Philmont 2012
Philmont was an experience of a life time as we hiked through the rugged mountains of New Mexico we developed ourselves physically, morally, emotionally and intellectually. Our 12 member crew consisting of Patrick R., Kynan F., Derek R., Kevin D., Justin M., Timothy F., Nick D., Andrew P., Peter O. and Chris N.. Through our journey we learned a lot about each other, and each other’s personalities. We grew to accept each other for better or for worse but, somehow we never got out of the “Storming” stage of our development. With careful planning we learned the importance of good leadership and a good crew. Philmont taught us so many things like how to properly set up a bear bag or gut sump food or how good hot sauce can taste. It also let us experience so many new things including spare pole climbing and horseback riding; all of these things put together created an unforgettable experience.
Before we left for Philmot we joined up with a charter tour company called Blue Sky Adventures. They were very kind of and taught us a lot about Philmont and the surrounding area. We visited the Red Rocks Theater were famous artists and bands play like; FTP, the Beatles, Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa. There we went on a small hike to acclimate ourselves with the weather and altitude. Furthermore, we went to the Air Force Academy and went White Water rafting down the raging Colorado River even though they were in the worst drought seen in decades. The drought caused us some minor issues like the fact that on July 4 we weren’t allowed to set off fireworks or at Philmont there is a fire ban and the water levels on the Colorado are very low. But don’t let this suggest that there was no rain, every day in the afternoon it would rain sometimes for a few minutes of a few hours. Our first day at camp we got flooded because of the rain, apparently it was monsoon season.
To start our trek we arrived at base camp on July 5, Kevin’s birthday. After a birthday cake was delivered to him during dinner we went to bed to hit the trails early in the morning. We woke up early and got on a bus to our starting point of Kit Carson Museum, after a short tour we start our hike. The first day we hike 5 miles in the blazing New Mexico sun after that we hiked an average of 8-10 miles a day. One of the highlights of our trip was up to Mt. Baldy and the Tooth of Time two of the highest peaks of Philmont. We really felt like cowboys living in the Wild Wild West. On my Birthday we hiked 5miles with our donkey to our last staff camp were we enjoyed root beer and horseback riding.
Philmont was an adventure of a lifetime, I suggest that everybody does it at least on time in there scouting career. It tests you in so many different ways not just physical but mentally and emotionally also. All I can say is that it was a worthwhile experience and great birthday present. Finally I would like to say, I WANT TO GO BACK TO PHILMONT!!!!!
Timmy F.
Trek 21
Crew 705-J-04
