Re: [Philmont]: Tooth Ridge Trail

I was told roughly 10 years ago (when the "forever trail" had just
recently opened) that one of the reasons why it was made so long for no
apparent purpose was to discourage side-hiking the Tooth of Time from
Basecamp. This was apparently quite a problem with people at the PTC
taking unauthorized hikes, and in fact I do remember running into
obvious PTC folks in '89 and '92. I think I can count on one hand the
number of outbound people I have passed since the current version of the
trail opened, and I'm pretty sure they were all Rangers or Backcountry
Staff. So if that was genuinely the intent, it has obviously worked.

- Dr. Bob

PS - FWIW, I have been told on numerous treks that the Stockade and
Pasture trails were off-limits to Crews. But then again, I don't recall
ever seeing it written down anywhere, so I don't know for sure whether
it's an actual rule or not. Certainly the Ridgeline trail is the safest
route.

John LeBlanc wrote:
> Two thoughts on the Tooth Trail.
>
> First, it's long...really long for what it gets you. If you just don't
> wanna go home and you wanna stay on the trail for a little while longer,
> it obliges that.
>
> Secondly, along the rough boulder or rather mini boulder hopping part,
> it's loaded with rattlesnakes.
>
> The reason being is that type topography is home for many rodents as it
> provides security for them. So...the rattlesnakes follow looking for an
> easy meal.
>
> Philmont doesn't advertize this or deny it, but it's one of the reasons
> they don't allow night hiking. Even so, that is a popular place to "get
> an early start" before daylight, but it's fool hardy.
>
> I am not afraid of snakes by any means and catch then for educational
> purposes all the time, but I'm here to tell you that hiking the tooth
> trail before daylight is asking for trouble. A snake bite on your last
> day on the trail is a good way to really screw up a kids Philmont
> experience.
>
> In 2002 we found three Prarie Rattlesnakes within striking distance of
> the tooth trail.
>
> My daughter and I hike snake country every summer and have had some
> close encounters, but we DO NOT push the edge of the envelope by hiking
> trails at night. We find enough of them in parking lots and wide paved
> trails returning from the showers or campfire programs to get all the
> excitement we want.
>
> As to the length of the tooth trail, the story from a very reliable
> source is that the trail surveyor and the trail crew chief had a running
> feud. So, to even things out, the survey crew gave the trail crew a
> little extra work to do and surveyed out a little extra long trail. I
> don't doubt that one bit as the trail makes some really subtle elevation
> gains when it could just as easily continued downhill.
>
> One positive thought is this.
>
> On our trek in 2002, we had an advisor that was a little should we say
> "overbearing" on the trail to the kids. On the way down the tooth, he
> developed some pretty nasty blisters. Well, youthful games being what
> they are and paybacks being what they are, everytime he was about to
> "doctor his wounds", the crew leader would give the command "saddle up"
> and off they'd go with him hurrying to catch up. He hobbled around
> gingerly for the next two days on the trip home.
>
> The lesson here to adults is always be respectful to the kids because
> they just might be in a position to help you or hurt you.
>
> Forewarned is forewarned.
>
> John LeBlanc
>

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Received on Tue Dec 6 20:04:25 2005