[Philmont] autumn adventure question

I agree with Calvin and with the first sentence of the promotional handout for Autumn Adventure "Fall is the Best Time to camp at Philmont". The monsoons are over, it's warm in the daytime and crisp at night, and you have the backcountry to yourselves (literally).

It's not too late to sign up for Autumn Adventure. In fact, the promotional literature for this year was only sent out to past participants a few weeks ago. Keep in mind the time needed to get your Philmont medical forms completed at home and the time it will take to get your National Tour permit if you're travelling over 500 miles (it must be approved by council and then sent to Regional headquarters for approval).

Aspens. The Philmont Field guide says only that they grow in moist areas, near seeps or streams,. but does not pinpoint aspen locations about the Ranch (probably because there are so many). It's my understanding that aspen spring back well after a fire, so a grove may well be the spot of a lightning strike many years back. I also believe they are eventually crowded out by ponderosa pines as the forest matures.

In any event, I think you increase your aspen seeking possibilities if you plan on a moving camp rather than setting up at one location. Of course, the makeup of your crew will determine the comfort level with backpacking. Keep in mind that those who decide in August to backpack above 8,000 feet in September or October may not have the opportunity for aerobic preparation that those who have a year or more to prepare can muster.

Since you pick your own itinerary, get the maps NOW and go over them in great detail with some other member of your crew who is a trail hound or map hound. Don't wait until you get to the Ranch to decide (although there is nothing preventing you from waiting, it's just not what I would recommend. Do it at home when no one's breathing heavy. It adds to the anticipation). Make sure the hikes you pick are well within your comfort level and end about noon or so. You won't be rushing to program. The hike is the program.

With regard to setting up a static camp, you will not be able to count on Philmont transportation to any and all staff camps reachable by road. The brochure advises that they will take you to established starting locations, such as the turnarounds (Zastro, Lovers Leap, Cimmaroncito, or Maxwell) or starting camps such as New Abreu or Ponil. They may accommodate, if it's a light day for crew arrivals. I would check with the Autumn Adventure coordinator if you want to be dropped off anywhere other than as set forth in the brochure.

For instance, Fish Camp and Beaubien are reachable by road, but look how long it takes to get there, compared to Abreu or Ponil. Clear Creek is reachable by road, about 2 1/2 hours after leaving base camp. Don't count on a ride there. They may just laugh. You can leave your own vehicles at turnarounds or designated parking spots, but you won't be allowed to take your own vehicles into the backcountry.

I would plan each day's activities at home and stick to it. This saves a lot of time (and perhaps, aggravation, on the trail) Make sure everyone's on the same page. Because your guide must stay with the group, it's really not encouraged to have half your group go on a day hike and the other half stay in camp. Get everyone on the same page before you start.

Here's my three itineraries, for what they're worth.

2001. Drop off at New Abreu. Camps: Crags, Fish Camp (planned to go to Agua Fria, but the porch at Rayado Lodge was too inviting), Porcupine (food and gas pick up at Phillips Junction), Black Mountain, North Fork Urraca, Tooth Ridge camp (dry), hike into base.

2003: Drop off at Lover's Leap turnaround. Camps: Crater Lake, Fish Camp, Comanche (food and gas pickup at Phillipa Junction), Red Hills (two day layover included packless sidehike of Mt. Phillips), Shaeffer's Pass (a VERY long day, summiting Big Red and Black Mountain), then out to the Lover's Leap turnaround (we had planned to come in over the Tooth, but ran out of H2O at Shaeffers).

2005: Drop off at New Abreu. Camps: Crags, Agua Fria, Porcupine (via Buck Creek and PJ, food and gas pickup at PJ, Red Hills, Sawmill, Cathedral Lake camp (we got booted out of Hunting Lodge by some folks who had rented it for the weekend), then out to Cimmarroncito turnaround. (This was a bit different than the route I had planned at home. The staff could not accommodate our request for resupply at Clear Creek with the gas problems caused by Katrina, etc. We didn't realize how far Clear Creek is from base).

Arrived each time on Saturday evening. Hit the trail Sunday am. Came off the trail Saturday before lunch. Showered up, made any last minute purchases at TOT traders or the Museum, skipped the possibility of the Villa tour in favor of lunch with our guide in Cimarron, headed for Albuquerque, and flew home from there on Sunday.

My recommendations. Get the maps and study them ahead of time. Do a moving camp or a moving camp with layover days, rather than staying put. Also keep in mind that the chlorinated water supplies of the summer season will be shut off in the fall, so make sure you have streams handy (Hunting lodge alone has water from a tap, though the stream tastes better).

This is an underutilized program. It's easy to get into and very inexpensive. If you're sick of waitlisting, this is the program for you. It's the only all-adult program-perfect for recharging your Scouting batteries for another year with our youth.

Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05

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Received on Tue Aug 22 07:59:06 2006