Philmont
Expedition - 2006
"The Finale"
FRENCH HENRY, HEAD OF DEAN, NEW DEAN, AND DEAN COW: Philmont has a lot more than high mountains and neat hiking trails. As we traveled down from Baldy, we explored the 'towns' of French Henry, a quasi-1900's settlement steeped in the history of the gold fields. There, we explored a real gold mine, long since abandoned, as well as tried our hand at a real forge, pounding hot metal and turning it into useful items. At Head of Dean we tried our hand at some serious challenge events, learning teamwork and testing our ability to solve physical challenges and use our teammates to accomplish the nearly impossible. At New Dean, a wilderness camp, we rested in rock chairs, watched "rock tv" and relaxed and enjoyed a great afternoon. Finally, we hiked onward to Dean Cow, where we climbed rock walls and rapelled down shear rock faces, our hearts pounding and a smile painted on our faces. Finally, at Harlan, we loaded our own shotgun shells and blasted clay pigeons into smithereens, and then we raced burros until we just couldn't run anymore.
GAMES AND FUN AND MEMORIES MADE: Philmont is an experience that once lived, is life changing. You do things with your friends you would never do on your own, racing burros and acting crazy just because its the right thing to do.
REFLECTION: Philmont is more than a place. It grows
inside of you, and slowly over ten days becomes a part of you.
There are things to do, and things to see, that are life memories that will
never be forgotten. The stars at night are three dimensional, stark,
and oh-so-bright they cannot be described. Philmont
grips you and holds you and never lets go. It calls out to you
to return, and hopefully, we will.
"They
called it a summer job, but you didn't think of it that way. It was more
like three months of high adventure with six or eight hundred of your
closest friends. You'd try to explain it, and they thought is was a summer
camp. But it was more than that. When it rained, you got wet. And when it
was hot, you broiled. You'd carry a thirst that made a Nalgene bottle
tainted with iodine tablets or halizone taste sweeter than anything you've
tasted since. Your residence was a green, canvas tent, and you commuted to
work on foot. Your office was anything from a backpack to a dining hall to a
burro pen, but you never called it "going to work". You usually
needed a shower, but your friends never mentioned it -- they needed one too.
Standard work clothes were Staff Shirts, miners clothes, buckskins, and
cowboy garb. Hiking less than a dozen miles with under fifty pounds was
regarded as little more than an evening stroll. And then on your days
off...you'd want to go climb Wheeler Peak. Yeah...some summer job. NO WONDER
they didn't get it!" (Excerpt from an email to Philmont Staff Advisors
in 1999.)
"The
only things we keep permanently are those we give away." (Waite
Phillips-who donated the land for Philmont)
“Philmont
means more than just a series of scenic mountain camps or a collection of
exciting programs. It is more than just a physical challenge. It is an
experience in living together and cooperating with others under sometimes
difficult circumstances. It is learning to surmount the challenges of hiking
and camping at high altitudes and learning to live in harmony with nature.
You might get soaked to the skin in torrential downpour. You will breathe
harder and faster than ever before in climbing a ridge or mountain, and
after that you may even burn your supper. But you will make it, even though
there will be times when you feel as if you can go no further.
In conquering these challenges you will gain confidence and a belief in your
ability and go on to even greater achievements. This new knowledge of
yourself will inspire you to do something for your fellow man, your God, and
your country. Now is the time to act! Set your goals high and resolve to
achieve them. You can do it. You will be better for it and your Philmont
experience will become even more meaningful. It will never really end.“
(Excerpt from Philmont Handbook)
"Now
I know the secret of making the best persons. It is to grow in
the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth-" (Walt Whitman)
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 Hymn)
