[Philmont] Trek #11 anyone?

I have already posted, but this happens to be one of my favorite topics, so ...   Base - It was a dust bowl when we arrived, sounds like there has been some rain recently.  Mark Anderson recommended that we make sure all the boys call home before hitting the trail.  We did this while we were waiting for the Opening campfire and it work out great.  Everyone got to talk to their Mom for a couple minutes. Day 2 - Vaca - Nice camp, very convenient to Harlan (15 minutes), I recommend you go for coffee, burro races and shooting.  If you arrive early, you may be able to shoot on day 1, we didn't due to lost time with a scout who had major altitude sickness.  Make sure everyone is hydrating and getting enough rest in base to attempt to avoid this.  Staff at Harlan was awesome. Day 3 - Devils Wash Basin - This hike is a killer for being your first full day on the trail - get ready for it.  The challenge is there isn't a good direct trail to get from Vaca to Devils.  We went the most direct route, which follows a jeep trail straight up to the Deer lake camp split - then to Deer Lake Mesa camp.  It's very steep and hot.  The views of the valley and Cimarron are great, but we weren't ready for the altitude.  We shot at Harlen and headed out around 11:00 and arrived about 3:00.  Our sister crew took a trail to the east and they didn't get in until after 5.  I recommend our campsite (#6) the number is on a tree laying near the fire ring.  Behind the site a short walk is a ridge with awesome views of the Tooth, Black Mt, etc.  It is a great place for the wilderness pledge, sunset - your ranger probably will know this (our Ranger was Bill Lively - he is a fine gentleman and an excellent Ranger - we were his first
 crew).  Day 3 - Aspen Springs - We got there before lunch and had site 2 which is a good location.  We took lunch and dinner to Cito, which I highly recommend.  There is plenty to do at cito and we stayed until dark.  The staff here is also fantastic.  The climbing was great - it's a pretty good climb to the climbing area.  There is also the possibility of cons, plus a conservation program that looked good.  This was our only hot shower on the trek.  After dinner we had coffee while the crew played on the climbing wall.  After coffee, we got into a Volleyball game against the staff, they didn't want us to leave, but at about 9:00 we headed back to Aspen. Day 4 - Cyphers - We did the hidden valley trail up to window rock, stopping there for breakfast.  We hiked down to Hunting lodge and had lunch then did the tour.  Then started up the north fork trail to cyphers.  Mucho stream crossings so it will slow you down, but it is a lush area with abundant wild flowers.  Got to Cyphers too late for program, so we did it in the morning.  Stomp was a lot of fun, the staff stayed after to play requests.  The Mucks (tent for the night) are tight if you have a full crew, we had to really squeeze to get everyone in, I had an edge with a 3 foot drop, so I didn't sleep too well.  Another great staff. Day 5 - Comanche Peak - We had dinner for lunch at Cyphers so it was after 1:00 when we started up the mountain, it's all up hill, but it's a nice grade - took a break at Thunder Ridge.  We saw snow as we approached the camp, not sure if it will still be there.  It was pretty crowded at this camp, Philips camp was still closed.  The bugs were pretty bad when we were there.  There is a nice clearing right before you enter the camp, definitely go back for some quite time there.  Went to bed early due to the bug issue. Day 6 - Clear Creak - We planned to have breakfast on top of Philips, which is doable, however we had a guy with some health issues on the way up, so our plan didn't pan out.  The view from Philips was really special for me, it was our highest peak and we all made it under our own power - get there early for the best view.  The hike down to clear creek is on an un-improved trail, just be ready for lots of gulley's and trail obstructions (off Philmont property).  We arrived at Clear Creek late due to our health issue, so we did Black powder the next morning.  Our guys love to shoot, staff was fun - missed the cabin tour so we could get going to Porky. Day 7 - Porcupine - We took the creek trail which is beautiful, got to Porky for a late lunch.  Campsite #5 is right on the creek, very nice and flat, it's a very serene setting.  We made a run to PJ (20 minutes) for food, and the guys decided not to do Crooked Creek :-(, so I can't comment on the program, but heard it is worth doing.  We planned to do advisor's coffee there, but had another health issue to deal with. Day 8,9 - Beaubien - We had talked about leaving our packs at PJ and side hiking to Apache Springs for program, but got a later than planned start so that option was lost.  Got to beaubien before lunch, and all cons slots were full for that day, so we signed up for 8AM on our layover day.  If it rains in the afternoon, they often open up more slots for the 2:00 cons, so you may want to check that out - we didn't know about it until it was too late.  We did branding here and the campfire was the best on our trek for me, it is worth going twice.  Cons was meadow encroachment work, they keep it pretty interesting.  We hiked Trail peak right after cons and got caught in a hail storm, so be prepared if you do that hike in the afternoon.  In hind sight, we probably should have hiked to Black mountain camp to shoot and then hiked to N. Fork Urracca via Trail peak/Crater Lake but we didn't think of that until it was too late.  You have lots of
