From: Alan and/or Brenda Thomson (abthomson@goes.com)
Date: Wed Feb 06 2002 - 22:55:44 CST
Off-line I have been asked for my opinion/assessment of the 2001 Typical and
Rugged itineraries by an Advisor who has inherited a Council contingent crew
on relatively short notice. Decided to post it to the List as well, it may
be of use to others. If nothing else, it shows one method of evaluating the
available routings.
I have no information on their program preferences, so have not commented on
specific program availability.
I had researched the Treks in some detail last year preparing a summary of
the Routes for our troop's crew. The URL for my summary of the 2001 treks
(a very detailed Excel spreadsheet) posted by Earl Owens of Troop 764 of
Dunwoody, Georgia, is
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Geyser/9949/index.html#top, about half way
down the list on the Philmont page - a couple above Dr. Bob's Philmont
Challenge Index. As well as summarizing the treks regarding camps,
programs, etc., I have also tried to deal with mileage consistently, which
the TREKS booklet does not. I have listed my adjusted mileage, and what the
adjustment is. Comments about mileage adjustments as well as comparisons to
the 2000 routes come out of that work, would not normally be part of a
crew's review of the treks.
Comments...
Typical Treks
Trek 1 - 54 miles (50 per TREKS plus 4 for Hidden Valley sidehike): A lot
program opportunities (no open days) on this trek, and it is well paced
EXCEPT for Day 7, which is tough. From Clark's Fork up to Schaefers Pass,
hang the bear bags and sidehike Tooth Ridge to the Tooth, then return (trail
across the ridge is very rocky), down to North Fork Urraca and up the North
Fork of Urraca Creek to Black Mountain Camp (supposedly the trail crosses
the creek literally 50 times). Going over Black Mountain would be an
alternate, but I'm sure virtually no one does on this trek. And Dr. Bob's
diary from 2000 will tell you his experience going the other way on Trek 30.
Trek 2 - 48 miles (listed as 50 but only 48 per chart): Starts easy with two
2 mile days, and then three tough miles (over Hart Peak) the next. Next two
days are the longest at 8 and 7 miles.
Trek 3 - 49 miles (listed as 50 but only 47 per chart; added 2 miles to the
Baldy sidehike): Same first three days as Trek 2. Day 6 is the longest - 8
miles up and over Baldy, down the north side to French Henry, and back,
without packs.
Trek 4 - 53 miles: This was Trek 9 when our crew did it in 1999 - it was
listed as 65 miles then and classified Rugged, but new trails have knocked
it down. Another group of outstanding programs, and again no open days.
Seriously back-loaded - only 25 miles through Day 8, then 6 miles over Mount
Phillips to Cyphers, 9 miles to Webster Parks (including sidehike to Ute
Gulch for food), then a very long 10 miles to Clark's Fork, up to Schaefers
Pass, and across Tooth Ridge. Those three days are a challenge.
Trek 5 - 58 miles (56 per TREKS; added 2 miles for the Ute Gulch food
pickup): Program is virtually the same as Trek 4, but different camps most
nights. Day 9 is 10 miles with the food pickup, but then a layover Day 10.
Day 11 essentially same long 10 miles to Tooth Ridge as Trek 4.
Trek 6 - 50 miles (52 per TREKS, but deducted 2 miles from Trail Peak
sidehike): Another trek without any killer days - longest are Days 11 and 12
at 7 miles each.
Trek 7 - 51 miles: Very light on variety of program - none at all Days 7 and
8 (in the Valle), and two days mountain biking. Understand that the 10
miles on Day 7 to Greenwood Canyon are tough - bushwhacking most of the way.
Three longest days other than that are each 6 miles.
Trek 8 - 59 miles (53 per TREKS, added 6 for the Baldy sidehike): Couple of
longer days, but no killers.
Trek 9 - 53 miles: Something squirrelly with this trek - the camps for Days
9 and 10 were reversed in 2001, but the mileage reflects the 2000 routing.
Tough Day 7 - Greenwood Canyon to Copper Park, reverse of Trek 7's Day 7.
Trek 10 - 48 miles (listed as 54 but only 48 per chart): Another one that
changed from 2000 to 2001, but the data did not get completely updated.
