From: Calvin H. Gray (405geezer@igg-tx.net)
Date: Tue Mar 19 2002 - 15:56:13 CST
Six Scouts and five adults from our troop spent last
week (March 10-15) at Philmont participating in Kanik,
Philmont's winter camping program. We had an excellent
time.
The fee for our 5-night adventure was $195 per person
and included food, tents, stoves, fuel, water containers
and winter camping clothing if we needed it.
After spending our first night in Philmont's "quad"
after going through an hour and a half training session
on winter camping, we were transported to the Hunting
Lodge near Cimarroncito where we camped for four nights
and did side hikes. In total, there were five Kanik
crews camped at the Hunting Lodge, all from Texas.
Our crew enjoyed two trips to Cimarroncito where the
boys spent a great deal of time in the climbing house.
A hike to Window Rock also took place. The most
strenuous activity was a hike to Cyphers Mine during
which part of the trail and area around the camp was
covered by a couple of feet of snow. The boys especially
enjoyed playing in the snow at Cyphers. They also had
fun sliding on snow & ice (on saucers supplied by
Philmont) near the road that goes from the Hunting Lodge
to the Cito Reservior.
Although some trail food items are included, Kanik food
is much better that the food provided in the summer as
there are several MRE type meals in each pack. Each
person received a personal food pack for each day and we
had a whole lot left over. I'll be eating peanut butter,
jelly and crackers for several weeks.
Cobbler cooked by the Kanik staff in Dutch ovens and a
night time campfire program conducted by the staff in
the Hunting Lodge were enjoyed one night.
Other than very high wind gusts one night which
destroyed one of the tents we were using, there were no
significant problems during Kanik. Probably too many
people concentrated in one location (Hunting Lodge) but
that wasn't a significant problem. Our biggest
disappointment was the lack of snow.
The Kanik staff was exceptional. I especially
appreciated their concern when my father was
hospitalized back here in Texas. A cell phone was
provided which enabled me to communicate with the
hospital, etc. and to make sure my father was okay.
Other than having to spend his 95th birthday in a
hospital, he came through his latest ordeal in
satisfactory condition.
We also enjoyed two visits to the Philmont Trading Post,
a tour of the Villa Philmonte and a stop at the Cimarron
Art Gallery for ice cream, etc. Seeing large numbers of
Mule Deer in the Villa yard and the field across the
highway was interesting.
By the way, the St. James Hotel is under new ownership
as of March 15, and the Cimarron residents seem to be
pleased about that.
Also, I was told that fall and winter moisture at
Philmont has been about 30% below normal. So, unless
there is a great deal of moisture during the next couple
of months, it is probably best to "be prepared" for
another summer camping season during which there are
more bear sightings than usual.
YiS,
-- Calvin H. Gray Scoutmaster, Troop 405 Georgetown, Texas ----------------------------------------------------- 204.1.23.24 ------------------------------------------------------- Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/ Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp ------------------------------------------------------- Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. -------------------------------------------------------
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