RE: [Philmont]: Payment Due Dates(TOTAL COSTS)

> From: Troop 681 scouter
> I FULLY support taking the train. A great adventure for
> scouts who probably won't have the opportunity again.

I'll second that. Our youth resisted the first time we took the train in
2003, but came back with the attitude of "why would you want to go any other
way?" However, from PA, that may make for much too long a train ride. You
could consider flying to some place like KC and pick up the train, that
might work for some sort of touring.
>
> In FEB, we have bought train tickets on a 2 for 1 special. OR
> it was buy one
> ADULT ticket and get one youth (16 and under) for half price.

In 2003, we took advantage of the 2/1 special. It was offered again in
2004, but if it was available in 2005, I missed it, and I was looking for
it. So we went with adult/under 16 half price (not 16 and under) with a
crew of all 14-15 year olds. The problem with that offer is it is limited
to 2 youth per adult, so you run out of adults pretty quickly. Also, as
many of us have AAA membership, there is a discount for that as well (that
combines with the other discounts). Because all our crew was under 16, our
train tickets in 2005 were actually cheaper than in 2003. Train worked out
to $95/person in 2005.
>
> Contact me off list for more info and tips on taking the train.
>
Here is my tip for taking the train: If you are coming from the west coast,
you will go through Albuquerque at lunch time on the way to Philmont and
dinner time on the way back. Albuquerque is where the train stops to refuel
and get anything fixed that needs to be fixed, so you always have at least
30 minutes there. We ordered pizza (by cell phone) to be delivered to the
train station about 30 minutes out from Albuquerque. It arrived right when
we did. Call Albuquerque information for "New York Pizza" and call each of
them until you find the one near the station (it was the second on the list
of four from information in 2005). It was even a pretty good pizza. I have
the phone # at home, I don't have it here at work. With tip, it worked out
to $20/large pizza, which is considerably cheaper than the dining car :-)

Going the other way, I believe the train stops to refuel in La Junta. I
don't know the timing of that, but you may want to look into something
similar.

Tip 2: Consider buying one of those $5 Mexican blankets from the street
vendors who meet the train (Albuquerque). They work real well for the cool
interior when you are sleeping in your seat and make a fun souvenir. I
don't know if that works for trains from the East.
>
> >From: Anthony Helpenstell <cadscout@yahoo.com>
> >How did you travel?
> >Any side trips?

No side trips for us, the train makes that difficult. Had we gotten into
base camp earlier at the end of trip, we could have gone to Cimarron or
Rayado, but the boys weren't motivated for that.

> >What kind of fundraising did you use to help pay for the costs?

None. The parents showed no interest in it. Besides, at $747 per person,
it isn't that big a ticket, not compared to our European trip ($1500) or
National Jamboree ($3000).

> >Did you stay overnight at other Scout camps? (or low cost/free camping
> >spots)

Spent an extra night at CHQ in the wall tents. $8/person with breakfast at
$4/person. You need to ask *IN WRITING* for permission to do this, the
paperwork has that little tidbit BURIED. A bit disorganized for figuring
out breakfast as they are set up for your ranger to guide you to breakfast
and you don't have a ranger at that point. BTW, bus from train station in
Raton was $25/person round trip for 2005.

> >Does your total cost include equipment needed by individuals or just
> >travel and Philmont fees?

Our cost includes travel, Philmont fees, two extra meals, two crew t-shirts
(wicking with pockets) per person, and this year 10 carabiners and an
aluminum water bottle (all engraved with trek info) and gifts for the
ranger. I also had some cheap little California souvenirs that I gave to
anyone at CHQ who was particularly helpful to us (hey, these people aren't
usually from California). Came to $747/person.
> >
> >We are also going to attempt to convince the other crews to combine
> >with us for travel to and from Philmont for a lower cost on tickets.
> >It worked well in 2004. How many of you attempt to travel with the
> >other crews from your council or separately?

I'd be interested to find out how you can save by combining if you take the
train. I'm not seeing it. We've never tried to coordinate with other
crews. The other crews in our district went on other dates. It was fun
getting to know other crews on the train who were from other places (like
San Diego).
> >
Regards
Don Roberts
Fullerton, CA
05 808-K, 03 809-J

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Received on Mon Sep 19 10:30:41 2005