RE: [Philmont]: First timers & The Tooth

> I've heard several people say it's really cool to hike into
> base camp on the last day after coming over the Tooth of
> Time. Given the opportunity to do that with an all-newbie crew,
> should that be a planning goal? There are a few other treks
> that offer a side-hike to the Tooth of Time and maybe those
> should be considered, too.

Hiking Tooth Ridge and the Tooth of Time should be considered like most
other program features, i.e. the crew should weight its relative
importance and make their selections accordingly. In considering it as
a side hike, a few points to consider:
it is about three - four hours and a rough trail from Shaffers Pass to
the Tooth of Time and back assuming you will spend "some" time on the
Tooth itself;
there is no water anywhere on the trail from Shaffers Pass to the Tooth
and back - if you are lucky like this year there will be water at
Shaffers Pass, but otherwise your water points are Clarks Fork (or the
stream along the trail up from Clarks Fork) or the North Fork of Uracca;

you DO NOT want to be on the Tooth or Tooth Ridge in a thunderstorm -
there are very few places where you are not rather fully exposed to
lightening;
most of the treks with the Tooth as a side hike are Strenuous and up.

The Scoutmaster is right, it can be a very long day. As I mentioned
earlier, the last possible water point is Shaffers Pass, but verify its
availability before you leave Clarks Fork, Miners Park or Black
Mountain/Cyphers Mine Camps (if coming over Black & Bear Mountains).
Add to that the fact that shortly after you leave the Tooth of Time you
will be hiking in full sun all the way into base camp (unless you are
caught in a thunderstorm).

Having said all that, would I want to do it again? In a heartbeat!

> I've already received a 2004 trek manual from Philmont to
> help plan our trek in 2005. It's been quite helpful in
> describing what to expect, plus any of your references to
> specific treks can be researched in the trek manual.

Keep in mind that Philmont frequently makes minor adjustments and
sometimes wholesale changes to initeraries from year to year. If your
crew chooses its selections based on this year's book, before you send
back your trek selection card next spring, verify the treks you select
based on the 2004 Treks book haven't changed or haven't changed enough
to make you consider another selection.

Happy Trails,

Roy Fisher

-------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Mon Oct 4 20:59:33 2004