[philmont] Don't knock the poncho

My favorite image of "cowboys" in cowboy hats came in 1970 at Philmont.
  We were camped at Bonito Cow Camp. There were several other crews
camped up and down the valley, including a crew of "cowboys" from New
York, all wearing cowboy hats. There is a small creek that runs
through the Bonito valley and a herd of cows and a large bull were on
the other side of the creek. Well, the New York cowboys decided they
were going to rope the bull. They obviously had been practicing since
they brought their own rope and seemed to be able to throw it pretty
well. Watching them cross the creek and walk slowly toward the herd,
we thought this looked quite entertaining, so we followed, a good
distance behind. The cows kept their distance from the "cowboys" and
walked up toward the edge of thewoods, the bull turned around, snorted, stamped the ground and charged
downhill at the "cowboys". Fortunately, they had the good sense to
run, and we ran too. It was quite a sight, cowboy hats flying off and
everyone running down toward the creek being pursued by an enormous
bull. There was about a 6' high washed-out bank at the creek and
everyone jumped down. That bull was mad but he didn't follow, he just
ran up and down the creek bank snorting and stamping the ground.

Dan Preston
Philmont '70, '72, '02, '06
On Nov 25, 2006, at 3:05 PM, John LeBlanc wrote:

> My dad was born in 1915, so he was too young to attend the "border
> affair" under Black Jack Pershing to avenge the raid on Columbus, New
> Mexico by Pancho Villa, but an aquaintence of his did.
>  
> Dad used to go hunting in West Texas with that gentleman and I still
> have the home movies of them in Langtry, Texas at Judge Roy Beans and
> the Pecos high bridge overlook with Leslie Lee wearing his "campaign
> hat" as was issued to US Cavalry troops back in 1915.
>  
> As a young Scoutmaster in 1968, I bought an "Official BSA" campaign
> hat because my Scoutmaster always wore one.  He got hisfrom the
> Marines in the 1940's.  Eventually he gave that one to me so I have
> two. 
>  
> Nother neat Philont story.
>  
> On my first Philmont expecition at age 14 we all wore cowboy hats
> since we were from Texas.  They wre pretty practical for sun shade and
> fanning a fire to cook those "cooked breakfasts"
>  
> Well, one of the older guys, John Roth wore a Stetson XXX black hat. 
> There was an elderly Catholic Chaplain who wore a campaign hat.  They
> got to joshing around and the priest proposed a switch which they did.
>  
> Somewhere out there is John Rath who has a campaign hat and possibly a
> priest Scouters grip that includes John's Stetson XXX.  Ah the
> comraderie Scouting affords one if only you let it.
>  
> And speaking of "cooked breakfast".
>  
> Everyone demonishes the ponchof for doing 100 things but not keeping
> one's self dry.
>  
> Well I am here to tell you there is no comraderie like 5 or 6 Scouts
> standing around with the front flap held at arms length over a
> volunteer who does his best and lights a fire and gets the breakfast
> meal going in the rain.  Don't knock the poncho if you haven't tried
> one.
>
> Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email
> and get things done faster.

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Received on Mon Nov 27 08:43:59 2006