[philmont] Baldy Porch Talk

Many of the Miranda Crews are using the semi-new Black Horse trail to
summit Baldy, and so are never getting the "porch talk". Neither, of
course, are any of the Crews summiting from the Copper Park side, but
the Miranda Crews have the furthest to go, and really need to get
humping at first light (but in my observation, many do not). It takes
roughly 3.5 hours to summit Baldy from Miranda, with no stops.

As a guess, probably 2/3rds of the Crews going up each day (from all
staging camps) never get a "porch talk" - either they are not going
through Baldy Town on their way up, or (like my Crews) they pass through
Baldy Town well before the staff gets up.

For this reason, over the years, I have several times suggested to
Philmont (in my Advisor evals) that they include an "How To" information
sheet for all Crews who have Baldy on their itineraries. Probably it
wouldn't be a bad idea for similar sheets for Phillips and the Tooth of
Time. Maybe now they'll consider this suggestion a bit harder.

The new Aztec Ridge trail also extends the danger period for those Crews
who take it. Going down the Copper Park draw, you're well off the peak
and pretty much out of the strike zone in 10 minutes - but taking the
Aztec Ridge, you're still highly exposed for another 30 minutes, and
semi-exposed in the treeline (along the ridgeline spine) for another 30
minutes after that. So, a bad choice if the weather is uncooperative,
or anytime after about 11 am unless it's a perfectly clear day.

- Dr. Bob

Jack Bolinger wrote:
> We were told by the staff when we arrived at Baldy Camp during the porch
> talk around July 5th that we were to be OFF of Baldy by noon so that we
> would not be up there in the afternoon due to potential lightning
> strikes. We were not staying at Baldy but merely there to get our food
> and showers before heading to Copper Park. I wonder if this crew had
> been thru Baldy Camp before heading up?
>
>

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Received on Tue Jul 31 05:09:51 2007