[philmont] fruit basket turnover

I had another thought concerning picking itineraries in terms of geographic considerations alone.

Don't get hung up on what we in the east call "peak bagging". There are many high altitude traverses which offer expansive scenic views along the entire course of the hike, without necessarily "summiting" any peak.. I strongly recommend the trail from Sawmill to Thunder Ridge, for example. Shaeffer's Peak should not be missed, although it is not one of the Ranch's higher summits. The traverse from Big Red to Black Mountain will live in any Scout or Scouter's memories.

Surely others can come up with hikes along the ridges stretching from Baldy to supplement those chosen by this South Country afficionado. I understand the view from Wilson Mesa is sublime.

I also recommend the canyon walk from Abreu to Fish Camp. Fish Camp to Agua Fria is beautiful. Crater Lake through Fowler Pass to the Bonita Valley through Webster Pass to Fish camp is recommended. The view east from Fish Camp down the Rayado is breathtaking. Urraca Mesa, Stonewall Pass to Miner's Park-not bad. Don't miss Black Mountain Camp and certainly the trail from Black Mountain Camp to North Fork Urraca, under the gaze of the Grizzly Tooth (how many have never heard of that rock formation?) should not be missed. Red Hills. Only a few itineraries make this high altitude, plentiful water, stop.

Fish Camp to Clear Creek, with stops at Porcupine, Comanche Camp, Buck Creek, Wild Horse or Crooked Creek, should not be missed.

Beaubien. One word conveys so much. Let's try that again. Abreu. Crater Lake. (oops, two words). Trail Peak--don't leave it for another day.

Apache Springs, if you're lucky enough to get an itinerary that goes there. Maybe you'll see one of the two elk herds. While you're in the neighborhood, check out Lost Cabin.

The Tooth and its Ridge.

Sort of makes only going once seem like it's unfair in some way. Got to go over and over again.

Again, STUDY THE MAPS! Encourage your youth to make an intelligent decision. If you can convince one of them to return to the Ranch, either on a second expedition, an OA trail crew, work as a Ranch hand, a Rayado trek or, (I truly wish) a Kanik expedition, you have really accomplished something special.

When you check the maps and choose one route from one camp to another, you always wonder what you would see if you chose the alternate route, or the second alternate route, or if you were a Ranger, and worn out shoe leather, rather that age and conditioning, were the only limiting parameter (that may be a trifle redundant).

Well, back to the thread topic. Don't limit yourself and your crew to the Treks booklet and its skeleton maps and descriptions. There's a lot more info out there, if you take the time to look. Take TIME and give your boys every chance to choose wisely.

Maybe they'll change the numbers or some details of the treks next year. Scouts will figure it out if we take the time.

There are no bad itineraries.

YIS
Bill Sheehan

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Received on Fri Nov 24 21:52:24 2006