Re: [Philmont]: Trek 32

> Does anyone have any "lessons learned" for Trek 32?

McBride Canyon - Your bus will drop you off at 6-Mile Gate. The trail
starts across the road, parallels the stream for about a mile, then crosses
back over the road and up McBride Canyon. The camp is actually really
nice - water is from the well in the middle of the camp (purify it first).

Cottonwood - Continue hiking up McBride Canyon (Warning: this rough, steep
stretch of the 4WD road is nicknamed "Heart Attack Hill"). You will
eventually make a right turn and head down into Indian Writings Camp. Watch
your step going down - this trail is nicknamed "The Stairmaster." Stop at
IW for program - archaeology and a walking tour of the petroglyphs on the
canyon walls. It is actually quite fascinating. Spend plenty of time at
IW - there's nothing to do at Cottonwood. The trail to Cottonwood is a mile
or so further up North Ponil Canyon.

Ponil - Go back through IW and up the Stairmaster. Instead of heading on
the trail you came in from McBride on, continue straight to Hart Peak. Hart
Peak offers your first views of Baldy. From there, it is less than an hour
downhill into Ponil. There's all kinds of programs there - horse riding,
branding, cantina and so on. You will also have a scheduled food pickup.
Most of the the campsites at Ponil are pretty poor at best (out in the hot
sun). Don't miss the cantina show in the evening - it's always a lot of
fun. Chuckwagon dinner will save you from cooking dinner.

Pueblano Ruins - 2 choices for today's hike. The first - and prefered -
route is to hike north along the road to Bent Camp, then up and over Wilson
Mesa, which offers some spectacular views of Baldy. The other routes takes
you straight through the South Ponil Canyon - this would be the route you
would take if you are doing burro packing. Otherwise, go over Wilson Mesa -
you won't regret it. Pueblano offers spar-pole climbing, which is always a
favorite. Pueblano Ruins is a half-hour hike upstream. I highly recommend
returning to Pueblano for the evening campfire program - you won't regret
it.

Miranda - You will start by hiking up to Baldy Skyline - the last part of
this hike is fairly steep and difficult. But the views at the top are
fantastic and the trail down the other side is much nicer. Miranda is
situated on a beautiful mountain meadow - the cabin is all the way at the
top of the meadow. Program here includes a tour of the old trading post,
black powder rifle and tomahawk throwing. Get to bed early - you've got a
long day tomorrow.

Layover Day (Baldy) - Get an early start - you really need to leave Miranda
by first light. Hike up through Ute Meadows and into Baldy Town, which is a
good place to eat breakfast and fill up on water. You can also stash extra
empty packs in the storage area beneath the commissary building for your foo
pickup on your way back to Miranda later in the day. In recent years, you
have been required to leave Baldy Town no later than 8 a.m. in order to
avoid afternoon storms on the summit. Plan on 2 to 3 hours from Baldy Town
to the summitt. Don't miss the views to the west from the meadow as you get
close to the top. It WILL be windy on the top of the peak, so be prepared.
After you've had your fill, head down the back side (steep!) through Copper
Park and to French Henry Camp. Here you can do the blacksmithing, take a
mine tour and pan for gold. If you're low on water, you will need to purify
some more here (if you can hold out for a while longer, get purified water
when you go back to Baldy Town). The hike back to Baldy Town circles the
ridge and is relatively short and easy. You will have to pick up your next
supply of food and, if it's before 5 p.m., you will have a chance to take
showers and do laundry. Then back to Miranda for a well-deserved good
night's sleep.

Santa Claus - You will most likely be scheduled for conservation at Head of
Dean today. It would be best to get to HOD by 7:30 so you can do
conservation in the morning, rather that in the heat of the afternoon. HOD
offers challenge events - an excellent crew building activity enjoyed by
all. If you don't get there in time for morning cons, do the challenge
events then do cons after lunch - otherwise, do the challenge events after
lunch. HOD to Santa Claus is not a difficult hike, but make sure to inquire
about the status of the well at Santa Claus before leaving HOD, since Santa
Claus is unstaffed. Santa Claus has a number of nice campsites surrounding
a nice meadow.

Upper Bench - No program today, but you still want to get started fairly
early. The hike down Bear Canyon can be extremely difficult in the midday
heat, so best to get down as early as possible. As you hike up the other
side after crossing under US 64, make sure to stop and enjoy the view at
Inspiration Point, which is where the Philmont Hymn was penned. Make sure
you stop at Visto Grande camp, as this will be your last water source for
the day. It would be a good idea to actually cook your dinner at Visto
Grande so you won't have to carry as much water with you. Upper Bench is a
couple miles further uphill from Visto Grande. It consists of several nice,
flat campsites surrounding a marshy area - a great place to see wildlife at
dusk and dawn.

Harlan - Once again, you have a couple of choices for today's hike. One
option is to hike south to Deer Lake Mesa Camp, then follow the 4WD road
east to Harlan. This is an awful hike though - it's an extremely rocky jeep
road, not a trail. I would suggest backtracking a little ways to the trail
that goes around the north side of Deer Lake Mesa and into Harlan that way.
Harlan offers shotgun reloading and clay target shooting. You will get 3
(or maybe it's 5 now?) shots for free and additional rounds can be
purchased. Don't miss the burro races in the evening - one of the best
programs at Philmont. Everyone always has a great time.

Ponderosa Park - Your last full day on the trail. Hike around the south
side of the mesa. I believe you will have a food pickup at Ute Gulch, which
will require a short side hike. Once that's taken care of, you again have
some choices. One option is to head through Cimarroncito camp and see if
you can get in some rock climbing (nothing's guaranteed since you're a
pass-through crew, but it never hurts to ask) - you can also stop at the
Hunting Lodge and take the fascinating tour there. Otherwise, hike through
Hidden Valley, which opens up to a spectacular panoramic view at Window Rock
(use caution near the edges!). Continue past the Cito Reservoir to Clarks
Fork camp. This is definitely your last source for purified water (and
perhaps your last water source period, depending on the status of the spring
at Shaffes Pass). If you are scheduled for the chuckwagon dinner, it would
be best to head up to Ponderosa Park to set up camp before returning. The
rest of the program at Clarks Fork is identical to Ponil, minus the cantina.

Base Camp - Once again, you have no choice but to get an early start.
Sunrise from the Tooth is an impossible goal, but if you get going early
enough, you can catch it from Shaffers Peak, which is still impressive. Use
caution on the Tooth Ridge trail - everyone will be in a hurry to get back,
but the trail is very rocky and you don't want a twisted ankle (or worse) on
your last day. Enjoy the view from the top of the Tooth, then be prepared
for a 2 to 3 hour hike from the base of the tooth back into base camp (I
know it doesn't LOOK that long, but trust me - and anyone else who's done
this hike -, it is!)...

Have fun!

Brian Gannon
706K1 2004 (Trek 30)
Philmont Treks 1994, 1996, 2002
Philmont Ranger 1997-2000

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Received on Thu Apr 1 09:52:39 2004