Philmont

[STinGa]

I hiked Philmont back in 1984 and still recall the fun.

STinGa

[scorpio516]

Dejoha said it best. Philmont pushes 20,000 to 24,000 people through a set number of campsites each year. The impact on those sites is tremendous. The trade-off is that the rest of the ranch is pretty much pristine. Hammocks are forbidden. It's their toy. Follow their rules.

And it seems like all 20,000 are at the base camp when you arrive!
Even though it was +/- 20 years ago, I remember how huge the base camp was. Or maybe my memory is foggy, I remember the trail better

I still use the backpack I bought for that trip

[vampiresmiley]

I still use the backpack I bought for that trip

It's been over 20 years since I was last there and I just had the backpack out for a few trips this year. I use the old frame pack when I have to carry heavier loads when transporting all the kid's gear. I've still got quite a few years before my youngest is old enough to go. I wonder if that pack would still be up to it in another 10 years.

Heh, just realized this thread was from Oct. 2011, not last week... I guess it's close enough to Halloween to bring back a zombie thread. At least I still have a few years to figure out how to make do on the ground again.

Michael

[Streetdoc432]

I worked out there for 2 years (a long time ago) I was a trail ranger one of those years, and I had to stop one of the scouts from putting up one of those net hammocks. I really wish the could put up some permanent hammock rings in the sites, it would really be nice!

[fishbait]

Thank you shane and dejoha for the clarification.

I've done Seabase, never got to go to Philmont. Hoping to do Northern Tier next year with the Troop - it's a lot of fun to watch the kids have so much fun. Some of the boys are out to get the Triple Crown patch.

I had no idea so many crews went through each year. Maybe, with the increases in hammock camping in the BSA and the awareness of hammocking as an excellent LNT option, poles for hammock hanging could be installed at campsites in the future. It's a thought ...

You left one out. The BSA will be opening "The Summit" a new High Adventure Camp in West Virginia. My son's heading there for the 2013 National Jamboree. I've been pushing Northern Tier for five years within my troop, but seem to be unable to drum up any interest, the same with Philmont. The boys all want to do Seabase.

[Powerscout]

I went to Philmont back in 1969. We were still allowed to make fires to cook by. About the only restrictions was not to pack anything not absolutely needed. Went through our packs and threw out thing not needed. Great Time.

[markrvp]

I was the adult advisor for a 10-person crew this past summer. Philmont doesn't want anything tied to trees. One of the things your Ranger will show you on the first day is how to put sticks between the bear ropes and the trees they are tied to so the rope doesn't actually touch the tree's bark.

Have a great time at Philmont, it really is an adventure you'll remember forever.

[mgreg.scout]

You can take your hammock to Northern Tier. We went to the Atikokan base and camped in the crown lands. I highly recommend it.

[Gristlehead]

Check out TurtleLady's stand. You've got three years to figure out how to make the ridgepole strong & light enough to pack! (Carbon fiber, I'm thinking......)

All Carbon Fiber TurtleLady stand....hmmmm

[tri-pod bob]

Philmont Class of 1971....great trip! It opened my eyes to a whole new way to camp, i.e. not in a campground as my folks did. Also inspired my life long dream to hike the AT (2014 SOBO Thru attempt coming fast). I have the old pack frame (Sears & Roebuck) from that trip (non padded shoulder straps, no waist belt, canvas long gone after yrs of use). I'll sometimes carry it on short 1-3 night bushwacking treks with drybags strapped to it. Some things are just too sentimental to let go of....especially a still useful & often enough used piece of gear!!