Day 5: Mt. Phillips to Porcupine Camp

From mouint Phillips you descend over 1500 feet to Clear Creek along the headwaters of Rayado Creek. The trail loops into the Cimarron Wildlife Area owned by the State of New Mexico. A maze of logging roads obscures the trail so stick together and be alert for trail markers.
Clear Creek Camp sits near the headwaters of Rayado Creek in a dense fir-spruce forest, typical of the Hudsonian lige zone. The Grey Canadian-Rocky Mountain Jay, a curious, friendly bird (they will almost eat out of your hand), is commonly seen here.
Here you incounter the bubbling waters of Rayado Creek, a haven for trout. Notice the scenic aspen, spruce and fir forest and meadows speckled with wild flowers as you go. The Douglas fir species you see is the chief source of timber in the United States.
From time to time you may see old beaver cuttings in this area.
Crooked Creek is a high mountain park ticked in a gentle valley above Rayado Creek that wanders through a secluded Shangrila-like park, feeds into the Rayado and has some of the most exquisite campsites on Philmont. The thick bed of pine needles may be more comfortable than your mattress at home.
Do not use the fireplace in the rustic cabin here. Several gaping holes in the chimney endanger the structure to fire. The spring provides an excellent source of water. As a precautionary meadure, however, all water should be purified unless the staff informs you that is is chlorinated. Salmonella, typhoid, polio, hepatitis, dysentery and cholera may all be contracted from unpurified water.
Trout fishing the Rayado is tops, but immediately adjacent to the campsites the dtream quickly becomes "fished out." FOr best results hike up or down the stream a ways to try your luck. Many crews like to supplement their trail food with a trout dinner. Be sure you buy a fishing license first.
On moonlit nights, Porcupine is great for stargazing. An unimpeded view through the unpolluted western skies enables you to catch glimpses of shooting stars while contemplating a host of stars and constellations. You can almost see footprints on the moon.
Porcupine Camp provides an interesting study of north and south facing slopes. Note the towering aspen, fir and spruce on the moisture laden north facing slope and the contrastingly sparse Transitions zone vegetation on the opposite side. Well spaced campsites along the rippling Rayado make it a great layover camp. The porcupine area is a haven for wildlife. A multitdue of golden-mantled ground squirrels, raccoons, bobcats and badgers reside here. Rodents especially skunks and bats are frequently infected with rabies and should not be handled, even though they may be rather tame.