Our trip began on Friday morning, July 13th.
About 5:15 a.m., folks began to gather at the church Family Life Center, as they
made read to depart on their 'Grand Adventure'. Packs, reviewed during our
shakedown on Tuesday, and stored
at the church, were quickly loaded on the troop trailer. Food, for lunches, was
iced down and
packed into coolers. Just prior to departure, all
participants (and family members0 formed a friendship circle where Scoutmaster
Mike King encouraged each one to accept the challenge which lay ahead.
Then, Committeeman Steve Phillips led the group in prayer.
On the road shortly after 6:00 a.m., we made our way
around Ft. Worth and to Decatur, where we stopped at a McDonalds for breakfast.
From Decatur we proceeded northwest on US-287, through Wichita Falls.
Made
a stop in Quanah for gas and at Esteline for lunch. After the lunch stop, we got
on state highway 86 to head cross country toward Ceta Canyon. Arrived at Ceta
about 2:30 p.m.
Our overnight lodging was at the Ceta Canyon United Methodist Camp. After arriving folks headed for the pool and/or the various camp recreational facilities. Our lodging was in two bunkhouses. Dinner was supplied by Ceta Canyon and served in their dining hall.
Saturday morning, after breakfast at Ceta Canyon, we continued our journey north through Amarillo, to Dumas, where we stopped for gas and a rest break. Then on through Dalhart, Texline and into New Mexico at Clayton.
Made a stop at Capulan Mountain, an extinct volcano,
now operated as a National Park. Visited briefly at the visitor center, before
heading up the mountain. A number of folks took the hike up and around the
crater, while several others hiked down into the crater.
Our second night lodging was in the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church of Raton. Here we spread out sleeping bags on the floor, although a few 'hearty' souls brought along their go kots to make the situation a bit more tolerable. Dinner this evening was at the local K-Bob's steakhouse.
Since many of the members of his crew had shaved
their heads, prior to leaving home, Aaron Contreras had debated also sporting a
bald head. While in Raton, he decided to go for broke and had his hair
cut/shaved.
Up at 5:30 so that we could make an early arrival at Philmont. Using the kitchen facilities of the church, our adults prepared a breakfast of sausage biscuits, and orange juice. We were on the road before 7:00 a.m. for the final leg of the trip into Philmont. Along the road from Raton to Cimmaron, many antelope were seen along the road.
Arrived at Philmont shortly before 8:00 a.m. to check in and meet our ranger(s).
Crew 715-D-1
Crew 715-D-2
Crew 715-D-3
Crew 715-D-4
Crews D-1 and D-2 spent their last night at Upper Clark's Fork. Crews D-3 and D-4 spent their last night at Tooth Ridge Camp. Crews 1 & 2 climbed Shaefer's Peak and hiked along Tooth Ridge to the Tooth of Time, while crews 3 & 4 had to backtrack, slightly, to return to the Tooth. However, as previously planned, all crews met at the base of Tooth of Time around 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning and together we hiked up the Tooth.
The trail to the Tooth quickly fades
and before you is a pile of massive boulders. To reach the summit, you
need to pick a way through this obstacle course, often using both hands and feed
to climb. All members reached the top, where many photos were taken.
On all sides were the magnificent vistas of the mountains, valleys and forests
over which we had hiked the last twelve days. How fitting to spend our
final minutes on such a lofty peak!
By 11:30 a.m. everyone was down from the Tooth. Here we ate our last trail lunch. Under way shortly after noon, we began the long, descent into base camp. Since our last trip to Philmont, in 1997, additional switchbacks have been added to this stretch of trail, making for an even longer trip. About an hour later we got the first good view of tent city, and were sure we saw some parents waiting at the gate, for our return. Coming out of the woods, we gathered in a clearing and joined in a cheer, to alert the folks below of our presence on the ridge.
