[Philmont]: Philmont Trek 4, part 3

Synopsis of Philmont Crew 611-I-1, Trek 4, Part 3
 
Sunday, June 19 -
 
Up early to get a good start. 32 degrees when we got up, it would have been nice to sleep in! The climb up Mount Phillips from Clear Creek is basically up, without much in the way of switchbacks, a pretty tough climb with full packs. (by the way, we all averaged about 48 pounds with 3 liters of water and a full supply of food). We reached the top around noon, or maybe a little after, what a view. Had lunch on the trail for the first time, then on to Cypher's Mine. Almost every trek going in the opposite direction spends the night at a trail camp along the way, for some reason Trek 4 goes all the way. Be sure and have your cameras ready on this leg, the views are gorgeous. On this leg I think we had about 50 stream crossings. Got to Cypher's Mine about 3. Others might do it by 1:30 or 2, but it's a tough hike, and we got slower as the day wore on. Hot showers at Cyphers, but we passed so we could do the mine tour. That is recommended, a good program. (We could have taken
 water only showers after 6, but decided not to). There is also a blacksmith forge program, we didn't do it. We also didn't do any gold panning. Could have done some of that the next morning, but opted out. Mosquitos are finally not so bad, and it's a good thing, because you stay in wooden shelters, that barely hold 12, and have no door, only 3 walls, a floor and a roof. YOU MUST GO TO THE STOMP, WHICH FOLLOW THE STRONG MAN TALL TALE CONTEST (our crew won that one). The stomp was probably the highlight of the trek for me, as far as activities go. (Almost forgot, it being Father's Day, we let the boys call home from Mt. Phillips, one of the places most cell phones can get out)
 
Monday, June 20 -
 
Got a late start. Slept in about 30 minutes, since there were no tents to strike (and no dining fly, our site had no place to put it). BUT, some of the guys got up early to take a shower before we left. That and a lost camera caused us a delay until 8:30. NOT GOOD. Our navigator, who said it looked like an easy hike today, really dropped the ball. ANOTHER TOUGH DAY. Yesterday was around 10 miles, today was close to the same, or it seemed like it. It took us about 3 hours to get close to Cimarroncito, but that's where we screwed up. We opted to go on up to Webster Parks and set up camp. A change in altitude of about 800 feet or so, many, many switchbacks, and almost all in the sun. By the time we got there, set up camp, and ate lunch, it was 2:30. Some of the guys then went back to Cimarroncito to try and do the climbing program, while the rest of us set out for Ute Gulch to get food. The trip to Ute Gulch Commissary was about 2 miles each way, mostly across rocks and
 boulders. When we came back, we had to climb up a jeep road that was probably our steepest climb yet. We had emptied our packs of all but water when we left, and we had 30 food bags split among 7 people, but we still struggled. I think we scared away a bear when we got back close to camp, at least that's what another crew told us. There are springs at Webster Parks, but it has to be treated.
 
IN HINDSIGHT, WE SHOULD HAVE GONE ON TO CIMARRONCITO, DONE THE PROGRAM, WHILE OTHERS WENT FOR FOOD VIA ANOTHER TRAIL (THROUGH CATHEDRAL ROCK), AND THEN LATER CLIMBED TO WEBSTER PARKS. YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY.
 
We didn't have any trouble tonight getting the boys to put EVERYTHING in the bear bags. By the way, at Ute Gulch, they let us trade in our last dinner meal for an extra lunch, so we didn't have to worry about water later. Our last cooked meal was tonight.
 
Tuesday, June 21 -
 
Up early, we managed to hit the trail by 7. Back down the hill toward Cimarroncito, stopped at the Hunting Lodge for a tour. Got there about 9:15. After about 30 minutes, on the trail again. Got to lower Clark's Fork about 10:30, filled our bottles and raided the swap box for a snack. They would have let us do more branding, but the wait would have been until 11:30, so we said no. Mosquitos are now gone. They were getting less as we headed east. Took more than 2 hours to climb through upper Clark's Fork to Shaeffer's Pass. We got there just after 1. We were tired! Ate a trail lunch, and filled all of our water bladders. Everyone had 3 bottles, plus we took and extra 25 liters with us when we left. (Tooth Ridge is a dry camp). Somewhere around 3 or 3:30, while out on a ridge of nothing but boulders (I guess it was the beginning of Tooth Ridge) we got caught in a lightning, rain, hail, and wind storm. Hunkered down for about an hour and a half, many of us wet and
 shivering. Had to huddle together to stay warm. Finally on our way after the wind died down, still hiking and hiking and hiking. Finally found some bear cables about 6:30, and started setting up camp. But there was no sump or fire ring. Turned out we were in the staging area for crews that wanted to climb the tooth, Tooth Ridge camp was still about 1/4 or 1/2 mile away. We were too tired to go on. Didn't need the sump, no cooking to do, didn't need the fire ring. Just ate a cold supper and went to bed. Our other crew, from Trek 26, was down the trail, and had a campfire. Some of the boys went, but none of the adults.
 
Wednesday, June 22 -
 
Hit the trail just after 7, for the long and winding road down the hill. LOTS of switchbacks, sometimes it seems as if you'll never get down. Finally got to base camp a little after 10. Some crews could do it in a couple of hours, but why rush? We did our rushing after we got there. By lunch time (30 minutes later for homebound crews) we had turned in all of our crew gear, drawn our tent assignments, had a shower, and were basically ready to go. In the afternoon, we spent most of our time in the trading post and the Seeton Museum. Our other crew got in earlier and took the bus to Cimarron. But they still had to check in in the afternoon when they got back. BE SURE NOT TO MISS THE CLOSING CAMPFIRE, IT'S GREAT!
 
Thursday, June 23 -
 
After spending more money at the trading post, we left about 8:30. Got to the KOA campground in Amarillo around 3:30, after stopping by the Cadillac Ranch. The swimming pool at KOA was great, but not nearly as good as the all you can eat buffet at Golden Corral.
 
Friday, June 24 -
 
Broke camp before 7, had the breakfast from Hades at McDonald's. They were changing shifts at 7 am (go figure), and they managed to screw up all 23 orders of ours, plus about 10 more from other customers. Oh well. Got back to DeSoto about 2 in the afternoon, unloaded and was home by 3.
 
If anyone has specific questions about Trek 4, give me a shout, I'll try to answer.
 
ENJOY YOUR TREK!
 
Andre Houser
SM, Troop 109
DeSoto, TX
 
 
 

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Received on Wed Jun 29 22:23:18 2005