What an incredible adventure! Crew 67 sent 9 youth and 3 adults to Philmont in June 2026 for a 9-day backpacking trek in the South country. There are far too many stories (and photos!) to share everything, but here’s a broad overview of our experience:
Day 1 – Basecamp (Total Distance Walked: 6.9 miles)
After a year of preparation, Crew 613-9D met for a final gear shakedown at 4:30 am on June 13th. Out of 485 required individual and crew items, we were only short a single headlamp! With the gear check completed, we stocked up on sausage biscuits, chicken biscuits, and grapes and hit the road at 5 am.
We rolled into basecamp about 30 minutes ahead of schedule and started a long day of check-in and pre-trek activities. The Crew Leader got us checked in, and we kicked off our prep with an orientation to the trek expectations and basecamp rules. For some reason, they weren’t expecting us until 3 pm, so our Ranger wasn’t there to meet us initially, but she caught up with the group in time to show us our tents before lunch.
At lunch, we were greeted by Philmont’s famous IWTGBTP (I want to go back to Philmont) story time and trust fall, and we got to come up with a Crew cheer (“We love rocks and tater TOTs!” – TOT for Tooth of Time). Following lunch, we checked out our Philmont tents, other crew gear, and initial food drop; completed medical rechecks; spent too much money in the Tooth of Time Trading Post; and learned more about our route, campsites, and water sources. In the evening, we attended chapel services and opening campfire before turning in for the night.
Day 2 – Basecamp to Rimrock Park (Total Distance Walked: 10.8 miles)
The Crew enjoyed a final hot breakfast before clearing our tents. We formed our first pack line near the bus pickup spot and settled in for some instruction on navigation. We rounded out the morning with another stop at the Trading Post, filling our water, and weighing our packs. Packs ranged from about 35 to 50 lbs.
After lunch, we hopped on a bus for a 15-min drive to Rayado where our trek was slated to begin. Unfortunately, we discovered our primary map, compass, and essential Crew Information Sheet were still back at basecamp. We had backups for the map and compass, but we had to wait for someone to print and deliver a new info sheet before we could hit the trail. In the meantime, we learned a bit about the Santa Fe Trail and the Maxwell Land Grant that eventually became Philmont.
Once the info sheet was in hand, we embarked. The rain began immediately…
(Quick aside: The weather was gorgeous on Day 1, but part of our Crew thought we would be better off with a bit of rain. They did a rain dance that has now been banned from the Crew forever!)
What was supposed to be a very easy day turned into a slog. Rain, water crossings, and mud the consistency of brownie batter slowed our pace, and we made it to our first camp much later than expected. Setting up camp for the first time in the rain was challenging, but everyone kept on task and got it done without grumbling. Lucy Weems (our Ranger) taught everyone how to hang bear bags. The bear line at Rimrock was the highest one we encountered all week, so every site after that was a piece of cake.
Hot mashed potatoes and chicken were a welcome meal after a cold and wet afternoon. After dinner, the Chaplain’s Aide led us in Roses, Buds, and Thorns. As you might imagine, there were many mentions of the rain and mud, but spirits were still pretty high about finally getting on the trail. We also distributed half a pound of each Crew member’s favorite candy as a happy comfort they could enjoy throughout the trek (and to lighten an advisor’s load!).
Once teeth were brushed, we learned how to stow all our smellables in Oops bags and then headed to bed.
Day 3 – Rimrock Park to Fish Camp by way of Abreu (Total Walking Distance: 11.7 miles)
After packing up camp, it was just a short trek to the Abreu Homestead. We arrived before the 8 am opening time, so we had breakfast while waiting for the general store and programs to open.
