Philmont Journal - David Heath, Troop 1424, June 8-19, 2010 2012-05-19 13:33:19 -0500 Philmont Journal Crew: 608 – N2 6.8.2010 – 6.19.2010 Troop 1424 Itinerary 10 Day 1 6.8.10 21:44 So according to the little trek map thingy, today is day 1 of out experience at Philmont. We are currently at “Tent City,” which is base camp here. Our trek guide is Travis Johannsen. He’s actually a pretty cool guy. He’s very patient with everyone and always enthusiastic. As for the journey up here, it was intense! The bus was about 2 hours late. We stopped at a truck stop around 11. I ate a burger, as did everyone else. Said burgers made everyone want to puke like 30 minutes later. I believe we stopped off once or more at around 3. The next morning (this morning) at 7 we had breakfast (bacon & pancakes). We arrived at Philmont today around 11. Everyone is really excited and ready to get hiking tomorrow. Breakfast at 6:30, picture at 7, final shake down, we get bussed to the trailhead at 9:30. Today was a lovely day, very dry and breezy. I’m finding myself a little short of breath at times due to the altitude. It has been bright and sunny allll day, but as I write this now I can hear thunder rolling in the distance. On a separate note, Mr. Schultz said he has heard reports of SNOW on Mt. Phillips. Uh-oh! = ) Day 2 6.9.10 21:59 What a day already! We hiked about 2.5 miles today, most of which was uphill. Tonight, we’re staying at Lover’s Leap campground, which is about .4 miles from Lover’s Leap… The legend is told that there was once a beautiful Indian Princess and an American Army Colonel who fell in love. The Colonel and his army were sent to remove the Indians from the portion of Philmont containing Lover’s Leap and the areas around it. Whilst the Indians were at war with the Colonel’s army, the princess’s father, the chief, found out about the relationship, and forbade her to ever see the Colonel again. So, the two lovers jumped, together, from the tip of Lover’s Leap, and as legend has it, turned into eagles and flew away together, forever. Anyways, back to today. We had breakfast, then went off to get our group picture. We had our final shakedown, then went back to the welcome center to wait for the busses and weigh our packs. To everyone’s dismay, the packs were heavy. We were carrying 5 days of food, and out water. My pack, at 43 lbs., was a bit more than 5 lbs. over my maximum weight I could carry, but I couldn’t complain because some had it worse. We set off hiking, at lunch at Lover’s Leap, and continued on to the campsite. We looked for a good 30 minutes for the right spot, then it started to rain so we booked it to the closest one. As we were setting up the rain fly, a HUGE lightning bolt struck the mountain across the valley from us, so we had to get in lightning position… and it was hailing… Dinner was bad, but at least I’m full. David says not to think about what you miss from home but to look forward to what you have now… but I still miss Emily = ( Day 3 6.10.10 22.03 So I just want everyone who is reading this to know that today, I am not having fun haha. Here is the day as it happened: 6:30, Wake up. It was a beautiful morning. But far the most beautiful morning I may ever have experienced. 9:00, Depart form camp. Headed off toward Aguila, about 4.5 miles away with a detour to Crater Lake. 11:30, Arrive at Crater Lake, eat lunch, Travis Gore feels bad, we all get water we’re told is clean, drink it, turns out it’s not = O 13:00, Spar-pole climbing! Soooo fun! 15:00, Travis feels like crap. We lighten his 50 lbs. pack, but it doesn’t help when we start hiking. 16:00, My camera shows a low battery signal. I am immeasurably beyond completely totally pissed. I solicit the rest of the troop to take a TON of pics for me. I think it might work = ) 16:40, Travis Gore is seriously in pain. Chills, extreme thirst, refusing food, nausea, and fever of 99+. 17:00, We change the plan and arrive at the much close Bear Cave camp. Travis Gore is in need of medical help, so Ranger Travis begins his hike back to Crater Lake to radio for help and confirm our itinerary change. 