Troop 200 and our Journey through
Philmont Scout Ranch
by Drew Cryar

photograph by Tommy Boyd

Earlier this summer, Troop 200 embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. Every year we go on a trip and this one was the biggest of them all. We went to Philmont Scout Ranch, a 137,493 acre ranch that is the supreme destination for Scouts and Explorers who come each summer for rugged and scenic wilderness expeditions.
Before we began our treks, we needed some time to acclimate to the rise in elevation. We would be scaling mountains between 9000 and 12,441 feet over the course of the next 15 days. During the first 3 days we spent time venturing up Sandia Peak on the worldest largest cable car ascension. At the top we took a 3 mile hike and got our first taste of the beauty of New Mexico. We also went to Friojles Canyon and explored the ancient cave dwellings of the Pueblo Indians carved into the sides of the towering canyon walls. Our next destination brought us to the Rio Grande River where we took on the class 3 whitewater rapids and journeyed down the river on 2-man rubber rafts. After a few flips and tumbles we reached the end safely and smiling. We concluded our pre-trip with a rugged mountain bike trek over 12 miles of rocky desert shouldering a canyon.

Over the course of the next 12 days we camped and hiked along the southern end of the Rocky Mountains and hiked a total of 78 miles within the Philmont boundaries. We each had a backpack weighing between 30 and 60 pounds.

Camping was much more difficult than our usual Florida camping due to the altitude. The major concern was the precautions that needed to be taken due to black bears. Every night we gathered all of our "smellables" which included all food items as well as tooth paste, lotions, duct tape, and even disposable cameras. We put them in a bag and hoisted them high up in the trees on a bear bag wire. To cook we used a portable camp stove with white gas. For dinner we boiled water and added the food which was all freeze dried.

The hiking experience was the highlight of Philmont. Whether we were hiking through floral meadows or up steep, rocky, mountains, we were having fun no matter how exhausted we were. Philmont was the cleanest place most of us had ever been to and the scenic surroundings were always in pristine condition. Our most challenging peak was Black Mountain and our highest was Mount Baldy at 12,441 feet. At the top of Mount Baldy, Mr. Jim Mark took over as our scoutmaster in place of Mr. Bill Ruffier who had been our scoutmaster for 3 years.

We also embarked on many other activities at Philmont which included rock climbing, tomahawk throwing, black powder rifle shooting, and our conservation project which consisted of breaking down tree limbs and moving logs to help the ongoing problem of meadow encroachment from the Ponderosa Pine trees. We also took part in team challenges such as the nitro swing, and climbing over a 15 foot wall.

Overall, Philmont was truly an incredible experience. I am sure we will all remember our time spent at the place that has become known as the Superbowl of Scouting.
by Drew Cryar