Troop 40 Boy Scouts Tackle the New Mexico Mountains

On July 4, 2006, nine Scouts and leaders from Troop 40 left Meridian heading to Cimarron, New Mexico for a challenging backpacking adventure in the mountains and mesas of northeastern New Mexico at Philmont Scout Ranch. Philmont is the Boy Scouts of America's oldest national high-adventure base. It covers 137,000 acres - about 214 square miles - of rugged mountain wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico.

Philmont has been the home of the Apache and Ute Indians, a famous stop on the Santa Fe Trail, a prospecting community, and a working cattle ranch. Waite Phillips, an Oklahoma oil tycoon, gave the ranch to the Boy Scouts in 1938. More than 820,000 Scouts, Venturers, and leaders have experienced the adventure of Philmont since the first camping season in 1939.

The Troop applied for this trip in October 2004 and we were notified in December 2004 that we had been awarded a slot for 2006. Our Crew number would be 706-E, which means our arrival date would be July 6. Only a few of the thousands of troops, who apply, get a chance for this adventure of a lifetime. Each summer more than 20,000 scouts come to the Ranch to hike its trails, climb its mountains and learn about themselves and the wilderness. As of March this year, there were still over a 1000 troops on the waiting list.

Philmont has 35 itineraries that a crew can choose from. Each one has special events and they are rated with various levels of difficulty such as Challenging, Rugged, Strenuous, and Super Strenuous. The super strenuous itineraries are the most difficult. These itineraries include hiking great distances and climbing many of Philmont's highest peaks. Super strenuous itineraries are designed for experienced crews—seasoned backpackers who are at least 15 years of age, all in top physical condition. Troop 40 selected Trek 30, one of Philmont's super strenuous itineraries at 80 miles. This trek is designed to challenge even the most seasoned backpacker and climbs all of Philmont’s major peaks. When it was over we had hiked more than 90 miles with our side hikes.

We camped at backcountry camps with names like Ewells Park, Deer Lake Mesa, Sioux, Red Hills, Shaffer’s Pass and Santa Claus. The staff camps we stayed at were Pueblano, Clarks Fork, and Cyphers Mine. At the staffed camps, the Scouts were able to participate in a variety of programs such as spar pole climbing, black powder shooting, branding, western lore including horse back riding, gold panning, blacksmithing, and a gold mine tour.

Our Trek started out at 6400 feet above sea level and went up from there. That was quite a change for “flatlanders” from Mississippi. The Crew had to get used to the thinner air, which we slowly adjusted to over the first several days. We started in the North Country, where we climbed Philmont’s highest peak, Baldy Mountain (12,441ft). We will then headed south to hike some of Philmont's other major peaks including Mount Phillips (11,711 ft.), Comanche Peak (11,326 ft.), Big Red (11,024 ft.), Shaffer’s Peak (9,360 ft.), and the Tooth of Time (9,003 ft.). We got up early two mornings and hiked steep and rocky trails in the dark to see the sunrise. One trip was to Wilson Mesa and the other to Shaffer’s Peak where we enjoyed the most wonderful sunrises you could image.

Since we were backpacking we had to carry everything we would need for 11 days / 10 nights on our backs. This included tents, stoves, pots, sleeping bags, clothing, and water. We had up to 4 days worth of food at a time and we typically carried 3 to 4 liters of water and sometimes as much as 8 liters. Most of the camps we stayed at had a water source but two of our camps were dry and one only had a very slow spring. The packs we carried weighed from 40 to 60 pounds, depending on the weight of the hiker, but the beautiful surroundings were worth all the hard work.

The crew did have some help carrying our food for the first two days on the trail. Teddy was a big help, but it was tough keeping him from eating along the trail. Teddy was our Burro. We picked him up at Ponil, where we attended a burro class so the scouts could learn how to care for him and how to harness and load Teddy’s packs. Teddy was a good burro that became a part of our team.

One of the hazards of backpacking in the Rockies is the need for bear safety procedures. Philmont has black and brown bears and a few mountain lions, but no Grizzlies. We did not see any bears, but several of the camps we stayed in had experienced “bear visits” so we made sure we followed the bear procedures. We had to put up all of our 'smellables' such as food, cameras and film, toothpaste, garbage / trash, etc. into 'bear bags' which were hoisted up onto a cable each night. We could not wear underarm deodorant because we did not want a bear to think we might be eatable and eat our armpits. This led to a lot of body odor after a few days without a shower, but after a while you just ignored it because everyone smelled the same.

The Arrowhead patch is one of the most coveted awards at Philmont. The reason is, it cannot be purchased, it can only be earned. It is awarded to crews who spend at least three hours in conservation projects at Philmont, complete a trek, follow their assigned itinerary, and demonstrate Scouting spirit. I am proud that everyone in our crew earned the Arrowhead. Crew members also earned Philmont’s Duty to God Patch. In order to qualify for this award, participants must attend a religious service while at Philmont, while on the trail participate in at least three daily devotionals with their crew, and lead grace before a meal.

Our conservation project was working on a stream reconstruction project to make a deep pool in the Ponil Creek to create a natural habitat for the Cut Throat Trout that were being reintroduced to the stream. The crew did this by moving rocks from a hill to the stream to make a dam. Big rocks had to be broken into small pieces with sledge hammers. These were then used to plug the gaps between the big rocks we used to make the dam. It had to be designed and built to allow the trout to navigate upstream and still be able to withstand flash floods.

We met new friends, strengthened friendships and had the scouting experience of a lifetime. Philmont is something that will change a boy forever. Ask any of the boys from our Troop who went and they will tell you it is one of the best experiences they have ever had. Philmont challenges everything about you, both physically and mentally. After Philmont you will never be the same. The common refrain from scouts and adults who attend Philmont Scout Ranch is "I want to go back to Philmont".

PHILMONT HYMN
Silver on the sage, starlit skies above
Aspen covered hills, country that I love
Philmont here's to thee, Scouting paradise
Out in God's country tonight

Wind in whispering pines, eagles soaring high
Purple mountains rise, against an azure sky
Philmont here's to thee, Scouting paradise
Out in God's country tonight

Philmont Grace
For food, for raiment
For life, for opportunity
For friendship and fellowship
We thank thee, O Lord

Philmont Crew 706-E

Youth
Duncan Chalk – Crew Leader – Life Scout 15, attends Lamar School

Gary Cummings – Chaplin’s Aide – Life Scout 14, attends Northwest Jr. High School

Rob Cory – Life Scout 15, attends Northeast High School

Steven Stewart – Eagle Scout 16, attends Lamar School

Micah Huffman – Life Scout 16, attends Meridian High School

Caleb Callahan - 14, attends school in Maryland. Caleb was with Troop 40 until October last year when his father was transferred. He attended North East Middle School and he came back to go to Philmont with his old Troop.

Adult Advisors Keith Clifford - Lead Advisor Gary Cummings - Advisor Robert Huffman - Advisor