Philmont - Day 12 - Base Camp

To get to the top of the Tooth of Time for the sunrise, we got up at 4:00 am. It was still a little windy and believe it or not, it was cool to cold.



We hiked by flashlight until we got to the base to the Tooth of Time. There was just enough light to see our way as we climbed to the top. We had someone take our picture, which was difficult because of the low light level.



We then went a few feet away and got our picture taken with the sunrise behind us.



The sun then began to peak above the horizon.



As the sun came out you could see more people spread across the Tooth of Time. Some were more relaxed than others.



We headed back to camp to take down the tents and pack up for our last day on the trail. We moved fairly quickly, or should I say the youth were moving fairly quickly. One of the crew members had the camera and he documented the holdup.



What was amazing about the trail is that you saw base camp and you walked. You walked more and base camp did not appear much closer. You kept walking and perhaps it was closer.



We finally got off the hill and made our way back to base camp. There was a big Welcome Back sign that we crossed under.



We then made our way back to the Welcome Center to be assigned out tents for the night. It was sure a good site, but it was nothing like the back country. What I would give for some trees, a meadow and a view from the tops of some mountains. Other than that, I was happy to be back.



There was not a lot of time to return what we needed to. We got some things taken care of. One nice thing was, we were back in time for lunch. No crackers, no squeeze cheese, no energy snacks, just regular food, a pulled pork sandwich, chips and vegetables. Some of the boys had seconds. Perhaps a few had thirds.



A view of the commissary with the flags would be appropriate.



Next it was off to the showers. After that we got some laundry started and got it into the dryers. We also returned all our tents, bear bags and other gear that we were given. With a clean good smelling crew, where do you go? On a bus ride.



We took the bus into town. Our stop was the Cimarron Art Gallery. They had something we were looking for.



A soda fountain and a place for all of us to have a ice cream cone and a sarsaparilla.



After eating ice cream and sarsaparilla, you just need to mix it up right.





When we got back we stopped by the Welcome Center to get a picture in front of the Philmont Scout Ranch sign. They have to cut the boots down every day because the sign collects too many.



Next was dinner. There were plenty of smiles. Roast beef and roasted potatoes and carrots. There was also a piece of cake with the words, “We All Made It” printed on a flag in the cake.



Then there was the closing campfire, which was good.



Then we made it back to our tent area for the last thorn, roses and bud. The most popular bus was – going home. There was also talk about wanting to stay because they enjoyed the time at Philmont so much. But they knew it was time to depart back to families and friends.



Soon enough, we were all in our tents awaiting the train ride home in the morning.

Philmont - Day 11 - Tooth Ridge

Knowing we were going to climb up Shaefers Pass today, we wanted to get an early start. We were up, packed and policing the campground about 6:30 am.



Soon we were on our way up the trail. We took a break for a where are you going, where have you been photo opportunity.





As we got to the top of Shaefers Pass, I saw the bear trap. I heard that Gatorade is used as the bait. When I mentioned that I saw the bear trap, all the boys said, where is it? I let them know that we passed it some time ago. It is part of that trail awareness thing.



We continued hiking until we came to the spit for Shafers Peak. Now you just cannot pass an opportunity to bag a peak. A group of five went up while four of us watched the backpacks. We were told that no less than four should watch backpacks because one or two may not be considered a crowd by a bear wanting a bite to eat. When the first group got back we went up to the peak.



Of course we had to get the shameless stand on top of the pile of rocks pose in.



Is that not why you climb to the top of some peak?



Soon enough we were back on the trail. Trail is used liberally. It seems that this trail across Tooth Ridge was just that, a trail across a rocky ridge. It was a little bit like a scramble across rocks. You could make out the trail; it was where there were some smaller rocks thrown into the mix.



We did have a few spots of more normal trail.



We started looking for some shade for lunch. There was not much shade, so we started looking for a view for a place to eat lunch. It was a nice place to stop for lunch. Some of the boys went for the good view area.



From the lunch spot we could get a side view of the Tooth of Time. The plan was to go to the Tooth this afternoon after dinner.



We arrived at camp and got things set up as usual.



Everyone was pretty relaxed. We had a few staff members come by to tell us that the once unstaffed camp of Tooth of Time Ridge was the newest staff camp. They went over bear procedures. Apparently the night before there were eight bear sightings. Four were rewards where the bear found something. A couple of packs were destroyed. A couple of times the bear charged people. They do this fake charge where they charge and then veer off and go away. They really do not like humans. They just like their Gatorades and other goodies. The ranges were going to rove around camp all night long and keep their eye out for bears. They would also check our camp for bear procedures later in the evening.



Dinner was started and the cook kept a careful eye on the pot.



Some even had time to read the Philmont Field book.



We cleaned up, gathered all our smellables and went to hang our bear bags so we could head off to the Tooth of Time.



And just as we tied off the first rope, thunder and lightning from the direction of the upper right side of the picture and about a quarter of a mile away. Some eyes got big. Everyone scrambled to get 30 feet away from each other and crouched on the ground in the lightning position.

