Troop 1 Bolton MA - Philmont Trips

Philmont 2008	Planning & Preparation	What to Expect	A typical day	Bears	Awards
2008 Crew 1 Trek	2008 Crew 2 Trek	The Philmont Trading Post	Food	Equipment	Links
The 2001 Trip Report	The 2003 Trip Report	The 2005 Trip Report	Rayado		Special News

Are you ready?? We leave for Philmont on the 15th of July!!

What is Philmont?

Philmont is the largest and most well-known of Scouting's 3 major high-adventure locations in the USA (the others being Sea Base in the Florida Keys, and Boundary Waters Canoe area in northern Minnesota).

Where is Philmont?

Philmont is a 137,000 acre wilderness area and working cattle ranch, located in the northeastern corner of New Mexico, near the town of Cimarron, and close to Raton and Taos. Every year, over 20,000 Scouts from all over the world visit Philmont to partake in a high-adventure program, involving a trek of at least 50 miles up to 75 miles in length, usually over an 11 day period. Most of Philmont is located in the Sangre De Cristo mountains, and most treks involve long hikes through the mountains and valleys. When you look to the east, flat plains seem to stretch hundreds of miles.

The small town of Cimarron is nearby on Highway 64. The nearest city you've ever heard of is Taos, and the nearest major city is Santa Fe, NM on I-25.

The 2008 Philmont Trip - July 15 through 29, 2008

WHEN: July 15 through 29, 2008

ITINERARY:
The treks have been chosen, the crews are ready!! Crew 1 will go on Trek 32. Crew 2 will go on Trek 23.
Click here to learn more about the detailed itinerary. Or, please continue reading for general information about the trip.

WHO CAN GO: to participate a Scout must be 14 years of age by January 1 of the year of the trip, or be 13 and have completed the 8th grade at the time of the trip. Scouts must be mature, physically capable, and emotionally stable.
The boys will be carrying 50 lb backpacks for 11 days, and must be physically capable.

COST: The estimated cost of the trip including air fare, touring and Philmont fees is $1,400. The payment schedule is $175.00 per person on April 15, 2007; June 15, 2007; August 15, 2007; October 15, 2007; December 15, 2007; February 15, 2008; April 15, 2008; and June 15, 2008 for a total estimated cost of $1400.00. Checks must not be sent directly to the Council, but instead they are made out to Troop 1 Bolton.

PARENTS NOTE: THERE ARE NO REFUNDS AT ANY TIME!!! The money you pay in installments is paid out to the airline and bus companies, the various tour companies, and to Philmont headquarters all during the year. There is nothing to give back to you if you change your mind, the money HAS BEEN SPENT!!! Do not ask for a refund!!! The only option you have is if you or the Council can find a last minute attendee to take your son's place, and then you and that last minute attendee can negotiate some type of agreement for him to "buy your seat" on the trip, usually at 50 cents on the dollar. Such negotiations are solely between you and the boy taking your son's place.

TRAINING: everyone going to Philmont (yes including the adults) must participate in (mandatory) training starting in late March. This training will involve weekly hikes, often at Mount Wachusett (to start off), Mount Monadnock (to build endurance), and most likely Mount Greylock or Stratton Mountain in Vermont for one or two shakedown campouts to ensure everyone is ready.

If you want to go to Philmont in 2008, please contact Mr. Wes Durant, Council High Adventure Chairman.

Awards of the Philmont Experience

Each Scout who completes his trek, and completes his conservation work at Philmont, will receive the coveted Philmont patch, worn by hanging the loop from the right shirt pocket button.

Each Scout who hikes 50 miles (that's a given!) and performs a total of 10 hours of conservation work will receive the 50 Miler Award (patch). This patch is not worn on the Scout uniform, but rather it is worn on an official Scout jacket such as the well-known red (wool) jacket..

What to Expect at Philmont

A Note especially for parents: this is a 2 week trip, with an 11 day wilderness hike. At least 8 days will consist of a strenuous hike up steep mountains at altitudes of 8,000 to 11,000 feet. Each person must carry at least 45 to 55 lbs. of weight during the hikes. Conditions are primitive e.g. water must be boiled to kill bacteria and parasites; black bears are frequently seen and great care must be exercised to ensure they do not visit camps seeking food; toilet facilities range from "squat in the bushes" to primitive outhouses. Some camps may have no water at all; there may be only 1 or 2 opportunities to shower in the 11 days on the trail. Each Scout needs to be mentally and physically ready for this adventure.

