From: J. Michael Floyd (FLOYD@foodser.uga.edu)
Date: Tue Jul 02 2002 - 17:56:31 CDT
This is a report on 23FM trek for 2002 from 615-A2
Crews 615 A1 & A2 were originally assigned Trek 20 for the
summer of 2002. But, because of the North Country fire we were
reassigned 18FM. At logistics we requested that we keep the
Tooth of Time and hike back into basecamp that was originally in
our Trek 20. Our crews used the following criteria for their original
trek selections:
1. Hike a peak- Mt Phillips or Mt Baldy
2. Hike Tooth of Time
3. Hike back into basecamp
All our original choices had these three components. We explained
this at Logistics and was told that no camp changes were being
made because of the fire conditions. However, Logistics did tell us
they would see if any other treks not being used on our day of
departure would meet these items. Luckily for us Trek 23FM had
all three components for us. ( Of course we all know that there is
no bad trek at Philmont)
Day 1- Rayado River
Hiked from the turnaround to Rayado River to do ranger training.
Our crews had free time to go to Abreu and enjoy the Cantina and
Root Beer. Crews also enjoyed milking the goats and putting the
chickens up at night. The Staff treated the Advisers to a great
coffee and a Father's Day cake ( Sunday- June 16th).
Our Ranger - Brad did a great job ( student at University of
Colorado) We were his second crew, but Brad had excellent skills
and was very familiar with several of the Philmont information
backpacking web sites that we had utilized for our preparation.
Day #2- Urraca
Woke up at 5 am and were on the trail by 6:30 am. The hike today
proved to the hottest hike of our trek going on the trail from Abrea
up to Urraca Mesa. No shade. We were at the top by 10 am. We
felt sorry for the crews who started later in the day and had the full
heat.
Staff greeted us at the cabin with gatorade. After resting we then
did the Cope course. The boys enjoyed these activities and it
helped to build our team. After the Cope course we set up our
camp.
At the staff cabin the hummingbird feeder attracted several birds
and were enjoyed by the advisers. The camp was very dry with the
meadow being brown. That night the staff provide music and
entertainment at the campfire. Next morning we were up at 4:30
am to catch the sunrise and to do our Outdoor Pledge with our
Ranger on the rocks near the camp. After sunrise we returned to
camp for breakfast and to say goodbye to our Ranger.
Day #3- Crater Lake
Leaving Urraca, we hiked towards Lover's Leap camp to Stonewall
pass. On this trail we had our best view of the Tooth of Time on our
Trek. Arriving at Stonewall pass we took the trail to Bear Caves trail
camp and hiked awhile along the stonewall. We had lunch at
campsite #4 at Bear Caves. After lunch we hiked on to Crater Lake
camp.
Here we did the Spar pole climbing and did the He man contest
that night. Our crew won the contest by running on the staff's cabin
lawn ( a big no-no)
When the last crew came in from the Bear Caves trail they told us
that they had saw a bear 150 yards from our camp. This was the
only bear report that we had the whole trek.
Again we had a great staff campfire with music, stories and
fellowship. The best campfire program during our trek.
The campfire area has a great view of the Tooth of Time. The next
morning I got up early and watched sunrise here coming up by the
Tooth of Time. Great photo opportunity.
Day #4- Fish Camp
We had a great hike to Fish Camp via the Fowler Pass, Bonito
valley and Webster Pass. The trail down from Webster Pass to
Fish Camp is a steep trail down for a long time. On the way down I
fell and broke one of my trekking poles. My oldest son came to my
rescue by giving me his trekking poles ( after I agreed to purchase
him his own backing stove after we got off the trail).
We arrived at Fish Camp. Enjoyed lunch at the cabin and then did
a cabin tour. Our crew enjoyed the fly tying class, but decided not
to try our hand at fishing. After setting up camp we did our
conservation project here by working in the stream to build a dam.
It felt great to get our feet wet. Everyone in our crew did clothes
washing here also.
Day #5- Bear Canyon
The next morning we were on the trail by 6:30 hiking up Aqua Fria
creek to Aqua Fria camp. We took a right and then hiked up Bear
Canyon. Up the trail there was a large mule deer skeleton in the
canyon. Several of our crew members climbed down to for a close
up view. Our first thought was that it was a horse skeleton due to
it's size. Farther up the trail we came to a small lake with the valley
on the other side. Great view and photo opportunity. We hiked on
up to Bear Canyon camp. After setting up camp we then hike over
to Apache Springs Camp for our commissary pick-up and to do
Archery, 3D archery and Indian Life. Great programs and staff were
excellent ( a great change from 2000 where this staff was the worst
staff that we had). We decided to strip our meals to reduce weight
and eliminate extra food. We had found that our crews were eating
only 3/4 of the food that we were getting. This year Philmont
increased calorie content and volume in the meals. A thunderstorm
came up and we had to hike back to Bear Canyon in a light rain.
