Troop 41 and Venturing Crew 2041’s Epic 12-Day Adventure at Philmont Scout Ranch

When you tell someone that you’re going into the backcountry for twelve days with a forty-pound backpack and hiking 56 miles over three peaks, most would say that you’re insane. However, in Scouting America, it’s the ultimate adventure. You know the name; I’m certain you’ve heard it from someone in your troop or crew – PHILMONT. It’s hard to explain all the beauty and grandeur of the 140,171-acre ranch, so I offer you the experience that I had hiking in the backcountry. 

When we first got off the bus to start hiking the trail, it was pouring rain. I was thinking. “Can we just get back on the bus and wait for the rain to die off?” Then our Ranger put her rain jacket on and told us to get going. It was at that moment I realized the days of cushy camping were over. Of course, the weather decided to have fun, and it later started hailing. Hiking two miles in hail, what a lovely way to start your day. However, that was honestly the lowest point of the trip. Things only got better. My Crew learned that the rain was on schedule every day. Just like clockwork, it rained every afternoon – never in the morning. In fact, the clouds made for an amazing backdrop for the gorgeous scenery that included meadows, mountains, cliffs, deserts, and streams. In total, my Crew hiked three peaks: Mt. Phillips, Trail Peak, and Tooth of Time. By far, the best view is Tooth of Time. You can see how small base camp is from way up, and you realize just how small you are in the grand scheme of nature. I know it’s what literally everyone says who goes to Philmont, but I felt so connected with nature at that moment. Philmont offers a break from the superficial worries of our lives. Alright, enough talking about hiking – let’s talk about all the programs Philmont Scout Ranch offers. 

I surprisingly learned a lot more about the history of the land than I thought I would. Our first staff camp was Abreu, where the Abreu family once settled in a Homestead. The staff acted as members of the old family, and I got to learn about old cabin living – wood fire stoves, courting candles, and foot-powered organs. Also, there was a delicious Root Beer Cantina there. There was some arts and crafts as well. Our Crew learned to make realistic fishing flies the next day at Fish Camp, and the day after that we made arrowheads at Apache Springs. At Apache springs, the staff member Myle’s taught us the history of the native indigenous people that once lived around Cimarron. Learning about the thousands of years of history of the land I was then staying on made me feel so small, yet grateful to be able to be a part of it. The next staff camp was by far my favorite one of the whole trip. It was called Bueabien. They had a spectacular campfire show that included audience participation, great acting, amazing singers, reflective moments, and a guy that could shred the harmonica. Additionally, they cooked for us that night at the Chuckwagon Dinner! They served chili and cobbler, and a surprisingly large amount of people decided to mix the two into a sweet abomination known as “CHOBBLER.” We were going to go horseback riding as well, but it started thundering and was canceled. The horses get VERY skittish when they hear not just one large, ominous boom in the distance, but a whole storm of large, ominous booms. And lastly, during the conservation project at Beaubien, I got to see a tree cut down by a chainsaw. Now that was the cherry on top. After that day, we hiked to the rock-climbing staff camp. Our Crew got to climb a cliff face, and the staff were super stoked and enthusiastic. Shout out to the Philmont rocking climbing staff in the South Country, you guys have the greatest vibes out there. I was climbing what was literally just a crack in the mountainside, and the staff gave me all the motivation to get through it. Although I can’t remember what day it was, my favorite program had to be aerial shooting. A bunch of disks would be shot into the air, and we had to shoot them with a bow and arrow. It was extremely difficult; in our entire hour there, only two people in our Crew hit it. Overall, every program at Philmont was truly enjoyable. 

I could go on for probably another twenty paragraphs, but that would spoil all the fun for you. If you read through all this, that must mean you’re interested, eh? Who am I to tell you every single detail? The best part of Philmont for me was never quite knowing what was next; every day was a surprise. And so, if you’ve read this far, go sign up for Philmont! It’s a story I’ll be able to tell for the rest of my life, and it could, no, it WOULD be for you as well. With that, this is Griffin from Troop 41/Venturing Crew 2041 and has a lovely next few months until Philmont, which you’re signing up for, right? 

Submitted by Troop 41, Venturing Crew 2041