[Philmont] Santa Claus and Visto Grande Camps

Santa Claus - Returned to trail camp status because both wells dried up
during the recent drought years. The lower well is functioning this
year, but when I was there a week and a half ago the cistern was only
half full, so obviously it is just barely viable, even during this a
rather wet year. I have been there at least three times where the water
source was a water buffalo trucked in and placed near the cabin.

By the way, I was told that both wells at Santa Claus were dug to below
the level of the Cimarron River (over a thousand feet down), so (if
true) they didn't fail for lack of effort.

Visto Grande - The spring there has never been dry in the many times I
have passed by, even during the worst drought years. So that would seem
to be a more viable spot for a staff camp. And of course Visto Grande
*was* a staff camp for many years, and it is where John Westfall penned
the Philmont Hymn. I do not know when (or why) it was discontinued as a
staff camp - I believe it was in the late 60's/early 70's - perhaps one
of the old timers on the List can provide better info.

Two other possible sites along Rt 64 are Cimarron River Camp and Turkey
Creek Turnaround, with Cimarron River obviously being the better of the
two (there is (presently) no trail along Rt 64 between Cimarron River
and the Turkey Creek Turnaround, and there is presently no camp of any
type at the TCT). However, I was told some years ago that the Ranch
does not want to place any facilities too close to Rt 64 due to possible
problems with local teenagers using them as flop-houses during the
lengthy off-season (I have no idea if this is correct).

Seems like it would be a lot easier (and a lot less expensive) to place
2 weatherproof emergency telephones at or near the Cimarron River and
Turkey Creek Turnaround tunnels, that are capable of calling Philmont
and Philmont only, and that can be locked shut or removed during the
off-seasons. This technology has existed for at least 25 years, and is
pretty bulletproof. A standard 5 button cipher-lock would prevent most
stupidities (code sequence provided to Advisors at Basecamp). Just a
thought....

- Dr. Bob

Julian Love wrote:
> Yes, Santa Clause was a staff camp with an astronomy program until
> 1997. Heard that water was the reason it became a trail camp. But
> Santa Clause is less than an hour hike south of Head of Dean, hardly a
> lot closer to 64 if that?s the reasoning. We were in that ?no staff
> zone? last month when a camper injury occurred and quicker access to the
> staff radio system would have been nice. Flagging down a passing
> motorist is not a good practice. Visto Grande would be a good staff
> location, but plentiful water and road access would be issues, I think.
>
>
>
> Julian Love
>
> Charlotte, NC
>
>
>

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Received on Sat Jul 28 15:30:07 2007