[Philmont]: Philmont tents and Burro packing

I'm offering this advice based on my experience as an advisor to our troop's
crews in 1997,2000 and
2003.

TENTS

We have used the Philmont tents each time, both the old green tents and the
newer, larger, blue tents. They are basic A-frame tents with just enough
room for two sleepers and nothing more. They are easy to set up, easy to
take down and divide into two fairly equal loads. While not free standing,
the extra weight of the stakes is probably less than the weight of
additional poles needed by a freestanding tent.

The only time you will be in the tents is when you are sleeping. The only
things that are supposed to go into the tent is you, your sleep clothes,
sleeping bag, pad and pillow. Everything else is outside, either in your
backpack or the bear bags. You don't have any need for vestibules, gear
lofts and other extras that make you personal tent a decent place to wait
out bad weather. When it rains you'll be under the crew rain fly, hiking or
at programs. I wouldn't purchase one of the Philmont tents as my all-around
backpacking tent, but that's not what these tents are for. They are the
lightest, cheapest tents that will do the job at Philmont. While our troop
has some tents to loan to new scouts, our scouts tend to own the tents that
they use for hiking and backpacking. None of their tents are the same.
Another advantage with using the Philmont tents is that everyone has the
same tent, no one has a better tent and no one is hauling a tent that is too
large or heavy for their actual needs.

BURROS

Burro packing is a unique opportunity. Many of the activities at Philmont,
while great fun, can and will be experienced elsewhere. Burro Packing,
Climbing Baldy Mt., camping atop Mt. Phillips, campfires at staffed camps,
hiking into base camp over the Tooth of Time, the hikes, camps and crew
building are special. Being responsible for burros for several days may be
the only time that most scouts will ever care for a large animal.

 I went to Philmont in 1963 and lead (pulled) a burro along the Northern
trails. Packing and tending the burro is the clearest memory from that trip
40 years ago. I've forgotten most of the names of the members of my
contingent crew but remember the name of the burro. I've been on hikes in
1997, 2000 and 2003 with each of my sons. The first two did not have the
opportunity to take a burro and we had great trip. We viewed Baldy Mt. from
Wilson Mesa, one of the best sights on the ranch.
In 2003 my crew selected #21 that includes the option of taking burros from
Ponil to Miranda via Pueblano and Head of Dean. We left the decision up to
the boys and they chose burros over hiking over Wilson Mesa. Having the two
burros was the favorite thing that the boys did at Philmont. The boys were
totally responsible for the burros. Neither advisor helped to harness or
load the burros or to round them up in the morning and convince them that
they wanted to go for a hike with us and carry some of our gear.

Having the burros did slow us down leaving Ponil (especially as our sister
crew was late to the corral) and made for some interesting adventures along
the way. We reached Pueblano too late to sign up for spar pole climbing as
there were lots of crews in camp. We had a chance to relax and enjoy the
camp and staff and "logger ball" and enjoyed the campfire, "The Real
Philmont Story." The next morning the boys got the burros ready and loaded
before we climbed the spar poles.

The hike to Head of Dean was short and we arrived with plenty of time to do
the conservation project. We did not have time for the challenge event. ( We
came through Head of Dean later in the hike and did the program then. It was
excellent and really brought the boys together as a crew.)

We reached Miranda from Head of Dean before lunch, including time to unload
and unharness the burros in the Mirand corral. We were sad to leave the
burros. We had time to throw tomahawks, shoot black powder and so some
laundry at Miranda. Even with a food pickup at Baldy town we finished dinner
at Ute Meadows by dusk.

Although we missed the view from Wilson Mesa, we had many opportunities to
see Baldy Mt. advance and retreat as we hiked the trails and ridges. We
climbed Baldy Mt. on our lay-over at Ute Meadows and did the loop to Copper
Park, Aztec Mine and French Henry. That was another great, long day.

I was impressed at how well the boys cared for the burros and how much the
enjoyed them. The fact that they smelled, kicked and didn't want to be
caught each morning only made it more fun. The days we had the burros we
hiked slower than without them. The burros don't carry enough weight to make
your trip any easier. They probably added two hours to each day's hike. (We
were always up by 5 a.m. so we had plenty of time.) Catching, currying,
harnessing, loading, pulling, leading and cussing the burros, unloading,
unharnessing and feeding the burros was an experience that the boys enjoyed
and will never forget.

While I agree that the scenery is great at Philmont, the best part of the
trip was seeing the boys take a challenge and have a great time succeeding.
Our crew would much rather see Baldy Mt with our burro in the foreground
instead of the pond on Wilson Mesa.

There are no bad hikes at Philmont. Let the boys select their programs and
enjoy the good time. I'll be willing to bet that in 40 years my crew' s
fondest memories will involve the days they had the burros. .

If anyone wants to see photos of the Philmont Tents or Burros, send me an
e-mail and I'll e-mail them to you.

Jim Kramer (I'm going to Philmont again in 2005!)
kramer@dodgenet.com
telephone 515 573-2181

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Received on Mon Jan 26 11:35:57 2004