After dinner and a trip back to Pikes Peak to retrieve a lost pack, we headed to the Hotel for our trip down to Cimarron. Early on the 8th, we climbed back in the charter bus and off to Philmont. The first day in Philmont is always a pain. The base camp is hot and dusty and the tents are even hotter. We checked in, went to lunch then met our Ranger who was to be with us for the next 3 days. We collected our pots, food, bear rope and bear bags: met with the logistics crew and then got our gear lockers and signed all of the documentation stuff. We also got checked out by the medical staff as well. Thursday would be another day of checking out gear and getting acquainted with the "Philmont Way". The bus picked us up at 1 Pm for the 10 minute ride to 6 mile gate where we were released to the wild for 11 days. Our first order of business was to go over the lightning position. Philmont is known for fast changing weather and lightning storms. They teach you what to do if you are caught in the open in lightning. Hopefully we wont need to practice this on our Journey. We had a very short hike to our first camp. We learned how to pitch bear rope and hang bear bags. We learned about the fire techniques and water conservation. Water is a precious resource at Philmont and they make sure you understand conservation. Day 2 was pretty much spent at Indian Writings. We had a blast there doing our conservation project and throwing Atlatyls. We also spent 3 hours digging in an archaeological dig where we found quite a few interesting things.
Hillary, who was our guide, was really cool and showed a lot of enthusiasm. It was contagious for the boys. The next day, Rob our guide was supposed to leave us. So he took us all to the top of a small mountain to let us meditate on the 10 days ahead and also to make us sign a pledge that we would take care of this great place. He had a special surprise for us and took out a pound cake and chocolate icing. Everyone had a piece and it was great. We hiked back down and headed for Ponil. Rob was going to Ponil too and he hiked a short way with us. then, like a Ninja, he was gone. We saw him later at Ponil drinking Root Beer.
After 1 day at Ponil, a chuckwagon Dinner and breakfast, lots of Root Beer and horseshoes, we took off for Pueblano. It was supposed to be about a 2 hour hike up a trail. But somewhere along the way we missed the trail and ended up "off the reservation". We hiked up and over a pretty steep mountain pass which was burned in the fire of 2002. It was very hot and dry but it was worth it because we saw a really nice Mesa with a lake on top. The hike in to Pueblano was all downhill but we were all still very tired. We only spent the night at Pueblano and were out of there the next AM to head to Miranda. We saw a small Black bear on our way out to Head Of Dean. For most of the Scouts, it was the first encounter with a wild bear. Actually, the bear was pretty tame. Not always the best thing for bear or Campers.
We spent a lot of the day at Head Of Dean doing a team building activity. We really learned a lot about ourselves AND about each other. It may have been the most fun I had on the trip. We got into Miranda late that evening and it was a really long walk up to the check in. They gave us a really nice campsite which we had for 2 nights. We all ate and turned in early for tomorrow is BALDY. Baldy is a 11,441 ft. peak that you can see from almost any spot on the Philmont property. It is very menacing and tough. We arose at 4:30 and were ready to start hiking at 5:15 AM. The first 4 miles don't seem to bad but the mountain turns upward at about 10,000 feet and the last 1400 ft are really tough. The last 500 feet is almost straight up. But we all made it and we crossed together in a long row. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen boys do together.
After a trip through Baldy Town to pick up food, we headed back to Miranda for some rest and reflection. We made dinner and the boys played frisbee and cards. The adults sat, relaxed and talked about how cool it was to walk up a big ole mountain. The next day we said goodbye to Miranda and headed back through Head of Dean. We filled up our water there and made sure we were ready for a dry camp. Philmont has several camps that have no potable water and you have to prepare. We found a water buffalo (basically a large storage area that is filled by a solar pump). We made our dinner there even though it was early afternoon. That way we knew we had our hot meal covered. We then headed to Black Jack's Camp which turned into one of my favorite camps. Even though it was unstaffed and dry, it was quiet and we walked up a small hill to a great overlook. We could see Baldy and Tooth Of Time clearly. We also spent some time talking to our sister trek and this lead to a closer friendship.
We left Black Jack and headed for Harlan. WE got to shoot shotguns at skeet and race burros at Harlan. We also really got to know our sister trek well at Harlan. We played Ultimate Frisbee and went to their campfire. I was also finally able to get a cell signal and could call home and talk to Laura and Hannah. So it was a swell camp. From Harlan, we left and headed to Cimarroncito by way of the Ute Gulch Commissary. The dude at Ute Gulch was great. We could have all of the fresh fruit we wanted and we got a chance to load up on Gatorade. I also got some well needed Dark Chocolate too. Cimarroncito was a cool place to play around but not too great for Ultimate Frisbee. We did go rock climbing and rappelling which was way to cool.
When we were packing up to leave Cimmaroncito, I started to get kind of sad because I knew our time was short at this great place. But I was also ready to see my wife and daughter and I knew it could not last forever. The trail from Cimmaroncito to Ponderosa was a nice pretty walk. WE got to see window rock and we made a picture at Cathedral Rock with our sister trek.
Ponderosa Park was a pretty place (at least I think it was). We got there about 5 PM after we ate another dinner for lunch as it was a dry camp. As soon as we sit up camp, it started to thunder. About 6PM its started to hail and really rain hard. We all stayed in our tents and read or slept. It made getting up at 2:45 AM easier. We wanted to see the Tooth Of Time for Sunrise. It was at least a 7 mile hike there up hills and on rocky trails. We almost made it but we did get some cool views over the mountains. WE summited the Tooth around 7 AM and it was almost breathtaking.
From the base of Tooth to base camp was about 2 hours of steady walking downhill and with little shade. So even though it was downhill, it was hot. We were all looking forward to Pizza and ice cream so it made the long walk tolerable for us all. Base camp was about the same as we had left it, hot, dusty and boring. We cleaned up, went to Cimarron for Pizza and ice cream. Then we attended the closing ceremonies and headed to bed. The bus picked us all up at 8 AM the following day for the trip back to Colo. Springs and the flight home.
All in All, I cannot say enough about the 12 days I spent in God's Country. I will forever be smitten by this place and I cannot wait to go back. I was able to spend time with my son which is priceless. I spent time with scouts who I got to know much better as men. And I made many new friends along the way. Sitting on the Tooth Of Time with my son Kyle on July19th 2009, will quite likely be one of the greatest moments of my life. I thank God I was able to do this with Kyle. I hope we can do it again one day...........soon...
