[Philmont] Question re Double H

I was there this past summer, with 2 small treks, each with 5 yourth, one had 3 adults, one had 4.
   
  I hated the first couple of days, but by the time we were finished I loved it. It is a true backpacking experience, no hikes between program camps, as there is only one, which is the Martin Ranch where you spend the night halfway through the trek. They have 3d archery, blackpowder shooting, and a couple of other things, including a chuck wagon dinner.
   
  There are 2 basic routes, one clockwise, the other counter-clockwise. On the east side of the ranch is high desert, with what they call "one man shade trees" and not a lot of them, It gets hard to find a good place for lunch. There is also a lot of sand, a couple of inches deep, especially the first day, when you only hike a couple of miles. The west side is more like Philmont with Ponderosa pines, beautiful scenery, etc. Not quite as thick as Philmont's, but beautiful none the less. The best way to go is counter-clockwise, and get the desert over first.
   
  Your wilderness guide (not a ranger) is with you the entire trek, and serves as your program, which includes some team building activities, geocaching, leave not trace, and astronomy. The program segment quality depends on your wilderness guide.
   
  Food is Philfood, conservation projects are real, most of what was done this past year was water diversion structures in the stream beds.
   
  Water re-supply was mainly from stock tanks, some covered with spigots, some open. Take 2 or 3 good filters and extra filters for each. When you get water from the open tanks there is quite a bit of algae, but the filters send it out clean and clear. Naturally, the filters need cleaning and/or replacing frequently.
   
  There is no overnight base camp stay, either coming or going. You trek on they day you arrive, and you leave on the day your trek is finished, after a shower.
   
  Staff seemed HIGHLY qualified and motivated, and many of them went on up to Philmont Training Center when Double H season was over. (I was there also this year, lucky me!)
   
  Don't go expecting a Philmont adventure, go expecting a high desert backpacking adventure, and you won't be disappointed.
   
  My guys would go again.
   
  YIS
   
  Andre Houser
  SM, Troop 109
DeSoto, TX

SGWOffice@aol.com wrote:
      I'm looking for information re folk's experience at Double H.
   
  Our troop has an opportunity to do a trek there this summer. Several of the adults associated with our Troop have Philmont experience but no one has been to Double H. Any experiences you could share to help us make up our minds would be appreciated.
   
  Thanks,
  Steve Wagner, ASM
  Troop 153
  Centerfield, KY

    
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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Wed Dec 19 20:46:56 2007