2008 Philmont Trek

A trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in the New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo Mountains has to rank as one of the highlights in the life of a scout, regardless of age. Once you've been you want to go back, you have to go back, even if it takes half a lifetime. Troop 248 was fortunate to be able to send a crew to Philmont this year. Five of our scouts and three of our leaders were able to make this trip; they were joined by three scouts and one leader from other units. All three of our leaders had been to Philmont as youths. Vee was on his third trip; Steve and Craig had both waited about 30 years for their chance to return. Such is the powerful draw of Philmont.

For those content to let photos tell the story, click here for a gallery on this web site, or here for a larger gallery hosted by Craig. For those interested in a more in-depth telling, read on.

Preparation

"Be Prepared". The scout motto. If you want to go to Philmont, you had better take it seriously. You spend eleven days on the trail. Between fatigue, accident, weather, navigation and wildlife there are numerous opportunities for adversity. Preparation can be the difference between a good story and disaster.

In a sense, preparation for Philmont begins the day you become a scout. Teamwork, leadership, outdoor skills, and perseverance are everything. Camping. Map and compass. Hiking. Cooking. First aid. Everything you need to make your way through the wilderness. Sound familiar? These are among the core requirements for advancement from Tenderfoot all the way to Eagle Scout.

As the day of the trek approaches the pace quickens. Most scouts are gifted with the strength and endurance of youth, but the adult leaders find themselves spending more time in the gym and on the treadmill, getting their bodies back into shape for the trip. We start looking at tents, backpacks, camp stoves, clothing, boots and sleeping bags with a critical eye, looking for gear that will be light yet rugged. Numerous trips to REI thin out our wallets.

First aid is a particular priority. Philmont is a deep wilderness experience. Even in an emergency help may not arrive for the better part of a day. A helicopter evacuation can easily take four hours due to the time required to reach a staffed camp having a radio; it can take even longer if the weather is bad. Several crew members prepared for this possibility by taking an intensive course in wilderness first aid.

The final stage of our preparation was a 'shakedown hike' at Mount Greylock in western Massachusetts. The shakedown has several purposes. First, it constitutes a necessary test of skills and stamina to make sure that everyone on the hike is fit to hike through mountainous terrain with a heavy backpack. Second, it is a final 'gear check' to make sure that everyone has the right equipment for the trip. Finally, it gives members of the crew a chance to get to know each other a bit better. This was particularly important because several members of our crew were from other units.

The hike up Mount Greylock proved a worthy challenge. At 3,491 feet its summit is scarcely half the altitude of base camp, but the trail to the top was actually steeper than most of the trails at Philmont, and the lack of altitude was more than made up for by the heat and humidity, both of which were in the 90s. It was a long and grueling weekend, but we made it.

The Journey to Philmont