This week’s moment in troop history is a great story from Frédéric Ruiz-Ramón, Eagle Scout #44, who trekked to Philmont in 1978. Mr. Ruiz-Ramón settled in Fairfix, Virginia, where he is the CEO of Perscitus International:
“Troop 335 had not organized a trip to Philmont for many years prior to my joining it at age 11. But once I learned about Philmont I very much wanted the challenge and the adventure. So – how go to Philmont if your Boy Scout troop was not going? I learned that I could go as an individual and join others who were doing that too. I and one other Troop 335 scout convinced our parents to let us go.
In 1978, at age 14, he and I flew together to New Mexico and then took a bus to the nearest town to Philmont where we were met by the staff and driven to the ranch. There we joined up with about ½ a dozen other scouts aging in range from 15-17. We were the youngest. Our wise old leader to take us through the two weeks was a ripe old 18 years old and looked a bit like John Denver.
Together we took off and over the course of the adventure got to know one another and bond. It reminds me a bit of those old Hollywood movies where people from all walks of life and backgrounds end up together at boot camp and eventually learn to work with one another and depend on one another.
My most vivid memories of Philmont were my two bear encounters and climbing Mount Baldy at night in order to be at the summit to see the sun rise.
We dutifully put all of our smellable food and toothpaste, etc. in a bear bag every evening and strung the bag up high in the air between two trees. One night a bear decided to go for the bag. We could hear it climbing a tree and lunging at the bag in midair, landing with a grunt and then trying again. The next morning, we went to see if he’d succeeded. Indeed – he had, but apparently then decided there wasn’t anything worth eating and left a torn bag with all its contents strewn around it.
Later that week, I went away from the group to get some privacy to take a poop. I found a clearing in the forest and dutifully dug my little hole and as I was in the midst of going, a baby bear popped out of the woods about 20 yards from me. Uh oh! Where there’s a baby there is a mamma bear that will protect it. Then another baby bear popped out of the woods. Oh no! Then they started to make their way towards me, curious about why this guy was crouching with a bare butt hanging over a hole and likely smelling the results with their keen sense of smell. I knew running wasn’t an option, especially with underwear and pants around my ankles. I figured I would have to curl in a ball and pray for the best. Then Mama Bear came out of the woods. On No!! But she grunted at the little bears and made it clear they were to ignore me and keep moving. She looked at me and just grunted and kept after her cubs. And then they were gone into the woods again. Oof! I made it back to camp after burying my gift to nature and the soil. All excited, I told them what had happened – and – no one believed me. But, I remember as if it were yesterday.
There are many other memories of the trip some day to be told.
Philmont – truly an adventure to remember and treasure.”
We’re looking forward to seeing Frédéric–and everyone–at our centennial Court of Honor at Cary Camp in less than two weeks. (Today is the last day to RSVP!)