18:00, Travis needs help quickly. Karl, David K., John M., Dustin, and Mr. Gore begin to take Travis down to Crater Lake, stretcher in hand. At this point, I’m left with the other 5 to cook dinner and prepare the camp for tonight. We’re all very calm, but very worried about Travis. Later, a Ranger came to inform us that Travis was indeed going to Base Camp because the health ledge’s request. Dinner was cooked twice, once for the first and then for the second group, and food was running a tad low. Mosquitoes are TERRIBLE. Thank God we’re nice and cozy in this tent. This is our last night with Ranger Travis. Everyone is slightly on edge tonight, partly because Travis, and partly because of a fear of mountain lions and bears! -Camera dead -Miss Emily -Got to lead today = ) -Everyone getting on each other’s nerves -We drank dangerous water -Sunburns\! -Showers tomorrow -Cantina tomorrow = ) Day 4 6.11.10 21:11 Today was a good day = ) Waking up this morning was great, but cold! We’ve heard now that there are 2+ feet of snow on Mt. Phillips…this is not good!!! We shell see though! But ya, the morning was cold but very beautiful. We are breakfast on the trail, stopping at Aguila (starting @ Bear Caves). The hike was just over a mile, and breakfast was marvelous. I had my first Larabar. It was gross haha. So we set off again, and here’s what happened… I was navigator for the day, which was a lot of fun! We took a little “detour” to see some good scenery, then found the trail again. We went from hiking in forested area to meadow to rocky desert. It was crazy! We got to camp at 12:07, and met Amelia/Ally. She was nice, David K. definitely has a thing for her. = ) She said there have been 4 bear incidents in the last 2 days….2!!! Mr. Schultz said he saw some cougar scat on the trail today. After finding our campsite we put up the bear bags and took glorious showers and did glorious laundry. I felt like a new many = ) We then headed down to the cantina for root beer, chocolate, and cards. At 15:30 John M. and I headed up to cook the Mexican dinner with our sister crew (also itinerary 10). At around 17:00 we started serving and got compliments all around. At 19:00 I got to milk a goat! It was crazy!!! The only bad thing is my allergies. I took a Benadryl about 1 hour ago so hopefully I’ll get knocked out pretty soon here. After the goat though we just came back to camp, put everything up, talked, and now we’re getting all tucked in = ) -I miss Emily -Everyone is counting down the days -Chapped lips -Sunburn is better -Gatorade delicious -Fish camp tomorrow -This camp is Abreu, staffed camp -Starting to eat a LOT more -Staying hydrated -Staying warm Day 5 6.12.10 21:59 COLD Okay so I wrote this little note ^^^ earlier this afternoon so I wouldn’t forget that it was indeed COLD. See, we left camp around 7:20, headed off for Fish Camp. The hike was longgggggg and along the side of a valley. We hiked along the Southern border of Philmont for about 6 miles. Total, the hike was around 7, and our feet HURT by then end. The valley we hiked in was really quite beautiful though. It was like the landscape had melted down into a perfect blend of rivers, trees, mountains, clouds, and then the sky. When we neared the end of the hike it began to rain. We got out rain gear and such because about 3 miles down the valley the heavens look like they were about to unleash the might of 1,000 tons of water on us. Turns out it just hailed like no other for 20 minutes. Hail. Hurts. Ouch. And finally we got to camp. Helen had pretty eyes lol. Lloyd and I got to use the Red Roof Inn. After the hail and rain were through, it was probably like 40 degrees or colder, and I was in shorts and a shirt and a frog togg…I was freezing. But it’s good for getting used to because Mt. Phillips is only a few days away. Fly fishing…sort of fun? Tying the flies was really fun, and learning about it was fun too. The only problem was the cold, and the fact that I lost my fly = ( but I know how to make more = ) This morning was not beautiful = ( but tonight definitely made up for it! It’s a little warmer now, and I’m in my sleeping bag so it’s nice and toasty = ) But ya, at 20:00 we had a social even in the main cabin, which was apparently an original! From 1927!!! But sitting out on that porch tonight, I finally found my inner peace when I was looking out into the valley, like a deep bowl capped with fog that draped down through the pines silhouetted with a black night sky. It. Was. Amazing. This whole place is just insane. So far I’m holding up well. My left foot is giving me problems, but hopefully that’ll hold off for a while. My left ear was also swollen for the last two days, and today there was some dead skin…I’m not sure what it means exactly but I’m not worried anymore. I think that my last real obstacle will be hiking endurance, and the cold on Mt. Phillips. We shall see though = ) -Mac n Cheese was TERRIBLE - Lost red Nalgene = ( - Found red Nalgene = ) - Cabin time! - Pound cake - Got a new shirt on = D - Trail food gives me stinky fart!!! - Headed to Apache Springs tomorrow - 3-4 mile hike, conservation project after. - Everyone is VERY hungry now. Like hungry an hour after a meal - Sunburn is