[Philmont] Boundaries of Texas and other important stuff

Mark Liechty wrote:

Signed:
The guy who does not need to travel with his state flag to know where he
comes from.

____________________

Mark is a new member of this list and an avid Philmont camper as of last
week.

I can vouch that he doesn't travel with his state flag. He is also on
track to become an Honorary Texan. To see what I mean, take a look at the
photo (made last Thursday) here:

http://www.troop405.org/archives/pictures/Tooth_Liechty_TX_Flag.jpg

Be sure to check a snow covered Baldy on the left and the mountains of
Colorado on the right.

I "met" Mark on SCOUTS-L several years ago. Back in January when it
became obvious we would have an open slot in our all-adult Philmont Autumn
Adventure crew, I (in a spirit of diversity) invited Mark to join our crew
of Texans for a week at Philmont in early October.

Well, Mark knew he would be turning age 40 on October 5th and decided to
give himself a rather unique birthday present so he accepted the
invitation. He dropped about 30 lbs. so he could make the Philmont weight
limit and I wound up getting to meet the famous traveling "California
Computer Guy" on October 7th.

Our first encounter was interesting as my wife, Linda, and I were sitting
in the Cimarron Art Gallery enjoying ice cream that afternoon when a
somewhat sad looking guy walked in. He looked very much like his hiking
boots, patch "blankey" and other equipment had wound up in Phoenix rather
than the intended destination of Denver. Yep, that was Mark's
introduction to Philmont. To make matters worse, his cell phone wasn't
working so he was out of contact with his wife, Erin.

As it turned out, Mark wound up spending the rest of the afternoon with us
and his equipment arrived in Cimarron at 8:30 p.m. so he didn't have to go
out in the back country wearing sandals.

I believe it is safe to say that Mark enjoyed his time at Philmont,
especially since he got to hold a Texas flag over the Tooth of Time and
was honored to help hold the same flag in our crew photo made at
Philmont's camping headquarters last Friday morning. The fact that Mark
was one of two crew members to make it to the top of Black Mountain AND to
the top of the Tooth shows that a CA Computer Guy can do well at Philmont.
 My guess is that Mark will find a way to return to Scouting's Paradise,
maybe even with a future Autumn Adventure crew made up of Texans.

The only question I have is how soon Mark will wind up with an image of a
Texas flag tattooed on his arm, leg or some other part of his body.

YiS,

--
Calvin H. Gray
Scoutmaster, Troop 405
Associate Advisor, Venturing Crew 405
Georgetown, Texas
I used to be an Owl (WM-62-2-98 @ Philmont)
http://www.troop405.org/
-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
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
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:
     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe 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.
-------------------------------------------------------