From: Calvin H. Gray (405geezer@igg-tx.net)
Date: Fri Jul 12 2002 - 11:27:48 CDT
This report, written by Crew Leader Corey Kubatzky, is on a modified
version of Trek #5. The crew was originally scheduled to take Trek #3
which is primarily a north country trek. All members of the crew hiked
at least 70 miles included side hikes, taking the wrong trail at least
once and making sure they got in their 10 hours of conservation work for
the 50-Miler Award as they didn't want to wait and do this after
returing home. The crew was one of twelve in the Capitol Area Council's
contingent which arrived at Philmont on June 8. Selden, you may include
the report on your web site.
-- Calvin H. Gray Scoutmaster, Troop 405 Georgetown, Texas ********* Day 1 (June 9): After arriving in base camp the night before, we start to do all the things required to leave the next day. This included gear shakedown, gear check out, medical re-check, security, and logistics. We were assigned a new trek due to the fires; it was longer and harder but the crew was enthusiastic. Day 2 (June 10): After eating the last decent meal for the next 10 days we got on the bus that took us to Cimarroncito turnaround. We were on the first bus out for the summer. When we got to the turnaround we had some basic training from our ranger, Matt Harry. After that we had a nice easy hike to Cathedral Rock camp and got more training on the skills needed in the campsite. After everything was set up we took a side hike up to Cathedral Rock. Day 3 (June 11): We got up and broke camp and began our hike to Cimarroncito. We stopped by the hunting lodge on the way up and took the tour there. The CD for the hunting lodge was a Texan and he gave us some biscuits. We also did 3 hours of conservation work that involved tree cutting, rock bridge building and trail clearing. At Cito some of the scouts participated in rock climbing. Day 4 (June 12): We part with our ranger and leave Cito with only our crew members to get through the rest of our trek. We left early because we knew the day would be tough and long. We had to go through Ute Gulch to get food. After refilling we head out to Sawmill but we missed the turn off and end up hiking about an extra 2 miles on a very steep 4WD road. This was our toughest day mentally. Once we got to Sawmill we were rewarded with fresh Oranges. Then we had to hike about half a mile up hill to our campsite which was, contrary to what they said, not close to anything. A few of the crew members participated in 30.06 rifle shooting, which included the relative destruction of Drew and Byrons hats. Day 5 (June 13): Our longest day was day 5. The problem was the fact that Mt. Phillips (our destination) was a dry camp and we would not be getting water until around noon the next day. To solve this we stopped at a camp that intersected the trail that led to Cyphers Mine camp which had water. After eating lunch there we emptied 2 packs and sent Drew, Byron, Chris, Jeff, and Dr. Mahaffey to go to Cyphers Mine to fill up all of our water containers. It was 4 miles round trip with the last 2 uphill. After they got back we took off to reach our final destination. Despite the toughness and longevity of the days hike our crew was in extremely high spirits. When we finally got to Mt. Phillips camp, just 200 yards from the top, we quickly set up camp and ate because darkness was approaching. We saw a bear that came very close to our campsite but was not in anyway aggressive or threatening. At the end of the day we were all relieved to know the the toughest part of our trek was over and that most of the rest of the trek was relatively easy. Day 6 (June 14): We left Mt. Phillips camp and after a brief hike we had climbed to the top of the second highest peak in philmont. We ate breakfast there and hung a Texas flag. The view was restricted by heavy fog but you could still see out in some directions. We went through Rocky Mountain Fur Company at Clear Creak camp but our program time was limited because we had to cook a dinner for lunch. We had used the lunch on Day 5 to save time. When we arrived in Wild Horse camp we had to set up camp quickly because it was about to rain. We did have time to eat a good meal and hang the bear bags before it started hailing (pea sized). Day 7 (June 15): We got up and started hiking for about 2 miles before we stopped to have breakfast on the trail. It was a steady downhill from Wild Horse to Crooked Creek. Arriving at Crooked Creek took us through an excellent meadow-in-a-valley scene that was one of the best parts of the trek scenery wise. At Crooked Creek we played horse-shoes, got a tour of the homesteading cabin, chopped wood, and played with baby chickens. For our wood chopping efforts we received about 4 or 5 pounds of Astro 8 Lemon Juice Concentrate. We were not hesitant in putting it in the next swap box. Our camp for the night was Porcupine. This camp shared the valley with Crooked Creek. We traveled to Phillips Junction for food pickup and four hours of conservation in which we helped in the building of a new trail. Day 8 (June 16): We had an easy hike to Beaubien and we got there early in the morning. Some of the crew members participated in the branding session. Most of the crew did the horse ride and all enjoyed a chuckwagon dinner and campfire. The only downside of this day was getting a warning from the ranger that does the bear stuff about our camp. It was frustrating because we were near perfect the whole trek and he saw us the only time we screwed up, but we did learn our lesson. Day 9 (June 17): The hike to Fish camp from Beaubien was a nice steady trip. We had to pick up food again in PJ. Fish camp refused to let us do more conservation there so we hiked back to PJ to get the last 3 hrs. required to finish our 50 miler award. We worked on the same trail as before. Day 10 (June 18): In the first mile of the hike from Fish to Crater Lake we climbed 28 contour lines. However, with a nice slow pace and regular breaks we covered the distance in a respectable time. It was a pretty long hike compared to the previous two days but it was covered easily by us now that we were nearly seasoned professionals. At Crater Lake most of the crew did the spar pole climbing, which we all agreed was a very good program. The entire crew went to the campfire which was exceptional. Corey had to dance for his crew leader copy that the staff had failed to return to him after verifying it at check-in. In was undoubtedly not his fault. Day 11 (June 19): The hike to Lovers Leap was downhill and easy. We attempted to climb Urraca Mesa and eat lunch on top of it but we ended up on the other side of it. It was a good view anyway so we decided to just eat there and save Urraca for a future trek. We got to harass some brand new trekers, or "fresh meat", as many of the treks stayed at Lovers Leap on their first day out. Many of the crew members slept outside under the stars. Day 12 (June 20): Unlike the troop's other crew, we had a very difficult hike (Corey is taking a good natured swipe at our other crew which exited over Tooth Ridge) to our pick-up spot that included a 2 mile hike over Lovers Leap. We ate breakfast on top of Lovers Leap and then finished the hike. We were able to catch an early bus back to camp and we had all of our check out stuff done by 11. After a good shower we went into town and had a nice meal, shopped, and ate ice cream. This day ended with the closing campfire which was considerably better than the opening one. ------------------------------------------------------- Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/ Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp ------------------------------------------------------- Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- 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. -------------------------------------------------------
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