gone! - Pack is light, refill on food tomorrow. - I miss Emily!!! - And I can hear the river from in here (my tent) = ) Day 6 6.13.10 21:59 So today we are staying at Apache Springs. This camp is actually pretty cool. We had a short, 3.5 mile hike today. However, despite how short it was, we climbed a TON. The camp is at about 9,400 ft. So basically it’s insane. Every day has been getting progressively colder. A cold front came in last night. Right now I’m pretty cold, but Lloyd and Travis C. have volunteered their tent for me to join them on Mt. Phillips at least. So here’s the day: Wake up lateeeeeee. Got to sleep in, which was nice. We had our first hot breakfast, which was beautiful (oatmeal). We left camp at around 9:30, and arrived at where we are now at around 12:15. No rain at all today! At 14:00 we did our first 3 hour conservation project with the Cons people, which was actually kind of cool. Dan and Sam were our guys I believe. I used the hazel hoe. We cooked a VERY successful beef, corn, potato and onion dinner. People were asking for thirds! At 18:00 we were supposed to go to archery, but we actually took until 18:45 to head down there. Archery was a lot of fun though. I successfully shot a deer (doe), turkey (tom), javelina, and mountain lion. At 19:30 we did the sweat lodge. And I know it sounds gross, but it was actually pretty nice. We also had our first fire at Philmont tonight = ) Okay so I’m actually pretty tired, so I’m gunna hit it. Wish me luck with the cold tonight! - River crossings (Agua Fria) were scary - Dustin ate it, I laughed - Toes hurt on left foot - Lips EXTREMELY chapped - Wish I had a camera - Gotta come back with dad - Picked up food today - I STILL miss Emily - Half-way through = ) - Goodnight = ) Day 7 6.14.10 21.25 Today was an (un)eventful day. The hike was about 6 miles, and we’re staying at the same elevation, 9,400 ft., but at Crooked Creek. We stopped off at Phillip’s Junction Commissary for lunch, where I set the pull-up record!!! On another note, we woke up at around 7, left at 9:30. This was a bad idea. We got to camp at 4:15, and hardly had time to do activities = ( But we did get to do all the ones I wanted to! = ) We started with a tour of the cabin, which was awesome. Oxen blood to cure the floors, coal/wood stoves. After the tour, we made candles, I made mine for Emily = ) After that, we found our campsite and made a great beef, rice, beans, veggies Mexican dinner… it was DELICIOUS! I actually went back for thirds. After dinner, I milked a cow! A COW!!! It was exciting = ) And as you can see by the time, we’re going to bed early tonight so that tomorrow morning we can wake up at 5 and be gone pretty quick…because…TOMORROW IS MT. PHHILLIPS!!!!! There was no cold weather gear up at PJ’s, so I might just have to wing! = D It’s about a 7-8 mile hike tomorrow, with over 2,300 ft. uphill…eek! Tomorrow we’ll be staying at about 11,300 ft. Let’s hope for no altitude sickness! = ) -I want a chicken - We didn’t chop wood - I sent off a postcard - We’re in for a cold night - I can’t wait to use a P to B - Glad I have no hair - Two days till the next shower - Wish dad was here - HUNGRY!!! - I miss Emily! Day 8 6.15.10 21:17 Aaaaaannd we are on Mt. Phillips!!!!!!!!!! Our current elevation is like 11, 376 ft. or something crazy like that. I’m actually feeling pretty out of breath just doing simple things like eating or brushing teeth haha. So this morning we hiked about 4-5 miles up to Clear Creek from Crooked Creek. It was upstream/hill, but not tooo bad. Lloyd felt bad until we had breakfast at like 9:45. We woke up at around 5:40, so everyone was exhausted. After eating our veggie lasagna dinner, John started feeling bad. He had a fever of like 101.8 so he’s in base camp tonight. After John left, Travis G. pretty much felt bad all day, but he’s up here with us now. After Clear Creek it was about 3 miles straight up Mt. Phillips, some of which is off Philmont property. The hike was actually pleasant, and I decided I didn’t want this trek to end. So we make it to the top of Mt. Phillips, get pics, everyone cheers, and then we keep going to our campsite, only to find out we had like another .5 miles to go until the real summit…oops! But I made it to the top first…yay! = D Okay and also, as of yesterday, I have fallen in love with hiking in the very back, it’s AWESOME! Only 3 days left on the trek, and I am really excited for what is to come! - Carried an extra gallon of water up mtn. - No air - Sunset = AMAZING - In a tent w/Lloyd and Travis C. It is warm. - I miss Emily! - Goodnight! = ) Day 9 6.16.10 21:26 Our current elevation is 9,280 ft. So ya we dropped * a ton. Okay