From: Dr. Bob Klein (drbob@troop111.org)
Date: Mon May 06 2002 - 15:39:24 CDT
OK, I'm a little confused here. Trek 12 doesn't stay at either Red
Hills or Clark's Fork - do you actually mean Trek 16?
That said, a couple of comments:
1) In reality, there is no part of Philmont that is truly above the
timber line. Baldy is bald because of extremely aggressive hydraulic
mining. If you climb it (and I hope you do someday), you will find a
number of small pine trees trying to grow just over the edge of the
leeward side of the peak; Mother Nature trying to recover. I have been
watching one such tree for nearly 30 years now - it's grown all of about
8 inches over that time frame. I remember it specifically from when I
was a Scout because it was the only tree in sight up near the peak back
in 72 and 73, and I have a picture of it in my archives somewhere. Now
it has a dozen cousins, all pretty puny at this point. They're having a
tough time both because the elevation is close to the "true" timber line
and there's so little soil on the peak - it was all washed away by the
miners. It will likely take many centuries, but Baldy will eventually
be bald no more. Ditto for Mt. Phillips, BTW. Black and Bear Mountains
are well treed all the way to the top of each. BTW, there's some
brilliant white quartz in the saddle between Bear and Black.
2) Your trail choice really depends on whether want some great views or
not, or would prefer an extra program or two. Black Mountain and the
Shaefers Peak Ridgeline offer some spectucular vistas. The trail from
Commanche Pass down the Middle Fork towards Lamberts is a wonderful
trail, but doesn't offer much in the way of mountain views. However,
you could doubtless do a "pass-by" program visit to Hunting Lodge, and
if your Scouts were really ambitious, and got going at the crack of
doom, you could try for program at Cimmaroncito or side hike Hidden
Valley/Window Rock. On Window Rock, if you try that, I would drop my
packs at the base and raise bear bags by the old tree-to-tree method
before tackling it as a sidehike - you will be much happier.
Side-hiking Window Rock in full packs would be no fun.
Re the great views from Black and Shaefers Peak Ridgeline, the flip side
is that the trail from Commanche Pass to Bear Mountain, then Black
Mountain, is a royal PITA - classic bad trail. However, the cutoff
towards Shaefers Peak is quite easily located and followed. My 2000
Crew got lost trying to find the trail from the peak of Black Mountain
towards Black Mountain Camp (we didn't look hard enough), but you're not
going that way.
- Dr. Bob
John LeBlanc wrote:
Number Two
Red Hills camp to Clarks Fork-------a LONG way!
There are also two trails between these two camps.
The Northern route goes through Lamberts Mine and Hunting Lodge and the
southern route goes through or across Comanche Pass, Black Mountain and
Shaefers Pass Camp.
Does Black Mountain at 10,875 feet rise above timberline? Having never
even seen Black Mountain (or maybe I have) I have not a clue, other than
timberline is 11,000 feet plus or minus a few hundred feet depending on
other factors.
Any help or "been there, done that comments" would be appreciated.
John LeBlanc
-------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.7 : Thu Mar 13 2003 - 10:38:26 CST