Jim -
My crew did Trek 30 last summer - it was a provo crew with a mix of older
and younger guys, so that added to the challenge. It's a great trek, as
it's the only one that does Baldy, Phillips and the Tooth. I think it
actually hits most of the peaks on the ranch. Our guys did a fantastic job,
but we were busy with either hiking or doing program from dawn to dark every
day - there was very little "down time," which is a good thing I guess. The
mileage is spread pretty evenly between the days, so there isn't a single
day that's ridiculously long compared to the others. Our hardest day was
the last full day on the trail - Red Hills to Shaffers Pass. We were pretty
dead by that point, so we opted not to go over Black Mountain, but rather go
up to Big Red (a really neat climb, especially since VERY few crews get up
that way) and follow the North Fork Urraca Creek via Black Mountain Camp.
Neither route is super fun, and it made for a very long day (but we had a
long stop for program at Black Mountain Camp) as we didn't get into Shaffers
until dark. If you do go over Bear and Black Mountains, take PLENTY of
water and make sure your crew is top-notch when it comes to navigation
skills (the trails are so infrequently used that they are hard to follow).
My advice is just to make sure that your crew is up to the challenge - they
obviously wanted that trek, so they really need to prepare for it. You will
need to start early every single day on the trail, especially if you want to
maximize program opportunities. It really is a super trek and one of my
personal favorites. Feel free to contact me with any specific questions.
Good Luck!
Brian Gannon
Philmont Ranger 1997-2000
Philmont Treks 1994, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005
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Received on Fri Apr 1 12:20:11 2005
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