so Kevin and I seriously just got attacked by a freakin and ant and his buddy. *** And as I wrote that I got a nosebleed!!!! This is terrific. No T.P. (for nosebleed), killer ants, and my feet hurt. Okay so back to the day. We woke up and it was coldddd. But not that cold. I was actually pretty okay. I still regret not having a camera = ( The scenery was beautiful on our way down Phillips. Today’s hike was about 8 miles long, so my feet were a tad achy afterward, but nothing too bad. Today’s camp was Sawmill, which is actually pretty tight. We got to make 3 30-06 rounds, which was cool, and then we shot them off at the rifle range a bit later. With my rounds, I shot a boar, a swingy thing, and maybe a chicken. With the 3 that I bought ($1), which were full strength, I shot a javelina and two tiny chickens, both from 100 yds. All-in-all, shooting was pretty fun. After the shooting we got to the most important part of the day, showers = ) The showers here at Sawmill are different because you have to heat your own water. On our way back from shooting, John and I stoked the fire (yeah John is back). While some of the guys took showers, Lloyd and I did laundry, which was marvelous. These showers were separated out and very nice, but the water wasn’t very warm. I do, however, feel extremely clean = ) Dinner tonight was chicken, rice, peas, and corn, with Oreos and Royal Crème Crackers, it was yum yum = ) Tomorrow morning we’re waking up around 4:45 to see the sunrise off the front porch of the Sawmill Cabin. I can’t wait = ) - Ready to be with family - Ready for food - Only two more nights on the trail - I miss Emily!!! Day 10 6.17.10 21:16 Wow, WHAT a day! It has been pretty much insane. I’m going on my 16th hour of being awake, but it feels like a billion. David K, Dustin, Kevin, and I woke up around 4:45 at Sawmill to go see the sunrise. It wasn’t perfect but we did discover the sun comes up at around 5:30. It was very cold and very windy. And Kevin just peed like 2 ft. from the tent. And the sun came up a little to the left, which was no bueno. We all went back to camp and started heating up water for food, which made the adults pissed. We finally got out of camp around 9:30, which was very bad. At around 12:30 we made it to Ute Gulch Commissary for food pick-up, but they were closed for lunch until 1. After everything was taken care of, I saw Paul! It was great! We got to Hunting Lodge at like 4 or so, and took a fun tour of the cabin. After the tour, we took a 1.5 mile side hike to window rock. The view was unbelievable. Completely breathtaking. I was kind of first also lol. We ended up getting back to our packs around 6, which was very bad. All of the adults (Mr. S) were REALLY stressed, and they were taking it out everywhere possible. It was really not fun. But when we got to the camp we’re at tonight, Cathedral Rock, I immediately had the water heated up and dinner ready in about 30 minutes. It helped everyone’s spirits out and I was indeed sort of a camp hero = ) So I’ll allow myself a little bit of thinking ahead now…Only one more night after tonight on the trail, and tomorrow is Tooth Ridge. I’ve got like 3 blisters, one of which is juicy, but hopefully I won’t die tomorrow! = ) My muscles are sore, and my feet hurt, but only about 13 miles left now = ) - I miss Emily! - Can’t wait to see dad - I’m hoping nothing dramatic happened while I was gone. Day 11 6.18.10 21:48 Everything hurts. Everything. My feet, my back, my ankles, my knees, everything. I have blisters on my blisters, and everything just plain hurts. So today started fine. We woke up early, got a good start for Clark’s Fork, and made it there to horseback ride at 9:20. Apparently it started at 9 (we actually though it was supposed to be 10:30). And since I was the one who started the “rumor,” the fake cowboys were complete a******* to our group for the rest of the ride. When we got done, they made us pick up rocks. Those fake cowboys were pretty terrible. But when horseback riding ended around 11:15, we got to listen to another fake cowboy talk about clothes for an hour, and then take 45 minutes to brand our stuff. Just as a side notes, all of this was with no breakfast. We finally left the heckhole around 12:30, and ate lunch at some random camp on the trail. I cooked, it was delicious = ) We hiked on to Schaffer’s Pass, then onto Shaffer’s Peak, which led onto Tooth Ridge. On our way, we got a report of two dehydrated hikers that were lost. It was scary stuff but they were eventually found. Anyways, this hike down Tooth Ridge was by far the most treacherous, God-forsaken, horrible, killer trail I have ever walked. It was insane. I