We were meeting another crew on the Tooth that left a half hour before we did. There was more lightning and thunder from further away. We made the decision to stay in camp and not go climbing up to a higher elevation under the circumstances.
Soon enough the rain came, the rain and hail along with more thunder and lightning.





It was getting so bad it was time to put on the rain paints as I was getting so wet I may not ever dry out.



The hail did hurt as there was really nowhere to go. A couple of the kids were really shaken up by the thunder and lightning. After a little while they acclimated and could smile over the circumstances.



Things calmed down enough that the rain subsided. It was still a little breezy, but that helped to dry things out. It made it a good time for other things.



As the evening progressed, we had out thorn, roses and bud. One young man had consistently had the same thorn for the past nine evenings – rain. Tonight he announced, “My thorn is not the rain, it is the hail.” Some of thought the afternoon storm with hail was nice. It brought more much needed moisture to the area.

During the night the wind blew. The rangers came by during the night as you could see their lights now and then. Perhaps I should say the wind really blew hard. We probably were blessed because it was blowing so hard I doubt a bear could hone in on anything smellable. Of course, I do not sleep well when the wind blows. I would prefer it being calm. Then again, it may be the excitement of this being our last night in the wilderness.

Philmont - Day 10 - Upper Clarks Fork

Everyone went to bet fairly early the night before so it was easy waking up. In fact, we woke up fairly early. We are nearing the last few nights before heading home so there is a little excitement that we are soon to make it back to base camp. As light hit camp, everyone seemed to get moving.



Soon enough we were on the trail. We were going to be heading down the Middle Fork of the Cimarroncito Creek towards the Cimarroncito Reservoir.



As we traveled we took time to take in the beauty of the area we were as well as eat some of breakfast that was not eaten before we left Lamberts Mine.



As we moved down the canyon we crossed over the creek several times.



We soon came upon our first stop of the morning, the Phillips Hunting Lodge. We put our packs down and the boys made a beeline for the swap box. We guessed breakfast was not enough today. That or they wanted an early lunch.



We took off our shoes and had a tour of the Hunting Lodge. Some curious facts, the windows were high enough and small enough that a bear could not get in. All the doors, interior and exterior were crafted to withstand a bear and they required a thumb which bears do not have to open the door. You never know when a bear may drop by, and if they are in the living room, you are safe in the bedroom.



We got a look at the kitchen as well. A large icebox was in the kitchen for the purpose of storing game animals that had been prepared for the icebox. The stove was wood burning as there was not much else around to fuel a stove in the middle of nowhere.



We got back on the trail and headed south towards Clarks Fork. We came upon a shelter that had posters explaining the demonstration forest. We decided to stop.



There was a nice view of Cimarroncito Reservoir and Cathedral Rock which is on the North side of the reservoir.



The tables at the shelter looked like a nice place to have lunch. It was nice to sit at an actual table and eat.



Soon enough we were on our way. The forests showed four different methods of timber harvesting; Patch Cut, Sanitation Cut, Selection Cut and Seed Tree Cut. They had large areas where they did each method of timber harvesting to see the results as compared to each other. As a matter of interest, the shelter was created from wood harvested in the demonstration forest. We stopped at each of the signs along the trail for the Demonstration Forest.



As we approached early afternoon, we came upon the Clarks Fork Staff Cabin. We stopped and got some water there.



One of the boys did a little repacking. He is holding the yum bag. Every time we did the dishes, we strained the dishwater as we poured it down the sump. What was left over in the strainer and on the screen on top of the sump was carefully put into a bag. We carried that bag, with all that yum in it, all the way to this point and would need to carry it all the way back to base camp.



We continued on up to our camp at Upper Clarks Fork. We set up camp and hung our bear bags. We also prepared camp in case it rained because we were going back down to Clarks for to cook dinner and get water. There was also a chess board there and some other activities.



As the boys looked around camp, they found part of an animal that had seen a better day. The thoughts of bears and cougars entered their minds.



The trip back down to Clarks Fork was quick. We needed to get more water as it was the last water we would be able to get before we got back to base camp. Dinner went well. Tonight, the dishes were done in a methodical way. As you may remember, before we eat, we dip the dishes in boiling water to sterilize them. That turned out to be a good idea, because there was the fear that the previous night’s residue was still on the dishes.



As the evening wound down, we got our water and headed up to Upper Clarks Fork. Everyone brought their water bottles and we looked like we had plenty of water.



As we were winding down for the evening, a bear researcher showed up to camp. He let us know that there seemed to be three problem bears at Upper Clarks Fork, Schaefers Pass Camp and Tooth of Time Ridge, where we would be staying the next night. He admonished us to be very careful and make sure any smellables were up in the bear bags. He made sure we were camped 50 feet away from the “Bearmuda Triangle” (eating area – sump – bear bags). They had also placed a trap for the bear in the area. He asked that no one get in it if we saw it. The crew next to us did not have much area to put their tents, so they placed them along with ours.