Inside."  No Christmas this year, boys and girls. 

Three miles later and many hundreds of feet higher, we arrived at Head of Dean camp. This camp has a theme of activities and challenges - which have kept the scouts occupied until well after sunset. 

Ute Gulch Commisarry

Part of today's Hike Day 7 schedule included stopping by the Ute Gulch Commissary to pick up a fresh supply of trail dinners and snacks (Corn Nuts are not very popular) and visit the trading post trail shop to buy any items needed on the second half of our hike.

Mitchell's pack could not have picked a better location to completely fall apart. Once the aluminum frame snapped, I knew we needed to do something quick so that he could continue the trek. Fortunately, the commissary rents packs!  Ten minutes later, Mitch is loaded down with an old external frame Kelty.  Trail magic!

Cowboy Camp

Our day began with horse riding at Clark's Fork Cowboy Camp.  Now, I personally am not too big on horseback riding, but it was very special to experience the vast and endless scenery of mountainous New Mexico from the back of a horse, exactly as the American pioneers did not too long ago when the west was young and untamed.  Oh yeah, I think the scouts had a good time too. 

Don't Hike and Blog

Hiking while bloggibg is not a goood idea. 

Rock Climbing At Miner's Pass

Upon arrival at Miner's Pass around 2 in the afternoon, we met with a staff member who informed us that there is rock climbing to be done, but that the crews arriving before us had filled all afternoon slots. But some negotiations allowed us to get in on the last slot of the day. On the downside, the showers in camp closed at 5 and we would miss that opportunity until tomorrow. After hiking upwards 500' from camp to the climbing and repelling area, we were able to get 7 of 11 crew members up the rock before it started raining; the lightning threat chased us down off of the mountain.  Back in camp, the staff hosted the adult advisors for the multiple crews staying there this evening to a coffee and cookie social hour.  Your current Hike Day number establishes your rank within the Philmont community. Soon, we will have earned the respected senior position of Hike Day 10 or 11 rather than our current newbie amateur status of Hike Day 4.

Lover's Leap

Our Hike Day 4 holiday began as we packed out of our Aguila campsite and chose to hike down into a small valley near a rock tower called Lovers Leap. We stopped for lunch here and explored a well-based water reservoir, supposedly for horses and burrows. After lunch, we made the climb into Miner's Pass camp, where we will stay the night. 

Happy Fourth

Today is the Fourth of July - Otherwise known to our crew as "Hike Day 4."  Aside from greeting other crews on the trail with "Happy Fourth," the day lacked the usual fanfare that accompanies the holiday.  Philmont is under a high danger level of wildfire warning and has a strict "no open flame" policy. So no fires and no fireworks.

Hike Day Five

Hike day 5 was looong - around 12 miles. Full packs and new food filled everyone to max weight.  If you got up early enough, a hot shower was available. We left Miner's Pass and hiked up to Schaffer's Pass where we set our packs down and hiked down Tooth ridge to the iconic Tooth of Time. After a hard rock scramble, we reached the top just in time to have the rain begin and to see and hear lightning along thr next ridge over.  Being on the top of the highest local peak is a bad thing, so after all the work of getting there, we scampered down to lower terrain. The long hike back to the packs was rainy and cold. Pack on, then a final 2 miles downhill to Clarks Fork. The cowboy singalong after dinner was a great end of a long day. 

Aberu Homestead

Hike Day 3 began with a short walk into Abreu homestead. This camp is set up to demonstrate how homesteaders lived when New Mexico became a state in 1912. The residence is an adobe construction complete with icebox, wood burning stove, and a sink pump (but there was a "new" faucet installed recently to replace the pump).  The young staffer who toured us through the home played America the Beautiful on the pump organ while we sang along. 

Outside, a different staffer allowed the scouts to do help out by digging mud for adobe bricks.  The visit finished with a cold root beer purchase (with exact change) at the Mexican cantina. 

Aguila Camp

Hike day 3 ended with a long climb up to a ridge line from Abreu. The view across the mesas and into the valley below is amazing. 

Hike Day Numbers

I'm realizing that it may be helpful to include the day i wrote the blog entry in addition to the day it gets posted. During the day, i can write blog entries on my phone, but they may not get posted until a day or two later - depending on signal and charge. This was written on our hike day 3, which due to a fortunate but accidental alignment with the calendar, is also the day of the month.  Knowing what hike day you are on is incredibly important. Here in the backcountry, there is no "Wednesday" or weekend, only hike day numbers. Those numbers determine what activities you will do, how far you will hike, where you will pitch your tent, what you will have for dinner. We will do our best to remember that Hike Day 4 is a holiday!

Zastro Ranch

The Philmont experience is more than just hiking.  The first stop made today was at the Zastro ranch where orienteering and geocaching were available. Between rainstorms, the crew participated in a brief but challenging orienteering competition. Rain has been increasingly common in the afternoons. New Mexico is now entering its monsoon season. There has been more rain here over the past few days than since Christmas.  A game of horseshoes broke out during a break in the weather. 

The Big Hike Starts Today

We all are up, fed, packed, and waiting for the transport to take Crew 1 to the trailhead. 

Crew 2 is also departing Base Camp, but on a different itinerary.  Don't worry if you do not see a particular Crew 2 member. All may not be pictured, but all are accounted for. 

Hurry Up and Wait

Today was all about processing in to the Philmont Scout Ranch. We began with a 6:30am departure from the Marriott. Three and a half hours later, we arrived at the Ranch and started the check-in process. During the summer season, Philmont hosts over 23,000 participants. Every day over 400 participants are welcome to the camp. Each participant must be registered, meet their crew's ranger, have a medical check, brief their hike, get tents, get trail food, get cookware, be assigned a tent in tent city, attend a campfire program, and somehow get enough rest to begin the big hike. LONGEST DAY EVER!  But all are still in good health and attitude.