The Philmont Scout Ranch is the pinnacle outing for many of our scouts who have travelled to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico for 100+ mile backpacking treks in over 140,000 acres of wilderness that has been managed by Scouting America since 1939. While Troop 335 is currently doing shakedown campouts and hikes to prepare for our trek this summer, we revisit memories of some of our past scouts and scouters from their Philmont treks!
“Troop 335 has a well-earned reputation as a High Adventure Troop. In 1992 and 1995 the Troop made trips to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Travel was by Amtrak “Hoosier State” to Chicago and then the “Southwest Chief” to Raton, New Mexico for transfer to the Ranch. Treks covered 12 days of high desert and mountain backpacking, ranging from 70 to 95 miles. Activities ranged from burro wrangling, challenge events and blacksmithing to gold panning. Highlight for all treks was summiting either Mt Baldy or Mt Phillips. The Troop continues to visit Philmont on a 2-3 year cycle.” -David Hall Sr., treks in 1992 & 1995, Silver Beaver
“Philmont was such a positive experience in my life. Summiting Baldy, mountain biking through wooded trails, burro packing, etc. were all memories that will stick with me for the rest of my life. You’ll always have a special connection with the people you go with, and the adventure is immensely rewarding. While you’re there, you’ll be excited for every aspect of the trip, even if your hike is ‘just six more miles.’” – Nathan Garrett, trek in 2019, Eagle Scout #135
“Having the opportunity to hike Philmont with my sons was the best memory of the trek. Looking back of all my time in scouting, this was the highlight as a parent and adult leader. On a lighter note: as we traveled to and from Philmont on the train, we never had to worry about where the boys were because there was an all-female Venture Crew on board with us. Find the girls, and you found the boys.” -Pat Harding, trek in 2005, Assistant Scoutmaster
“The 2022 crew members were encouraged by our Ranger Sam to describe their visits to the latrines using a movie reference. The following are some of the best:
- The Longest Yard
- The Good the Bad and the Ugly
- Pee-wee’s Big Adventure
Bill and Jeremy were adults on the 2019 crew and we had a burro named Carson for several days of the trek. The burro did not like to do what it was told. Bill and Jeremy were both enthusiastically ready to kill the burro and dispose of its body.” -Jay Burgett, treks in 2019 & 2022, Assistant Scoutmaster
“From our Trail Guide: ‘Remember the 4 T’s with on-trail signs: Don’t Touch, Turn, Trust, or Tinkle.’ About day 3 on the trail, we realized clean up after meals was a lot easier if you licked all items clean prior to washing . We had a serious discussion about making this a new Philmont patch: the ‘Lick-It-Clean ‘ award.
For my part I want to thank every single person on Philmont Trek 628-K and 628-F: Sam McClurg, Adam Bogue, Joey Agree, Jon Bol, Nathan Jarboe, William Yu, David Breazeale, Ezra, Jack Crossley, Cooper, Kyle Linder, Harrison Shaffer, Clay Presse, Xander Booska, and adults, Richard McClurg, Patrick Bogue, Ken Bol, Ben Breazeale, Jay Burgett, Kevin Presse, Jason Linder.
Sharing every spectacular view, every storm, every starry night, every blister, every meal, every step of the way was a change for me to be who I am today and I am grateful. I think about you and Philmont often, and it motivates me to be the best I can.” -Pat Jarboe, treks in 2017 & 2022, Scoutmaster
“My takeaway from Philmont was that Urraca Mesa is, in fact, haunted. DO NOT say the words “cat” and “face” in the same sentence or you will enrage the local spirit population… The Thompson brothers will back up the story. Their dad got ambushed by a swarm of hummingbirds shortly before a fierce thunderstorm brought on by a youngster saying the forbidden phrase.” -Orion Furmanski, trek in 1992, Eagle Scout #55
“I have many great memories of my days in Troop 35: a trip to Philmont with the troop, as a counselor at Cary Camp and Camp Buffalo, and the Kit Carson program at Philmont. By far my favorite memory is the 1969 National Jamboree at Lake Farragut, Idaho. It started with a scenic train ride from Chicago and sightseeing at Glacier National Park and the Red River Valley. But the highlight was 43,000 of us gathered on a hillside in front of a “drive-in” movie screen holding candles and watching the moon landing. We had 7 Eagle Scouts from the W.L.H.S. class of 1973 [Wayne Taylor, Brian Wiseman, Andy Gustafson, Chris Sommers, Greg Leatherman, Tom Carson, and Gerry McEntyre].” -Wayne Taylor, Eagle Scout #28
“The Scouts taking me along with them to Philmont was incredible. Getting to watch 8 Scouts (all the minimum age for Philmont) learn to work together and figure things out was my reward for trekking 100+ miles. I have so many incredible memories from that trip, it is just magic. I wish every Scout and every Scouter could have that opportunity. Baldy, [the Tooth of Time], Seger, Pueblano Boys, Spar Pole, Gandalf the mule, Enola Gay the disappearing mule, and more memories than you’d want to hear. But you don’t have to have Philmont memories. Buffalo memories, Cary memories, Wabash Heritage Trail memories, the drive to and from weekly meeting memories can all be special, you just have to me there with your Scout, and really be there.” -Loren Randall, trek in 2012, longtime volunteer and adult leader
Do you have a memory from Philmont that you’d like to contribute? Email it to 100troop335@gmail.com or include it as a comment in our Contact form.