Just prior to reaching the gate,
Scoutmaster King stopped the troop and asked Mr. Hyde to lead the group back
into base camp. Several wives and families were waiting at the gate when we
arrived, along with Mr. Bereit, who had to leave the trail two days earlier (see
report of crew D-1). There were cold drinks and candy bars to share with all.
There were plenty of stories to to be told, of daring encounters with bears,
etc.
Back at Tent City, it was now time to clean and return all Philmont equipment, pick up mail, get valuables from the office safe, etc. There chores were dispatched as quickly as possible, with crew members often going in different directions to overlap events and get through more quickly. Everyone was anxious to get a shower and rid of twelve days accumulation of trail dust.
Some crews were fast enough in the completion of the check-in/cleanup process that they even had time to go into Cimmaron for an ice cream treat at the Art Gallery.
The closing campfire was held at 8:15
p.m. We were joined by our visiting parents. Light rain fell during
the program, but didn't detract from the presentation which featured old
pictures and movies showing crews and activities from the early days of Philmont.
After the campfire, many of our members, and family, were to be seen at the
Philmont snack bar, getting their last ice cream.
We planned a leisurely departure from base camp on Friday, to allow plenty of time to purchase last minute souvenirs at the trading post. One crew used the time to take their tour of Villa Philmonte. Pulled some chairs out of the troop trailer and waited in the parking lot for everyone to gather.
Driving off the property, shortly after 10:00 a.m., as we approached Cimmaron, everyone was encouraged to look back over their left shoulder at the arrowhead rock on the north side of Tooth Ridge. Tradition has it that such a glance will assure a return to Philmont, some day.
The drive from Philmont to Amarillo was relatively uneventful. Stopped in Raton to get gas and discovered we had a flat on one of the trailer tires. Were able to get that repaired without needing to unload the trailer. Got some heavy rain as we went between Dumas and Amarillo.
Arrived in Amarillo around 4:30 p.m.
and went straight to the Golden Coral restaurant along I-30, just west of town.
The 'all you can eat' buffet is a welcome treat for folks who have just spent
twelve days eating dehydrated trail food. Mr. Roeber had made arrangements with
the restaurant, for a special area for our group. Following dinner, the
adult advisors presented the Arrowhead patches to every participant.
From the Golden Coral, we proceeded to Palo Duro canyon for the 'Texas' Pagent. Had some rain on the way and thought for a while we might have a repeat of the 1997 rainout. At the canyon, members got rain gear from the trailer, while family/friends purchased plastic ponchos from the concession stand. As we entered the arena, ushers passed out paper towels to use in drying off our seats. The show began amidst very light rain, but that soon stopped and the program was able to go through to completion.
Leaving Palo Duro canyon after 11:00 p.m., we made our way back to Ceta Canyon. Were not able to keep the vehicles all together, at first, but everyone seemed to come together on the last stretch of road into Ceta. Despite the best laid plans, the bunkhouses were locked when we arrived. Had to seek out a night maintenance person to get the facilities opened.
Breakfast on Saturday was at the Ceta
Canyon Dining Hall. We were on the road before 9:00. Pulling the trailer with
his Tahoe, Mr. Bereit had indicated the need for a gas fill up on Friday
evening, but been advised, by other adults, that he certainly had enough
to make it to the first stop after Ceta. Well, as circumstances would have
it, Mr. Bereit's Tahoe ran out about twelve miles short of the fill up stop.
Mr. Phillips had to go ahead to Silverton and bring back some fuel to get the
vehicle to the service station.
Retraced our original route back through Esteline, then back through Childress to Vernon, where we had a lunch stop, at a shopping center with multiple fast food establishments. On the road, once more, we made one more gas (and break) stop at Decatur, before making the final push to Cedar Hill.
Arrived back in Cedar Hill about 5:45 p.m. Thanks to cell phone calls from the road, all parents were at the Family Life Center waiting to pick up their sons and hear about the trip. Most folks were home by 6:30 p.m., and Troop 520 completed its seventh Philmont expedition. And already we're talking about the next trip in 2003. Stay tuned!