[Philmont]: I'm back from Heaven

I got home at midnight Saturday from Philmont. The Cradle of Liberty Council had 9 crews there for 621-D
This was my first time to Philmont and I now know what everyone is talking about and what it means to climb Trail Peak and Mount Phillips on the with full backpacks. I must be insane at age 52. I'd do it again.

I'll take crackers over pilot biscuits any day. My son found that you could brand them, which he said improved the taste.

We were on trek 4 which indicated there were several possibilities for taking a shower. I took one at PJ when we decided to forego the extra trip for 2 meals and combined it with the next days hike through there. We were the first crew to get there that morning so we had hot showers and washed clothes. We all smelled clean until we started hiking again. The clothes didn't dry as fast as expected, even though they were the quick dry kind. It has to do with the afternoon rain that lasted more than 30 minutes. Rangers and staff all kept saying that it wasn't normally like this. We tried hanging them out for 3 days and as soon as we had them out the rain would come. Damp boxers on a cold morning will definitely wake you up in a hurry.

We made it to the Tooth for Sunset. I must have missed the notice on this list that there really is no path to the top. Not willing to risk it at sunrise we went over to the cliff by the P2B to watch the sunrise. It was just as spectacular.

I gained 3 pounds, and I can breathe again. Laundry has been going on all day with a break for "Follow me Boys" which I bought at the Tooth of Time Trading Post.

All of the staffed camps were great, especially the guys at Clear Creek. The best reprieve we had was not having to set up tents at Cyphers Mine. The Muck shacks were heavenly since they were level. I got tired of sliding into or being slid into by my tentmate.

While we were at Clear Creek were heard over the radio that there were flash floods up at Ponil and Dan Beard. One crew lost tents and sleeping bags. Services was there the next morning with replacements.

As for wildlife, the biggest thing I saw were 2 muledeer at up the path from the Hunting Lodge, a boatload of mini"bears" and some birds. I'm thankful for not seeing the real big ones or the mountain lions or the snakes.

I'll have to wait until 2006 to see if I will be able to go again.

Thank you all for your insight and past experience, it was truly helpful.

Best regards,
Bob Mack
621-D5

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Received on Sun Jul 4 18:47:46 2004