[Philmont]: RE: Trek 30 (Red Hills to Shaefers Pass)

Brian Gannon asks...

<snip> Anyway, I am curious to see what kind of advice people have for Trek
30, specifically for the day that takes you from Red Hills to Shaefers Pass.
One route will take you over Bear and Black Mountains ("Black Death"), but I
know that that's a difficult route to follow (been there, done that). Has
anyone had any recent experience w/ that route? I last hiked it in 1998 and
even though I was a Ranger, I had a difficult time finding the trail in some
areas - no major harm done, but it was pretty hairy in spots. The other
route takes you down into Black Mountain Camp, then along the creek to North
Fork Urraca camp, then up to Shaefers Pass. If the spring at Shaefers is
dry, then that means we would have no water between Red Hills and Base Camp
if we went over Black and Bear (we would have to make a side hike to North
Fork Urraca Camp). At least on the creek route we would have water. Not an
easy day either way though.

Comments...

As an ex-Ranger, you've got the issues covered. Though I have never been on
it, that ridge route is little used, so it is easy to become "confused" (a
crew in our '99 contingent got caught on top in failing light, couldn't find
the trail down to Black Mountain Camp, and ended up spending the night
there). On the other hand, the trail along the North Fork of Urraca Creek
will make your crew experts in stream crossings with its fifty plus in that
stretch.

Regarding water, the spring at Schaefers was dry when I was there both in
September 2002 and July 2003, and flowing slowly in July 2001 (like a minute
and a half for a quart). As you know, the almost final word on water will
be before hitting the trail in Logistics, and the final would be a possible
update on the trail (though not likely on your route - if you were going
through Clark's Fork I'm sure the staff would have up to the minute info).
Anyway, at this point in time, like you I'd assume the spring will be dry
again. And it would be a real hump carrying enough water to get from Red
Hills to Base Camp going over Black Mountain, so sending a group of four
from Shaefers down to North Fork Urraca to bring back enough water for the
crew to get across the Ridge will likely be necessary.

Advice? When the crew is reviewing it's options, give them an unbiased view
of the pros and cons of each option, and let the youth decide.

 - Al Thomson, Troop 236, Schooley's Mountain, NJ
2004 Autumn Adventure
2003 726P2 (short trek)
2002 Autumn Adventure
2001 703E11 (Trek 21)
2000 Autumn Adventure
1999 703K2 (Trek 9, now 4)

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Received on Tue Mar 30 05:47:22 2004