Day #6 Wild Horse
Started on the trail around 6:30 am. We hiked to Porcupine Trail
camp via Buck Creek Camp. After arriving at Porcupine trail camp
we hiked up the Rayado Creek to Crooked Creek camp. We
cooked a dinner for our lunch here since Wild Horse was a dry
camp.
We also enjoyed a great tour of the cabin and had photos with the
famous rifle that a long standing feud exist between Crooked Creek
and Clear Creek camps. ( Each camp attempts to steal this rifle
from each other during the summer) The staff here advised us that
our water source was the Rayado Creek, but the spring was flowing
in the meadow and the staff was unaware of this. After lunch we
loaded up with extra water and set off to Wild Horse Trail camp. A
good uphill hike. Wild Horse is a nice trail camp. We had been told
it was dry, but when we arrived we found the spring to be flowing at
the camp.
Day #7 Commanche Peak
Early that morning around 3 am we were awaken by a
thunderstorm over us. We were not concerned because we
expected it to be gone by our 5 am wake up time. At 5 am it was
still above us. We stayed in our tents till 5:45 am. By that time it
was over us. We got up and broke camp about the time we were
ready to leave the storm was again over us with thunder and
lighting striking within a mile of us. Our crew spread out and found
the smallest trees to stand by and get down on the ball of our feet.
This was an experience with lighting and thunder all around us. Our
youth leadership gave excellent leadership during this time by
instructing all the crew members the correct way to protect
themselves. When the storm moved farther on we were like a pack
of drown rats. Since everybody was wet we decided to start hiking
to get body heat up. Our first obstacle was a meadow trail that we
had to hike the edge to prevent us from being the high points in the
meadow. Luckily for us the rain stopped after 15 minutes on the
trail and the storm moved on. This was a great hike to Clear Creek
with alot of spruce trees along the trail. By the time we got to Clear
Creek the sun was out and we were dry. Several of the crew
members pulled out wet gear to allow it to dry in the sun. At Clear
CreeK we did the cabin tour and hatchet throwing. Ask the staff
about the bottle of hair in the cabin. This year's staff did not know
the story about the bottle of hair. ( Several years ago a staff
member got a hair cutting from every female crew member who
passed thru this camp and he kept the hair in this bottle )
Around 10 am we started our ascent on Mt Phillips. I have now
been over Mt Phillips from both directions. Let me assure you that
the ascent from this direction is definite harder and steeper. This is
not a climb that you want to do in the afternoon. The earlier and
cooler the better it is. At the top of Mt Phillips we did the photo
opportunity thing with our crew and individuals. We also ate lunch
on top. My oldest son carried a can of vennia sausage for me for
Father's Day ( WHAT A TREAT- IT TASTED BETTER THAN
STEAK ). Of course I shared it with my co-advisers! After lunch we
hiked on down to Commanche Peak camp. In my opinion the best
view camp at Philmont. After dinner we had rain which messed up
us viewing sunset. But we still did a sunrise service the next
morning at the other look-out point.
Day #8- Upper Sawmill
What a great hike towards Sawmill! The hike down from
Commanche Peak to Thunder Ridge trail camp is excellent. We
enjoyed breakfast at this camp and utilized the red roof inn. After
breakfast we took the first trail to Sawmill. This is a great trail down
with a lot of great views. About 2/3 of the way this trail dumps you
onto a 4wd road. There is a new trail being built that will take you
all the way to Sawmill without going on the road. The road is steep
and rocky. Hopefully by next summer this trail will be finished all
the way to Sawmill. Arrived at Sawmill, the cabin is not well
marked and we ended taking 15-20 minutes finding the staff cabin.
Another great view from the cabin and a great couch on the porch
for the advisers to sit on. Here our crew did rifle shooting. Excellent
program. Unfortunately you have to hike almost a mile to get to the
shooting range. We also had our lunch here before we filled up with
water to go to Upper Sawmill ( dry camp ) Apparently Upper
Sawmill is a new camp with only four campsites that only have
three sumps. No sign in the camp identifying it as Upper Sawmill.
Day #9- Hunting Lodge
About 3/10 mile down from Upper Sawmill we came across a
stream with water. Another time we hauled water that we did not
need to. But, I would rather have it and be sure. Passed Lower
Sawmill on the trail. It doesn't seem to make since that the order of
the camps were Sawmill, Upper Sawmill and then Lower Sawmill.
You would expect to find Upper Sawmill above Sawmill camp.
Another great hike down the canyon. Arrived at Grouse Canyon.
We hiked over to Ute Springs Commissary for our next
commissary pick-up. Notice the electric fence that is on the
commissary to keep the bears away. The crew got a great treat
with two apples each being issued to our crew. Our first fresh fruit
on the trail.