hate going downhill because of the blisters, and right now I am not taking any socks off because I don’t want to see them. That bad. I took two Aleve so hopefully that’ll help. Hopefully tomorrow morning, watching the sunrise from the Tooth, we can all somehow find hope and the will to finish. Tensions are high right now, but I can only pray it will be better soon. - It’s not a tan, it’s dirt. - Last night on the trail. - Blisters make hiking uncomfortable. - Going to bed hungry for the first time. - Got into camp around 8:30 - Pizza, milkshakes, steak tomorrow - I smell bad - Took my first trail poop today = ) - Saw deer on the trail - Last cooked meal - Everyone is farting lol - Mr. Gore is one tough man - Dad would love every bit of this - David . is doing an excellent job - I need to shave - It’s actually HOT tonight. - This is the first journal of the whole trek I’ve written without someone talking to me - I still miss Emily, as well as the fam. - I hope they got my postcard! - Goodnight = ) Day 12 6.19.10 21:59 So according to our little trek map thingy, today is Day 12 of our experience at Philmont. This is important because it also happens to be the last. I’ll start wit the day… We woke up around 4:30 this morning on Tooth Ridge. After gathering our group, we set off for the Tooth. The hike was insane, and basically a straight up boulder scramble to the top. Short on time, we pushed ourselves to the limit to get to the summit in time to see the sun rise. Fortunately, seven scouts from our crew pushed to the top. And wow, was it worth it. The view from the top of that huge Tooth was insane. Not many pictures were taken, but we will always have our memories to make the moment last. After a short while, we headed back down. In the campsite we saw some deer, then ate breakfast. At around 8, we headed off on our 5 mile hike down to base camp. Just before 11, we made it. “Welcome back – You made it!” read the sign on the gateway into base camp. What a journey! We got all cleaned up, I got my belt, buckle, maps, and carabineers, and then we caught the shuttle into Cimarron. We hit up a cool little Native American goods shop, then an art gallery with a soda bar (root beer float = ) ). After that we headed over to the book store where we chilled and read for probably over 2 hours. It was awesome! After the book store, we hit up a little trading post with allllll sorts of stuff. This was also where I called Emily = ) After the trading post, we decided it was time for food. John, Lloyd, Mrs. Moore and I went to Simple Simon’s Pizza and got some delicious food, while the rest of the group headed off for St. John’s Hotel. We met up with the later for dessert. We came back to camp for the closing campfire at 20:30, and it was awesome. The videos were insane, and the skits hilarious. We’re not all just hanging around in the campsite, anxious for the bus to come tomorrow so we can get home. This place has been amazing, but I’m looking forward to a home-cooked meal, a real shower, sleeping, dad, and emily! I’ll try and write more tomorrow, but for now, I must chill = ) - Fun day = ) Little Notes - Bring a fleece, long johns - Trails get nice at half-way point and near the end - Bring LOTS of money ($100+) - Altitude sucks - Pick a good tent partner (mine was great!) - Train with 50 lbs. - Stairs help - Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen = win - Bandannas = useful - Camera with batteries is a must - Journal every night, don’t forget - People that constantly complain make the trek suck - Make the most out of every program - Always buy at least one extra thing (rounds, etc.) - Contacts work - Two liters of water is fine, 3 suggested. - Chapstick <3 - Phone on trail is fine - Bring lots of money on trail ($50), some small bills - Keep everything you need for sleeping in one place - Nalgene under pillow = amazing - Dust sucks, so does dirt - Stinking is inevitable - Laundry = win - Eat AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE - Always brush your teeth - Pooping should be fun - Tensions will get high near the end, but be cool - Stay healthy, eat fruit, clear and copious - Follow all advice on bear from your Ranger - Really take time to watch at least one sunrise, one sunset - Bring a watch!!!!! - Tennis shoes = win - Know your gear (tent, stoves, etc.) - Cook in one big pot - Don’t bring a book on the trail - Schedule your time at base camp - Cabin tours are very cool - Don’t freak out if you lose something - Don’t trust someone else’s gear (no matter what) - Have a really good 1st aid kit - Appreciate the little things - Above all else, have fun! David Heath 6.20.10 22:15 608-N2 It. 10