[Philmont]: 30 or35

Enjoyed Wally's post concerning the hikes that make up trek 30. I can attest to the difficulty of the Red Hills to Shaeffer's pass portion of the hike as my 2003 Autumn Adventure all-adult crew took that hike on our second to last day. It is straight up what seems like a drainage ditch for Big Red in order to summit that peak (It is possible to go around Big Red but, early in the day, late in the trek, when you feel you can do most anything, going over the top is the way to go. There are views from the summit, although it is otherwise covered with krumholtz. We also saw Bristlecone Pine, the world's oldest tree. On Big Red. It was growing straight up, rather than blasted flat, as it is usually depicted in photos.

The hike from Big Red to Black Mountain is taxing indeed, but makes the summit that much sweeter. In fact, we probably lingered on the summit of Black Mountain a half hour or so too long. I would still rather attempt Black from that angle rather than straight up from Black Mountain Camp, I do believe, although I have not made the latter hike.

>From Black Mountain to Schaeffer's Pass, look at the countours on the map. It is NOT all downhill, as there are a number of bumps or false summits along the way that must be ascended before the downhill re-commences. Somewhat dispiriting at the end of a long day. We arrived at the Pass at the end of our allotment of daylight and close to the end of our water. The spring was not running, and the walk to North Fork Urraca would have to have taken place in the dark, so we shared what water we had and ate some dried food leftover from lunches and breakfasts (there are no swap bozes on Autumn Adventure, so you have a week's worth of leftovers at the end of the trek). The meadow at Shaeffer's under the blaze of stars was incredible and a good top off for the day.

The next day, we elected to exit via North Fork Urraca camp, Miner's Park and Lover's Leap (you can make such itinerary changes on Autumn Adventure), rather than go waterless in to base over the Tooth, or go into base over the Tooth in the late afternoon with water from North Fork Urraca.

It was quite a hike for adults in the vicinity of 50 years old. Our guide remarked that his fellow guides had said "Adults did that?".

Nothing like the Ranch.

William A, Sheehan, A.S.M.
Troop 55 Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05 and hopefully, '06

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Received on Fri Feb 24 08:11:21 2006