There were three main shakedown hikes, two at Harriman and one at Kittatinny. Here are some shots of our shake down hike at Kittatinny.
This section is dedicated to John Q. in 2000 - John, it's scouting paradise.
Here are some stories from the tour and the trail:
Wednesday July 1 - Day -3 and counting down
Thursday July 2 - Day -2 White water rafting
Friday July 3 - Day -1 Koshare Dancers
Saturday July 4 - Philmont Day 1 - Base camp
Sunday July 5 - Philmont Day 2 - Hit the trails, Cathedral Rock
Monday July 6 - Philmont Day 3 - Cyphers Mine
Tuesday July 7 - Philmont Day 4 Mount Phillips
Wednesday July 8 - Philmont Day 5 Porcupine
Thursday July 9 - Philmont Day 6 Beaubien
Friday July 10 - Philmont Day 7 Beaubien
Saturday July 11 - Philmont Day 8 Fishcamp
Sunday July 12 - Philmont Day 9 New Abreau
Monday July 13 - Philmont Day 10 Uracca Mesa
Tuesday July 14 - Philmont Day 11 Tooth Ridge
Wednesday July 15 - Philmont Day 12 Tent City
Thurday July 16 - Home
Day -3 Fly to Denver. Stay at Colorado Springs National Guard Armory.
Day -2 White water rafting and Flying W Ranch
Day -1 Pikes Peak Cog Railway and Koshare (Co SHAR ee) Indian Kiva
WE GOT OUR FIRST CHOICE ON ITINERARIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Day 1 Arrive at Philmont Tent City and get checked in
Day 2 Ranger training at Cathedral Rock (outrageous trail camp) BEAR CITY CENTRAL
Day 4 Get rid of our ranger (hopefully) en route to a buster of a climb up to Mt. Philips (2nd highest peak in Philmont). This is a trail camp so we are on our own camping up high. We will be able look out on the rockies for sunset and sunrise.
Day 6 Hike up to Beabien - Horseback ride, Western Lore (kick back because this is a lay over)
Day 7 Side Hike Trail Peak, Conservation Project, Chuck Wagon Dinner, Brand Boots, Cowboy Campfire. Stay another night at Beabien to get awoken one more time by the cattle roaming through our campsite.
Day 8 Hike down the Rayado River to Fish Camp. Fly Tying, Fishing and a tour of the coolest hunting lodge in Philmont!
Day 9 Hike up to ridge of Rayado Canyon. Awesome sites!!!! en route to Abreu where we will get Burro Racing, Adobe Casa, Mexican Dinner and start practicing for our Root Beer Chugging challenges over at the Cantina. Hopefully we can get into a good mud fight while we build an Adobe Brick. Catch the stars out at night and watch the satellites above.
Day 10 Hike over the haunted URACCA MESA!!!! Cope course challenge as well as a great campfire at the foot of the mesa.
Day 11 Rock Climbing at Miners Park and will try to make a change at logistics to see if we could stay up on tooth ridge at Shaefer's Pass. This would cut out 2 hours on our hike the next day. We would be back at Bear CENTRAL. Every night there is a herd of mule deer that come in to this trail camp as well to eat just before dusk. Quite a show.
Day 12 KICK but so we could see sunrise up on Shaefer's Peak. Great place for a crew picture. Side hike the tooth en route back to tent city. Probably get into tent city by 10:30-11:00 am. Grab showers - no shaving aloud! Have to come back home looking like real dirt bags. Eat lunch and dinner at Tent City with a knife and fork. Go to the most incredible closing campfire you will ever go to. Trade patches with scouts down at the trading post and sleep on a cot with springs and all. Best part is endless HOT SHOWERS!
Day 13 Treck back up to Denver to pig out on Pizza and head back home. Of course I haven't spoken about the days before we get to Philmont. But I think you get the idea. If it sounds like I'm psyched it is because I am. We have a great crew and we are going to have an outrageous time! Practice your yelling and screaming so we can make a good showing at the Flying "W" Ranch. We have to let them know the boys from Jersey are in town so we can drown out those Texans! Can't wait!
See ya,
Rich G.
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