The Crew Leader wisely imposed a two-root beer limit on all members of the party to avoid any unpleasant side effects on the trail. We each downed a glass of “creamy” root beer and a glass of “crunchy.” (Creamy is obviously the superior root beer…)
The baby goats were hungry, Mystery the Donkey was cranky, and the sun was getting high, so we shouldered our packs and set out for Fish Camp. Our official itinerary billed this as the hardest hike of the trek (8.9 miles with more than 7,500 feet of elevation gain), but Lucy mercifully helped the day’s Navigator review the routing options and he selected an easier route along the Rayado River. Of course, “easier” is relative. 🙂
The trail began with an interminable series of switchbacks (We LOVE switchbacks!) up and up a hillside for a couple of hours followed by miles of undulating trail. We still hadn’t settled on a pace that worked well for the whole group, and as a result, we were both walking too fast and taking too long to get anywhere due to long breaks. It wasn’t as much of a struggle as the muddy wet day before, but it was still a challenge. We later learned that our sister crew (that’s a crew that has the same hiking itinerary and start date) from Texas and another crew from Miami took the hard route that day–one made it to Fish Camp after 10 pm, and the other made camp somewhere along the trail and didn’t make it to Fish Camp until the next day! We definitely dodged a bullet! (Thanks, Lucy!)
After lunch on the trail (sweet and spicy tuna pouches that were made more palatable with a splash of Yellow Bird’s Blue Agave Sriracha), the weather began to turn nasty again. Thunder echoed through the river valley, and we had to don our rain gear and spread out for lightning safety. Mercifully, the storm passed just as we arrived at Fish Camp around 2:30 pm.
We were greeted by temporary staff (surprise!) and invited to an evening program of 1926 trivia. But first, we had to make camp along the river and learn to purify water. In most camps the “Bearmuda Triangle” is a triangle of about 40′ on each side that encompasses the bear line, fire ring, and a sump (for waste water), but at this camp the bear line was at least 500′ away from the sump up a hill by the latrine. We spread out and got to work, and in no time we were ready to collect water from the river and begin dinner.
Dinner was green curry with chicken followed by an iced cake that Lucy had packed in and kept secret for her last meal with us. Dinner was briefly interrupted by another passing storm AND a screaming mountain lion! We learned from the staff that Sally had been sticking close to Fish Camp lately, and she had taken down an elk in the area the week before. Most of the Crew avoided trekking up the hill to the bathroom in the middle of the night…
No one really knows how or why, but for the rest of the trek, someone was always asking, “Is this Fish Camp?” or “Are we at Fish Camp yet?” Alas, we never returned to Fish Camp, but it will always have a place in our hearts and our vocabulary.
Bonus: We got to see the Fish Camp staff again when our Troop went to Camp Meriwether in Oregon. We got a photo of them with the available Crew members:
Day 4 – Fish Camp to Apache Springs (Total Walking Distance: 7.1 miles)
Insert all the superlatives here because this day was as close as it gets to perfect!
Knowing this was our shortest day and lowest elevation gain of the trip, we took our time breaking camp. We even took time for some yoga to stretch out those sore muscles. Once we got on the trail, we finally found the pace that worked for everyone–we didn’t even have to stop for a break going up hill. As a result, we rolled into Apache Springs happy and fresh, ready for our next food pickup and some programs.
Several members of the Crew say Apache Springs was their favorite camp. Staff were friendly, our campsite was shaded but open, the Red Roof (fancy outdoor toilets) was close by and clean, the open meadows and blue skies were inviting, and the programs were fun and engaging. The camp also had potable water, so we didn’t have to purify any for that day or the next. Plus, the commissary gave us chocolate milk, oranges, and tortillas!
The program included an introduction to the culture and artifacts of the indigenous people who once lived in the area, and we got a tour of a tipi (teepee) recreated in the style those groups used. Other activities included flintknapping, archery, and plenty of free time for cards. The sunshine also offered an opportunity for the Crew to hang up clothes and shoes to dry out from the first two days of creek crossings and rain.
Dinner was three cheese mac and cheese. Sadly, we didn’t think to add a packet or two of the Velveeta cheese sauces from the swap box. Maybe next time!
Some of the other crews in the area saw Ben, an enormous female black bear that frequents the area, but our only wildlife encounter at Apache Springs was waking up to a bunch of screaming foxes (The answer to the famous song is that the fox doesn’t SAY anything–it screams!).