Unless you have toured through the Southwest previously, this area of the country will not be like anything you have seen before. Vast open plains end abruptly at high table-top mesas, leading to rolling mountain ranges reaching heights of 11,000 and 12,000 feet.

"Tent city" at base camp, first night

Philmont is an operating cattle ranch, as well the Boy Scout's most famous high adventure camp. It consists of over 130,000 acres of flat plains, mountains, valleys and mesa's. The high altitudes will be difficult for us coming from "sea-level" Massachusetts. When we arrive at the Philmont base camp, "down on the flat plains," the altitude is 6500 feet (almost twice the height of Mount Monadnock, and 1000 feet higher than Mt. Lafayette which we climbed in June). Our adventure will literally be "all uphill from there." The highest point at Philmont is Mt. Baldy, at 12,400 !!!! The long hard climbs that lay ahead of us at Philmont require sustained strenuous training from now until we leave.

The mountains and hills that we will climb are not quite like Mt. Monadnock and Mt. Lafayette however. Here in the Northeast, we basically go straight up mountains and take the direct approach. At Philmont, the trails are steep but they use switchbacks almost everywhere, so that we will weave up the mountains back and forth. This makes the ascents longer to be sure, but on a step-by-step comparison, the switchbacks will be easier on us. Remember that we have to contend with all the weight we will be carrying, and, the high altitudes. Our training will include carrying full packs, but it is impossible for us to train for high altitudes. The best we can do is "get in shape."

The incredible view from Aguila campsite

Remember too that it will be impossible for us to simulate the 11 days of tough hiking we will have at Philmont. A weekend training hike will only push us hard for a day or two at the most. Here again, you must understand the necessity of continuous training the closer we get to our departure date!

Also, coming from the Northeast, an area of lakes and streams, you will quickly realize how dry New Mexico is. We will be lucky to find campsites with a plentiful supply of clean water. We may encounter sites that have heavily chlorinated treated drinking water, and some with unpurified water from wells. Sometimes we have to take water out of streams and rivers, for drinking and cooking. Any untreated water like this will have to be treated with Iodine, to kill parasites in the water.

Everyone has a personal responsibility at Philmont to manage their water intake and have an adequate personal water supply at all times.

2001 Crew 703-D8 just finished their last hill climb!

One final serious concern while hiking at Philmont is dealing with the many "black" bears that roam through Philmont. Although they have brown fur, they are from the black bear family. There are no grizzly bears at Philmont. Serious long-term drought has brought the bears out of the higher mountains down into the lower country. While the bears are mostly a nuisance, looking for (your) food, they are powerful wild animals, and great care must be exercised to avoid encounters with them. We will constantly measure our actions at Philmont in terms of avoiding encounters with bears.

Please click here to read detailed information about dealing with black bears at Philmont.

Preparation and Planning for a good trip

Click here to check out the equipment you will need for the trip! There is a LOT of information about equipment for the flight out, and for the backpacking trek, so much that we need a separate web page for it. Each person must find just the right amount of equipment that he can carry to be fully prepared for anything, but without being overloaded.

Are you ready for Philmont? You should be able to easily climb Mount Wachusett carrying 45-55 lbs. of weight in your backpack, as that climb is typical of an average day at Philmont. You should be able to climb Mt. Monadnock with at least a 35 lb. pack. You should be able to walk 10 miles around the Bolton and Harvard area carrying 40-50 lbs. of weight in your backpack, taking on our local hills such as Wattaquodock Hill, Vaughn Hill, Old Bay Road, etc.

How's your weight? If you are over 200 pounds, that's a red flag! Check your weight on this official Philmont weight-range table. If you are over the maximum weight, you will NOT be allowed on the trail.

NOTE: Training is a very critical and serious component of the trip. We expect each Scout and parent to sign a good-faith contract, that we have your full support and participation. Anyone who has another major activity or job which prevents attendance of at least 75% of the training should reconsider going on this trip.

Philmont Alerts

There are no special alerts about Philmont at this time. This space was created to let you know if there have been any special events such as forest fires, bad weather, flooding, etc.