RE: [Philmont]: Trail down the tooth

As we were taking the 2 hour hike from Tooth Ridge Camp into base camp, I couldn't help but think back to the comments many of you offered me as I had asked similar questions. In fact, several times as we traversed the switchbacks off Tooth Ridge, I would say to a few of the guys close to me, "Look! We'll be at camp in 20 minutes!"
   
  I'll agree that it's easy to want to hurry to get into base camp. But right now, I'd like to be out there hiking UP to Tooth Ridge... in the rain... in the dark... with a 50# pack...
   
  Pete Swiggum
  Troop 1173
  Green Bay
  Philmont 2005
   

Troop 6 Scoutmaster <troop6scoutmaster@comcast.net> wrote:
      "I don't really see why anyone would be in such a hurry to finish their trek. A few days later and most people will be wishing they were back out there. Enjoy those last hours. This is a great crew bonding time. The Tooth Ridge trail is easy and you can relive moments that you had on the trail. Great for reflection!"
   
  I think this captures my thinking. Almost every crew that has the opportunity to take the "trail down from the tooth" is doing it on their last day. Unlike the walk from schafer's to tooth ridge camp, the walk from tooth ridge camp to base camp is, frankly in my opinion, a pleasant walk. Yeah, you get teased over and over again with views of base camp but you really shouldn't be in a rush to get there. It was also along this segment of trail that we got to see soaring eagles ... from above ... a sight not to be forgotten.
   
  The head of the stockade trail was clearly marked on tooth ridge in '04 and no indication was given in logistics that it, or any other trail off tooth ridge, was off limits.
   
  Having hiked the old tooth ridge trail many years ago, and this one more recently I think I'd do either of them again rather than the alternatives.
   
  Our NYLT participants in '05 used the stockade trail to get to the tooth, don't know their route down.
   
  YIS
  Jim
  SM T6
  PSR '74, '04, '06
  www.troop6bsa.org?cmd=philmont
    -----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com]On Behalf Of Jason Cotting
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 12:46 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: Re: [Philmont]: Trail down the tooth

Campers are supposed to use the long ridge trail when coming down off of the Tooth. I don't know why people have to ask why, this is just how it is.

I agree that that trail is unecessarily long. I've had to hike it many times. Overall, the Tooth Ridge trail is the safest trail to use. The grade is decent. This is both good for footing while carrying a pack and also for the durability of the trail for all the traffic it sees. Not to mention, so many crews hike this, if you have someone go down, run out of water, etc. there is plenty of traffic to ensure help.

The Stockade trail was always my trail of choice when I had to go up or down the Tooth. I've done part of the Pasture trail. PTC used to use Pasture trail for taking the kids on a day hike. Not sure if they still do or not. Last time I did it, a while back, it was kinda over grown in spots.

To give you an idea of the steepness of the Stockade trail, my best time for coming down it was 35 min. Going up was around an hour. That was from the trail sign to the Stockade itself. This is opposed to the hours it takes going on the ridge trail.

The down side of anyone considering coming down the Stockade trail is the hike back to basecamp. Hiking from Lover's TA to base feels like a deathmarch in the middle of the day.

I don't really see why anyone would be in such a hurry to finish their trek. A few days later and most people will be wishing they were back out there. Enjoy those last hours. This is a great crew bonding time. The Tooth Ridge trail is easy and you can relive moments that you had on the trail. Great for reflection!

-- 
Jason Cotting
Retired Ranger
><>
My Philmont gear advice:
http://anvilgear.com/jason/backpacking
Philring
http://anvilgear.com/jason/philmont/philring/
Resume: http://anvilgear.com/fire
  
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