Day 5: Apache Springs to Beaubien by way of Phillips Junction (Total Walking Distance: 15.3 miles)
After talking to some other crews that came from Beaubien, the Crew Leader made the decision that we needed to wake up at 4 am to be on the trail by daylight. It turned out to be an excellent decision because we would have missed our conservation project if we had arrived at Beaubien any later. Maintaining our pace from the day before, we made it to Phillips Junction earlier than expected, and we had time to enjoy more chocolate milk and delicious pears.
Phillips Junction was the last commissary stop on our trek, so we loaded up with all the remaining food. We stretched our packs for every last inch of space and still had two bear bags full of crackers that had to be strapped on the outside. Thus were born the Cracker Baby and Clementine–faithful but fussy companions who remained with us all the way to Stockade Ridge.
We also learned that Beaubien was under a boil notice, so the Crew Leader directed the day’s water team to fill all our reserve water capacity from the river and treat it. While we waited, some of the Crew participated in the camp’s exercise challenges, and the Crew Leader took the top spot for chin ups!
Packed to the gills with food, water, and gear, we finished the trek to Beaubien and arrived in time to have lunch while we waited for the Porch Talk. As soon as the talk was done, we grabbed our day packs and hit the trail again to reach our conservation project site about 45 minutes away. We joined a few other crews on a steep hillside to clear brush and small trees for fire fuel reduction, and we were rewarded with our first glimpse of the Tooth of Time.
Most crews at Beaubien get to enjoy a Chuckwagon Dinner, but our late afternoon conservation project put us back in camp too late to participate. Instead, we had a delicious (really!) dinner of Spurkey (turkey SPAM) and stuffing, which had the dual benefit of nourishing us while eliminating the heaviest items from our food pickup.
Day 5 clocked in with the most miles, the heaviest packs, and the most use of the Crew’s first aid kit. In addition to treating several people with blisters (thanks again, raindancers…), we had a puncture wound and a scrape at the conservation project, and we had a bloody nose that lasted 2 1/2 hours. Camp staff were super helpful in treating the bloody nose, and no one had to go off trail.
Having enjoyed knocking out the core hike before lunch, the Crew Leader declared we would keep the 4 am wake up for the remainder of the trek. We saw the stars at Beaubien at both dusk and dawn.
Day 6: Beaubien to Bear Caves by way of the Continental Tie & Lumber Company (Total Distance Walked: 11.1 miles)
What was supposed to be an easy day of mostly downhill hiking turned into a bit of a nightmare when the Crew Adviser advised poorly and convinced the day’s Navigator to take a route that turned out to be mostly road. Lesson learned–roads suck!
The Crew was excited about the pass-through program at Continental Tie & Lumber Company, and we made good time despite the terrible “trail.” We arrived before lunch but were informed that the spar pole activity was reserved for crews that were camping there instead of passing through. Our Crew Leader politely and privately appealed to the staff, noting that we had gotten up at 4 am to be sure we arrived in time for the spar poles. They took pity on us and fit us in after lunch. 🙂
Most of the Crew attempted the spar poles and/or served as the “Donkey” to belay a buddy. Climbing trees is a no-no in the Guide to Safe Scouting, but spar poles get a pass (with great safety gear and staff).
Once the program was done, we filled our water and headed to Bear Caves. We didn’t see any caves or bears, but there was a lot of bear sign.
Dinner was the best spaghetti in northern New Mexico!
Day 7: Bear Caves to Urraca (Total Distance Walked: 9.1 miles)
The Crew cheerfully covered the miles from Bear Caves to Urraca and set up camp in plenty of time to take full advantage of Urraca’s COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) program. Urraca’s staff lean into the mesa’s reputation as a site of supernatural and morbid happenings, aligning all of the programs and campfire show with a paranormal theme. This is why no one batted an eye when a staffer told us we would kick off our COPE course in the “Murder Shed.” Under the gaze of the long-disinterred Urraca Man, a staffer led several team-building activities, including one that had the Crew pelting each other with tennis balls.
When a midday storm cleared, we stepped outside for a new challenge intended to demonstrate the difficulty of working together with limited communication. All but one of the youth were blindfolded and given ropes attached to a large ball maze (you’ll understand when you see the photos). The Crew Leader was instructed to have the Crew complete the maze by issuing instructions, but he was limited to just saying names while the rest of the Crew could not talk. By changing the pitch of his voice, the Crew Leader was able to direct individuals to raise or lower their rope and their part of the maze, and the Crew completed the task quickly.
