Philmont
Expedition - 2006
"The Scout Ranch"
The 2006 expedition to Philmont was an incredible adventure, that began on July 22 when we left home, and ended on August 8th when we returned. It was sixteen incredible days. The trip was more than a backpacking trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch, and the scouts that went lived action packed days and formed memories that will last a lifetime. The following pictures only hint at the awesome time we had. Individual prints can be enlarged, and specific frames can be obtained at full resolution for enlargement by emailing your scoutmaster.
Once we arrived at Philmont, things got busy fast! Right away, we had a real treat. Chope Phillips came to greet the Alaskan scouts! Chope's father, the late Waite Phillips, donated the land that ultimately became Philmont, and so it was a very special day to have his son come out to greet us. That sure doesn't happen everyday and it was a real privilege to meet the son of the man who made it all possible and to shake his hand! After the introductions, we had our official contingent photo taken, followed by our two crew photos. We were crew 727-O-1 and 727-O-2.
TENT CITY: On our first day, we checked into "tent city", and were introduced to our two respective rangers, James and Mark. We ate in the dining hall, and went through our gear "shakedown" getting rid of everything we really didn't need. It was an action packed day, but soon enough we had our issued gear checked out, our food trek packed, and our extra personal gear stored in our lockers, ready for the big adventure to finally begin.
ON THE TRAIL: Finally, the next morning we boarded a bus and headed out into the backcountry! Our rangers went over the essential map and compass skills we would need for the next ten days, and then before we knew it we were backpacking in Philmont! Right away we saw a snake crossing the road, and learned about black widow spiders and how to avoid them. And, then we saw the world's only Tyrannosaurus Rex track! Way kewl! We made camp under our ranger's supervision, learning how to set up our bear bags and cook our meals the "Philmont Way." We visited Indian Writings, and learned about the ancient people that once inhabited the area.
HART PEAK:
On our third day we climbed Hart Peak, where our ranger's bid us farewell and
left us to fend for ourselves in the Philmont backcountry. On
we went, finally arriving at Ponil, a fun old-west watering hole where there
were horses to ride, "cattle" to rope, Chuckwagon dinners to eat, and
free-flowing root beer to drink at the local cantina. At Ponil we
also completed three hours of conversation work, a requirement to earn the
coveted Philmont "Arrowhead" and then, just before we left, we
received our burros, and learned a whole new way to
"backpack." Just before we left, we took out a few moments
and did a little branding. Ever branded a nalgene
bottle? Yeah! Wow!
MIRANDA, UTE MEADOWS, PUEBLANO, AND MORE: We headed west, camping at higher and higher elevations. We dropped off our burros in Mirando, where we stopped for water. There, we took the time out to throw tomahawks, and do a little black powder shooting. Then, it was off again, going on to Pueblano where we had a great time listening to the beset show at Philmont. After that, we hiked higher still, spending the night at Ute Meadows. The following morning, we were hiking up to Baldy Town. We saw lightening storms you wouldn't believe, and one of our crews even got pounded by hail. Still, we maintained our spirits and hiked onward, and with each mile under our boots we began to meld into a cohesive group, with each scout knowing his job and doing it well.
BALDY COUNTRY: Rising to 12,441 feet above sea level, Mt Baldy is the second highest peak in New Mexico, and the highest peak at the Philmont Scout Ranch. It has called to scouts from all over the United States, and looms as a physical and mental challenge that when climbed can change you in ways you never imagined. More than one boy has committed himself to becoming an Eagle Scout once he has summated Baldy. Standing on top of the world gives you a feeling that if you can do this, then you can do anything. Climbing Baldy draws out the best in you, and requires steadfast resolve, stamina, and a commitment that is both mental and physical. Reaching the summit was our goal, and we didn't stop until every single one of us had completed it.
Of course, while climbing Baldy mountain was a highlight of going to Philmont, there were still more adventures ahead and more things to do. For the final page of images, follow the Philmont Arrowhead below with a click of your mouse, and come and enjoy with us the last pictures of our grand adventure:
Click here for the last of our Philmont Expedition
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