BSA TROOP 61 Delaware, Ohio
Sponsored by Asbury United Methodist Church
Philmont - August '09
The journey out to Philmont was an adventure in itself. We traveled by train from Sandusky to Raton, New Mexico with a layover in Chicago. While the train stations were old and looked a bit worn, the train and friendly Amtrak staff made the 27-hour trip pleasant. It was a relaxing alternative to dealing with checking in at the airport. The scouts spent much of their time on the train in the observation car playing cards, reading, or talking, as well as enjoying the scenery.
Prior to arriving at Philmont, our crew needed to pick a trek from 35 choices. Each itinerary was carefully planned by Philmont to provide an experience that allowed crews to gradually become accustomed to the high altitude, access to water, food pick-ups every three days, and a variety of program options. Trek lengths vary from 50 to 100 miles. While it is impossible to see all of Philmont in one trek, the troop chose one that packed in as much as possible. We hiked the tallest peaks, including Baldy (tallest peak), Mount Phillips (second tallest), Trail Peak (site of B-24 airplane crash), and the Tooth of Time. Our trek earned us the respect of other scouts and the staff at Philmont.
During the day at Philmont, we rarely saw anyone outside of our own crew. At the end of each day, we shared camps with crews from all over the country. About half of the camps that we stopped at were staffed and provided program that taught us about the rich history of the area. For example, French Henry Camp had a gold mining theme. The staff interpreted gold mining that took place in the area 100 years ago. Hands-on gold panning, blacksmithing, and a tour of a mine (including finding our way out without lights) were offered. A trip to the rifle range at Sawmill Camp allowed the crew to shoot high powered rifles (30.06) with cartridges that the scouts loaded themselves.
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