In a another task intended to demonstrate the challenges of working together when there is no leader, the Crew succeeded at balancing everyone on a seesawing platform without being able to see or speak.
In the final task, the Crew had to figure out how to reach a rope dangling over a chasm, use the rope to get everyone across the chasm, and (without speaking) use the rope to transport the Crew plus a glowing green chicken and an open bottle of ectoplasm without spilling anything. And that’s how Crew 613-9D ended up waterboarding a chicken…
Later that day the Crew also learned about the Lorax’s unique anatomical control system for flight, but that’s a story for another time.
After a filling dinner of Creamy Tomato Pasta with Chicken, we headed to the Urraca Campfire. Since most of New Mexico is under a burn ban, the “fire” consisted of a simple oil lantern, but it didn’t dampen the mood. Only three staffers were in camp that night, but they wore multiple hats and put on a great show with music and mystical stories about Urraca Mesa’s paranormal past (and future!). When your camp is built next to a Portal to Hell that is guarded by four ancient cat totems, you just kind of have to go with it.
None of us had any encounters with the Urraca Imp, the Rat Man, or any of the other famous residents. But we did get to see a guy named Thumper play and sing Superstitious!
Day 8: Urraca Mesa to Stockade Ridge by way of Rocky Mountain Scout Camp (Total Walked Distance: 8.3 miles)
We were the first crew out of camp the next morning, and thanks to a tip from the camp staff, we took a leisurely downhill stroll to Rocky Mountain Scout Camp instead of backtracking up the mesa. As a result, we arrived for the high ropes COPE course before it opened at 8 am, and we were rewarded with two full hours of climbing.
After COPE, we stopped at Stockade for lunch and to collect and purify water for our first and only dry camp. Again, staffers gave us some great intel that sent us on a search for campsite 6 at Stockade Ridge. The view of the Tooth of Time was remarkable, and we were isolated from the numerous other crews staging to conquer the mountain the next morning.
We rounded out our final full day on the trail with Beef Ramen and an early bedtime.
Day 9: Stockade Ridge to Basecamp by way of the Tooth of Time (Total Walked Distance: 13.9 miles)
The Tooth of Time was an important landmark along the Santa Fe Trail. When travelers saw the Tooth appear, they knew they had two weeks remaining before they reached their destination. We caught glimpses of the Tooth throughout the second half of our trek, and as it grew closer, we knew our final destination was also drawing near. On our final day, we broke camp and began our ascent up Stockade Ridge to approach the Tooth.
We dropped our backpacks at the base of the rock and hung our remaining smellables on the bear line before scrambling up. There were two crews already at the summit when we arrived, but they departed shortly, leaving us alone to enjoy the views and complete our final meditation as a group. The Tooth was an incredible capstone to our adventure!
The less said about our trek from the summit down to basecamp, the better. But we can’t neglect to mention one adult’s spectacular fall and rescue (if only she’d had the Lorax’s anatomy…) or the fact that the trail–known by staffers as Purgatory Ridge–was twice as long as the itinerary promised.
After 93.8 miles of hiking, we crossed under the beloved welcome posts!
We even got our tents turned in in time to enjoy a hot lunch in the dining hall. Have you ever shed a tear over nachos?
We spent the rest of the day showering (for the first time since leaving Longmont!), eating ice cream, completing our checkout procedures, and buying way too much at the Tooth of Time Traders (again!).
Before leading a final round of Roses, Buds, and Thorns, the Crew Advisor shared a “Scoutmaster Minute” reflecting on the Crew’s amazing ability to successfully work and live together not despite–but because of–each member’s unique personality. From leadership to levity, each member contributed essential and complementary skills that kept us positive and on track despite the enormous physical and mental challenges of a 9-day trek. Our experience at Philmont honed these skills in ways that will no doubt strengthen our Troop and Crew, and we can’t wait to see what our next adventures bring!
Crew 67 Longmont, CO 
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