We then hiked on to Cito, where we got our first bath on the trail. I
did not know that a hot water shower could be so great. I must
admit after 9 days on the trail with a shower our crew had a
STRONG ODOR. Before our showers we did rock climbing and
repelling. We also enjoyed a trail lunch here in the shade of trees.
After lunch we hiked on down to Hunting Lodge. We set up our
camp and enjoyed dinner. At 7 pm the advisers went to the cabin
for our Advisers Coffee. When we arrived a helicopter flew over us
going up the canyon towards Clark's Fork. We knew that there was
either a fire or an medical emergency. The staff informed us that we
had a fire 1 1/2 miles up the canyon and to get our crews ready to
leave with emergency gear. Each crew left an adviser at the cabin
for the latest update.
We alerted our Crew Leader who took charge in giving directions in
breaking camp and keeping our crew together. Within 15 minutes
we were told to pack all of our gear and be prepared to move to the
evacuation point. By 7:30 all four crews had reported to the staff
cabin with all their gear. We waited for instructions. We were then
told that we were moving to Cito turnaround ( 3.5 miles away). One
staff member took the lead and the other staff member took the tail
position. Our four crews started on a forced hike of a fast pace
towards Cathedral Rock. At Cathedral Rock the fire helicopter had
landed and we got to see it close up. Our last crew in our group
had trouble keeping up due to several advisers having knee
problems. We finally moved this crew to the front to keep our group
together. We hiked along the 4wd road. In front of us we saw the
bulldozer going up the trail towards Clark Fork with another truck
behind it. It was getting dark during this period. We then took the
trail by Cathedral Rock trail camp. We could hear a Philmont Staff
member calling out a crew number trying to find the crew in this
camp. A STRONG REINFORCEMENT TO CAMP WHERE YOU
ARE SUPPOSED TO CAMP AT AND NOT AT THE CAMP
WHERE YOU WANT TO. We finally arrived at the turnaround at
9:30 pm. We were the first group there. Philmont staff told us to
rest and be prepared to move again. They were expecting 400 to
come out of the backcountry to this turnaround. With 20 minutes
we were moved Webster Lake camp. We were asked to set our
tents up as close as possible. We were also instructed to put all
bear bag items in our bags and lay them on the ground at least 50
ft away from our camp. Crews continued to arrive till after 1:30 am
here. The next morning there was tents everywhere and some
crews were meadow crashing since they had left tents in their
campsites. We were told we would receive instructions at 8 am.
The word came down for leader advisers to go to the turnaround for
instructions. As we walked to the turnaround you could watch the
helicopter fly over with the water bucket. We received instructions
that we would have a bus that would bus us to Badger Camp (
Cope Course ) and we would hike to the Tooth Ridge via the
Meadow Trail. ( Our schedule before the fire had us hiking thru
Clark's Fork and over Shafer's pass onto the Tooth Ridge.) Also
during the night we were told that the fire was between Ponderosa
Park Camp and Shafer's pass. In the morning we were also told
that the fire had been started by a lighting strike two days earlier
that had smothered for two days before it had flared up.
Day #10 - Tooth Ridge Camp
We were repositioned to the other side of Tooth Ridge. We then
started to attempt to find the Meadow trail. This trail has not been
used in years and there are no signs. Evidently a staff member
came by in a vehicle and helped us to find the trail. This trail is
steep and way overgrowned. On this trail we got our bushwacking
experience. Great views up the ridge. When we got to the top we
found the trail sign had been taken down and the trail block to
prevent people going down this trail. The trail is only about 1/4 mile
from Tooth Ridge camp. We were the first crew at camp. We set
up camp and had lunch. After we hiked to the top of the Tooth of
Time and did our photo opportunities. A storm was coming so we
got on down back to the camp. Had a great supper and enjoyed
our last night on the trail. It was a great time to talk about the trail
and the great trek we had.
Day 11- return to basecamp
Again got up early for sunrise on top of the rocks. Had breakfast
while we waited on the sun. After sunrise we got on the trail.
Coming down the trail we saw a skunk. Arrived at basecamp at 8
am for hot showers and to catch the 11 o'clock bus into town for
Heck's burger, Burrito Banquet, and Simple Simon's pizza.
What a great trek!!!!
Let me add that I was very impressed with Philmont Staff how they
handled the fire incident. I have to also commend our youth
leadership in their leadership and actions in both the thunderstorm
and fire evacuation incidents that our crew experienced.
Mike Floyd
ASM, Troop 149
Northeast Georgia Council
Lead Advisor-Philmont 98,00,02
G.A.T.C. Thru Hiker 98 & 00
Visit our Troop web site at http://www.oconeeTroop149.org/
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