[Philmont] Ranger 2008

Dear Matt:

Congratulations on your acceptance into the elite corps that has been called the "lean, green hiking machine".

I know you will be a great Ranger with your attitude of striving to hit the ground running. The late Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes was fond of saying "Give me enough of a head start, and I can beat anyone in the 100 yard dash". That's the power of preparation. Seems I've heard the phrase "Be Prepared" somewhere else, too.

Joe Jansen mentions the phrase "Summit of Scouting" in describing the Ranch. I highly recommend you order the book "Return to the Summit of Scouting: A Scouter's Midlife Journey Back to Philmont" by William F. Cass. Cass vividly describes his three years as a staffer at Philmont in the mid-sixties, as a rifle and shotgun instructor at Beaubien, as a Ranger, and his last year as CD at Abreu. He then (once again, vividly) describes his experience returning to Philmont as an advisor to his son's crew in the early 1990's, with a bit of discussion concering the crew's Ranger (a fellow of high quality) and the changes and similarities of Rangering in the 90's.

(All of you on the list who are headed to the Ranch as advisors, perhaps of a crew containing your own son, should also go to the Tooth of Time Traders website and order this book).

Dr. Bob urged you to "Zen Philmont". A look at the Tooth of Time Traders website will show you many, many books that will deepen and broaden your knowledge of Philmont lore. Of course, there are the coffee table books, which are strong on pictures and may be pricey for one of your years. Of these, Philmont, Where Spirits Soar, is more aimed at the general public, while Philmont: a Brief History of the New Mexico Scout Ranch, by Zimmer and Walker is packed with more information you could impart to the crews in your care. I would recommend the latter if you had to choose between the two. It's probably cheaper, to boot. Philmont: The Timeless Experience by David E. Carter is pretty much all photos.

Larry Murphy's Philmont is a classic, for the history of the area. The history of the Phillips gift and the establishment of the Ranch takes up a few of the latter chapters.

If you're interested in the history of the Scout Ranch itself, I would also highly recommend High Adventure Among the Magic Mountains: Philmont-The First 50 Years by Minor S. Huffman. This is more of an extensive collection of brief stories than one integrated narrative, but it is packed with many, many anecdotes and reams of information about Philmont in the early years. Huffman was General Manager of the Ranch during WWII, with its shortages of some food staples, commencing in 1943.

The Philmont Field Guide is probably something you will want in your pack, to answer questions about what flower that is or what bird or what tree.

Then, there are multiple books about Kit Carson, Lucien Maxwell and various desperadoes and upstanding citizens (yes, there were a few) who populated Colfax County in the last two centuries. Finally there are the books that focus on Waite Phillips himself. Unless you have an unlimited budget for books, you might want to leave these for last or for after you arrive. Some may be available in your college library or by inter-library loan.

The Seton Museum is an excellent resource, but you probably won't want to spend much time indoors. There is a Museum Director, and it might be a good idea to strike up an acquaintance. Previous directors have been Larry Murphy and Steven Zimmer, whose books are noted above.

You may find Camp Directors and other staffers in the backcountry and elsewhere who have done their homework and are more than willing to share. Search out those who have spent multiple summers (even decades) at the Ranch for their insights.

Let your natural enthusiasm for the outdoors and the Scouting program in general shine through. This is one time you don't have to feel even vaguely self-conscious about wearing the uniform in public. You will find that the uniform opens a lot of doors in Northeastern New Mexico, as well as on your travel to and from the Ranch.

Well, I've gone on long enough. Have an excellent summer bringing High Adventure to another 20,000 of our youth and their advisors.

Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05,'07 and 08

P.S. For a laugh, and a fictional account of a 1952 expedition on the Ranch by Bronc Burnett and his happy-go-lucky crew of New Mexico Explorers, check out Eagle Scout, by Wilfred McCormick. It's available at the Seton Library and also on Ebay. You also might find some of these other books in used condition on ebay or Amazon.

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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.
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Received on Wed Nov 21 05:43:53 2007