 options.  Chuck Wagon was so good after getting wet at Trail Peak, make sure your cooks get there early, we were the last to be served - but there was enough for everyone to have seconds. Day 10 - N Fork Urracca - We stopped at Black Mountain Camp just in time for the 9:00 shooting slot.  After shooting we ate breakfast and started towards NF.  The staff at Black are the best we had at playing their part (Civil war era soldiers).  The hike to NF is along the stream, so there are lots of crossings and vegetation.  The campsites at NF are close and a little hilly.  Miners park is about 25-30 minutes away, so you can climb/repel if you get in early enough and the weather cooperates.  We went up after dinner for coffee and the crew did the climbing wall.  This a major staging point for crews that are on their last night so everyone is anxious to get back, but at the same time sad to see it end.  I recommend going to as many coffees as you can, it is a great way to meet and visit with scouters from around the country and we started to see more familiar faces as the trek progressed. Day 11 - This is a long hike so get started early and have as much water ready as you can carry.  We filled up at Miners the night before or you can use the stream by the campsite.  The spring at Shaffers pass was reported to be dry and we didn't take the time to check.  We hiked up to Shaffers Peak for breakfast, it a nice place to stop.  The peak is only a short climb from the trail intersection to Tooth Ridge and the view is worth the climb.  The Tooth Ridge hike killed my knees, I should have used my poles that day - use them if you have them.  The ridge hike has spectacular views, you can see the ridge at devils wash basin (from day 3).  We got to the base of the Tooth about 11:00, we decided not to take lunch with us which for us was a good decision - we ate when we came down.  We had about 45 minutes on top by ourselves which was a nice way to start wrapping up the trip.  The Tooth isn't the highest peak on the trek, but it was the
 summit of our trek.  The hike down is long, but you probably already know that.  We got in about 3:30, which makes it tight to get all checked in, but it is doable.  If you have an early morning departure, do your TOT Traders shopping before you go on the trek, because it closes at 6:45 every night and we really didn't have time to do much shopping after the trek.  Hint to any PhilStaff reading - open the Trading Post for an hour or so after Chapel services - Please.   I can't believe it's over already, let me know if you have any specific questions.  Finally, remember it is the crew's trek, let them learn from their mistakes and their successes - let the youth lead.        Kirk McClure Troop 1001 Richardson, TX 2008 612-M 1976 715-C1 ----- Original Message ---- From: Sue Bani <sbdobe@comcast.net> To: Philmont List Member <Philmont@troop47.com> Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 7:18:36 AM Subject: [Philmont] Trek #11 anyone? I know Kirk posted - thanks that was wonderful!  Has anyone else "been there and back" on trek #11?  We leave next Wednesday and I would love to hear your report!   Kelly - I love your tag line- "Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible." - Robin Morgan    Most of my friends think I am absolutely nuts - then I come home and show them pictures - and of course, the pictures take their breath away, and then of course, I start thinking about when I can go again!    9 days to go - IWTGBTP! Sue Bani - T230 - Philmont 2005 (726-K, trek 8),  2008 (726-N, trek 11) "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss     ------------------------------------------------------- Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp ------------------------------------------------------- Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- To Unsubscribe send text email to: To: listserv@troop47.com Subject: unsubscribe Body: unsubscribe philmont@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. -------------------------------------------------------
          

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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Fri Jul 18 13:34:49 2008