Here we come! We will arrive base camp on Friday June 17 and start hiking on Saturday June 18 returning to base camp on Tuesday June 28.
Looking forward to a good time. A total of 32 (23 scouts and 9 adults) from Troop 51 will get to enjoy the Philmont experience. The crew I am on has 7 scouts and 4 adults.
Anyone other than Deral Paulk been to Philmont?
Yup - went for an adult leadership conference a few years back. Great time!
Live right next to it... well... 30 miles. Go by there all the time! Love it!
I Was There In 1960
We trekked the Northern section. As if the back packing was not enough, one night after dinner we hiked 5 miles to another base camp to buy ice cream and hiked back. We all wore out our flashlight batteries spotlighting a gazillion deer and antelope.
Saw my first flash flood there. We hiked into a campsite that was divided by a gully. They ephatically said, "DO NOT EVER GO INTO THE GULLY!" We pitched our tents and later that afternoon a storm came up in the mountains. The mountains looked like they were filming "The Ten Commandments." When it started hailing they sent us all into our tents. When it stopped we had to resecure quite a few tents. A bit later they assembled us all and then directed us to line up 10' from the top of the gully. A little later we heard a freight train coming our way and a 5' wall of water filled the gully half full. All they said was, "NOW YOU KNOW WHY!"
That was a fantastic summer. I was in a group of 2 troops bussed out from Easton, PA, first to the 50th Anniversary Jamboree in Colorado Springs, then a full Philmont trek. 32 days away from home for a teenage boy. 50,000 Scouts at the Jamboree.
We slept in barracks at Air Force bases on the way eating in the mess halls. The best show along the way was watching B-47s taking off. They gallumped down the runway, wings at full sag, then the wings would rise up for lift, then sag again. After a couple of goose like flaps the wings would lock in the up position and they would light off the RATO bottles and lift off. Enough smoke, fire and noise to please any kid of any age.
One night somewhere along the way we went to a movie theater. The film was "Elmer Gantry". Now that was an eye opening movie for a teenage boy.
Paul in PA
Paul
I had a co-worker at a former job who was a B-47 pilot in the 1950s. He said that was the most beautiful airplane ever built both visually and to fly as a pilot.
> Anyone other than Deral Paulk been to Philmont?
I went in about 1984... I think. Went with a group from about 4 troops from WV. I forget the scout/leader ratio.
We did the bald mountain, can't remember the name. "Skied" down the back side and got caught in a hail storm. Had a bear get a bear bag at one campsite. Did whatever it was I had to do to put the Philmont bull tail over the seam on my red wool scout jacket. Do you know what I'm talking about?
I want to say we did about 84 miles in about 9 days. I think the most we did was about 15 miles in one day. I used to have some great pics of the "Tooth of Time" but I'm not sure where they are now.
Have fun, Dan! It's a great time!!
Carl
I Was There In 1960
So was I.
Myself and three other members of the local summer camp staff and a adult leader, took a "road trip" to visit the jamboree and Philmont was an enjoyable trip. Wasn't a all interstate route at that time from central Ohio.
Philmont Ranch is one of my fondest memories. I went with the first coed group to do the nearly 100 mile hike. Baths in the very cold mountain water and such a grand time. I came back to work at the Ranch and enjoyed that as well as a counselor.
I've been to many scout camps but Philmont has always been the premier place to hone the skills learned in scouting.
Have a great time and I know you will.
I attended a boarding school in Montezuma, NM and we did a couple of trips to Philmont. One of the most memorable for me was a 35 mile solo hike I did in 94. It was amazing how domesticated some of the animals had gotten from all of the Boy Scouts coming through. I had a cow elk that started following me the second evening that would not leave me alone. She stood around when I made camp and cooked dinner. Eventually I climbed under my tarp to go to bed and about 5 minutes later I hear some rustling. When I look down I see her head stuck in my tarp. She backed off when I climbed out and I eventually had to hit her with rocks to get her to leave me alone. When you are out there alone, even a bothersome cow elk will get the blood pumping.
James Redmon
Maybe she had lost a calf and was looking for a replacement.:-P
