[philmont] RE 2008 Treks

David Barkdull writes...

<snip> they then figured out which treks would most suit their requirements. Having
said this, any comments or recommendations out there on Treks 4, 11, and 13?

Commnets...

Having started this thread, I guess I should throw in my two cents. Of course, there are no bad treks (and anyone's personal reccomendation of one over another is irrelevant to your crew), so these are observations regarding your three, in no particular order.

Have to echo Jim Thompson's comment regarding Tooth Ridge Camp - it is a great spot to spend your last night on the trail.

On the other hand, 4 and 11 have longer last days, needing to get up to Shaefers Pass and then across Tooth Ridge. Take plenty of water - the last long switchbacks down to Base Camp are exposed and the sun will be high in the sky by the time you get there.

4 and 13 include the hike along (well above) the Rayado, one of my favorites.

11 has the hike with 50 odd stream crossings) along the North Fork of Urraca Creek, also very nice.

Like most South treks, water is readily available, though each has at least one dry camp.

Also like most South treks, lots of program opportunities. And as Challenging treks, you will have time to do them. Plus additional opportunities not listed at camps you are passing through or near if the staff can accommodate you.

4 and 11 both include Mount Phillips, but approach it from opposite directions. 4's trail from Clear Creek is actually off the ranch, steep, and not well maintained. 11's from Cyphers Mine is newer and has more switchbacks. It might be a minority opinion, but I prefer the shorter (both vertically as well as horizontally) route from Clear Creek.

With dry trail camps at elevation, both 4 and 11 are candidates for thinking your time management plan well through. While the normal advice is to get an early start in order to hike before the heat of the day and to get where you are going early so you have the afternoon for program, Mount Phillips probably is better tackled by doing morning program at Clear Creek or Cyphers, dinner for lunch in camp with water available, and an afternoon hike to your dry trail camp for the night. If you do decide to cook dinner at Commanche Peak, an alternate to carrying water all the way from Cyphers Mine is to send a crew of four on to Red Hills for water (like is shown in TREKS for 34 which does not drop down to Cyphers for program).

While 13 also has a dry camp at elevation, a different consideration comes into play - avoiding crossing Tooth Ridge the middle of the afternoon (and the possibility of being there during a thunderstorm.)

An early start is crucial on some other days, such as 13's Day 10 from Cyphers Mine to Cito, with a sidehike on to Ute Gulch for food. You will need to hustle that day and Rock Climbing will still be iffy depending on how many got there and signed up ahead of you (some of whom may have a layover and arrived the day before).

Though I have never been there at dawn, Comanche Peak has a great vantage point for sunrises. The safer and nealy as nice option at Tooth Ridge is from the rock formation in camp rather than the top of the Tooth of Time.

-- Al Thomson
Troop 120 Keowee SC & Patriots' Path Council NJ
Treks '99, '01, & '03 / AA '00, '02, '04, '06, & '08

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
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
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:

     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe philmont@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.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Mon Mar 3 12:33:27 2008