From: Larry Tuck (LarryT@ftmg.net)
Date: Mon Oct 29 2001 - 11:49:41 CST
Dan asks:
<<Now that it has become far more relevant to me than in the past, I wanted
to
ask about how to get to Philmont. There appear to be three options (Times
are from So. Cal.):
Train = 22 hours, no sleeping facilities, how to get from Raton to
Philmont?
Plane = 2 hour flight, but driving to airport, shuttle rental from
Colo.
Sprgs or Alb., checkin
Automobile = 13 hour drive, need to stay somewhere on the way, can
cars be
parked at Philmont?>>
Dan:
We went this past summer and took the train. It worked pretty well for us.
Amtrak puts all the Raton passengers on one car and since they're mostly
scouts going to Philmont you'll likely be with one or two other crews. The
boys stayed up most of the night going, sitting in the lounge car, but slept
like logs in their seats coming home. Most of them thought it was a pretty
cool experience.
Since the train arrives in Raton late in the day, you'll want to schedule
yourself to get there they day BEFORE your official Philmont arrival date,
i.e. we were Crew 723-D (official arrival July 23) so we left LA on 7/21 and
arrived in Raton around 6 p.m. on 7/22. Some crews stay in a motel but we
arranged in advance for early arrival at Philmont. They charge an extra $8
each (I think) for the extra night's lodging and $4 for breakfast, which is
cheaper than a motel and more convenient. Just make sure you let them know
in advance. That way you have all day on your official arrival date to
complete your check-in procedures.
Philmont will send a bus to pick you up in Raton. The charge is $16 per
person, round trip. Usually the bus driver is happy to stop at a fast food
place in Raton so you can buy dinner, since you will probably be arriving at
Philmont after supper time.
I've also flown via Albuquerque but taking a crew the cost of transportation
to Philmont will be significant. Bear in mind its about a three hour drive.
I've driven from southern California, too, which is a neat trip but probably
grueling with a crew of scouts. There is ample parking near Camping
Headquarters.
Good luck organizing your trek. We're on the waiting list, so maybe we'll
see you there.
Larry Tuck
SM, Troop 761
Thousand Oaks, CA
Lead Advisor, Philmont Trek 723-D (2001)
Father of Philmont Mountain Trek Ranger Kristina
-------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------
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 - 10:38:41 CST