Couple of long days (9 miles Day 7, 10 miles Day 10), but again not killers.
Trek 11 - 54 miles: Another program filled itinerary. Long Day 7 at 11
miles from Apache Springs to Clear Creek, but not particularly tough. And
since next day is only 3 miles to Mr. Phillips, a dry camp, you'd probably
spend most of the Day 8 at Clear Creek doing program, and leave mid/late
afternoon to climb Phillips after dinner for lunch. Tough last day
(Ponderosa Park to Base Camp) - up way before dawn if you want to get to
Schaefers Peak for sunrise, across Tooth Ridge, climb the Tooth, then the
seemingly endless trail down.
Trek 12 - 54 miles (listed as 55 though only 52 per the chart, added 2 miles
to Ute Gulch): Long Day 8 (Black Mountain to Lambert's Mine, with sidehike
to Cypher's Mine for program) and same tough last day as Trek 11.
Trek 13 - 54 miles: Even longer last day from (Upper Clark's Fork) than
Treks 11 and 12. Busy Day 9 with 8 miles of hiking over Mount Phillips to
Cypher's Mine for program and then on to Lambert's Mine, and a long Day 6
from Abreu to Fish Camp for program and then on to Agua Fria.
Trek 14 - 66 miles (listed as 54 but 60 per the chart plus 6 miles to
sidehike Trail Peak - every other itinerary counts that toward the mileage):
More mileage than practically every Rugged itinerary. Days 11 and 12 both
long (11 miles from Red Hills to Miners Park, then 9 miles into Base Camp)
and three other days at 8 miles each.
Rugged Treks
Trek 15 - 58 miles (listed as 57 but 58 per chart): Another Valle route, so
light on program. Long days are bunched in the middle - 12 miles Day 5 from
Iris Park to Whiteman Vega and the mountain biking layover day, 9 miles Day
7 to Seally Canyon and then 11 miles Day 8 to Rich Cabins.
Trek 16 - 54 miles (listed as 57 but 54 per chart): The most peaks except
for Treks 30 and 33. Program filled. Longest day is 10 miles Day 6 from
Lower Bonito to Apache Springs, with a Day 7 layover. Day 11 is 6 miles
including Big Red and Black Mountain, and Day 12 7 miles across Tooth Ridge
and down to Base Camp.
Trek 17 - 58 miles (listed as 57 but 58 per chart): A Valle route that is
light on program even considering that. Another route with the long days
bunched in the middle - 10 miles Day 5 from Seally Canyon to Iris Park, 7
miles Day 6 to Rich Cabins, 8 miles Day 7 to Ewells Park, 9 miles Day 8
climbing Baldy and down the north side to French Henry. Only one other day
at 5 miles with the rest 4 miles or less.
Trek 18 - 53 miles (listed as 58 but 53 per chart): Another
central/southern route with a lot of program opportunity. Longest days are
only 7 miles, and Mount Phillips is a sidehike.
Trek 19 - 61 miles: A Valle route with more program than usual. Very tough
Day 8 (12 miles from Baldy Town to Greenwood Canyon) followed by an even
longer 14 mile Day 9 to Seally Canyon.
Trek 20 - 72 miles (66 per TREKS, plus 6 miles for Baldy sidehike):
Elevation/mileage chart is suspect for this route - it may be even longer.
Tough Day 5 from Greenwood Canyon to Copper Park, Day 9 is 9 miles from Head
of Dean to Turkey Creek, and Day 10 is 14 miles to Hunting Lodge.
Trek 21 - 62 miles: Did this route in 2001. Light on program in the
middle - Days 7 and 8 are both open, and the longest mileage. The same hard
last day (Ponderosa Park to Base Camp) as Treks 11 and 12. Spends a lot of
time at Head of Dean - Day 4 is only 1 mile from Pueblano to HOD, then you
pass through again on Day 7, which gives you plenty of time for your
Conservation project (Timber Stand Improvement) there.
- Al Thomson, Troop 236, Schooley's Mountain, NJ
2002 Autumn Adventure
2001 703E11 Trek 21
2000 Autumn Adventure
1999 703K2 Trek 9 (now 4)
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