We arrived late. We pulled into the parking lot and as soon as we opened the door, a cold gust of wind blew into the car.
We exited the car walking down the dock to the battleship. It was pitch black at night, but you could still make out the giant waves and the water crashing down.
We opened the steel hatch concealing the interior.
We went down a few flights of stairs, which were cramped and barren. We came up on our berths where our whole Troop was staying, and it was very spacious but dark. Soon after we had stowed our gear we explored the ship.
There were many cool things, especially at night, and the darkness added a mystique which made the boat even more fun to explore.
We were walking along the deck of the boat, when we stumbled upon a strange door in the floor. We opened it and found a passageway leading toward the old mess that served soldiers in the war.
We strolled around in that room, finding many cool exhibits and ultimately learning more about the battleship.
We decided after that to look at the top deck.
It was very cold. I almost got frostbite despite wearing gloves.
Scenes from High Adventure trip to Philmont Scout Ranch, 2022
‘One of the Most Magical Places in the World’
By T.O. Brien
Philmont Scout Ranch, in Cimarron, New Mexico, is one of the most magical places in the world. Its lofty mountains and babbling brooks have captured the hearts of many Scouts since its opening in 1938.
In July 2022, I was one of the lucky few Scouts who visited Philmont from Troop 5, as part of the crew 709-R-02. Over the 12-day trek, we hiked over 60 miles, and went as high as 10,000 feet above sea level, experiencing one of the most amazing locations on Earth.
Our trip started in Denver, Colo., where we were picked up from the airport by Blue Sky Adventures, a company focused on enhancing high adventure trips for scouts. During our two-day time with BSA (an acronym that is no coincidence), we stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs, enjoying such amenities as a full in-hotel water park, several small storefronts, and the last real bed we’d sleep in for two full weeks.
‘It’s a place where you can let your mind wander, taking in the sights and sounds, where you can let yourself forget about what was, what is, and what will be‘
During our stay, we went to several local Colorado attractions, including the Garden of the Gods, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and whitewater rafting at Echo Canyon. The fun and games were about to end, however, because at dawn on July 9, it was time to board the bus to Philmont Scout Ranch.
Once we arrived at Philmont, it was time to get all the supplies we would need for our trek: tents, food, and our route. The tents were simple two-person tents with only the absolute essentials – a tent body, poles, and a rain fly. Food was usually dehydrated and strictly non-perishable – we’d be carrying it for five days before restocking.
With everything we would need, it was time to set out.
Our trek began with a bus ride out into the backcountry for some quick training before we started the hike. Philmont Scout Rangers taught us everything we’d need to know before they left us on our own on the third day.
The first hike was probably the hardest – steep uphill, midday sun, and New Jersey-induced naïveté. After that, things got easier, and by the time our Rangers set back off to base camp, we all felt a little more confident.
From there, time passed quickly, with such amazing opportunities as the Tooth of Time, campfire performances at Urraca and Beaubien, and black powder rifles and tomahawk throwing.
(I’ve also been asked by our troop historian, Tucker Spence, to mention the missed opportunity of goat naps, a luxury we were unfortunately unable to indulge in for fear of getting to the next camp too late). By the time we got back to base camp on July 20, we were all ready to go home.
Words truly cannot describe the beauty Philmont Scout Ranch has to offer. It truly embodies the best of the American landscape. It’s a place where you can let your mind wander, taking in the sights and the sounds, where you can let yourself forget about what was, what is, and what will be. It’s a place where you can let your mind wander, taking in the sights and sounds, where you can let yourself forget about what was, what is, and what will be
Philmont has provided people with some of the greatest experiences of their lives, and it will continue doing so for many more years to come.
On the weekend of April 23-25, Troop 5 went on a campout at Camp Tabora.
‘Camp Tabora’ – named after Assistant Scout Master Edwin Tabora, whose son, Eagle Scout Nathaniel Tabora, recently ‘aged-out’ of Troop 5 – is really the Taboras’ lawn.
Members of all 5 patrols went.
On a neighbor’s lawn, we had the Troop 5 Olympics.
The Troop Olympics are an annual event that patrols compete in for Patrol Points Contest (PPC) points.
We played many games of ‘Newty Ball,’ (a form of dodgeball), Rope of Death, and Capture the Flag.
Those who are going to Philmont in the summer partook in a ‘shakedown,’ where we saw what we had, and what we needed, to go backpacking on the Philmont trek.
Scouts arrived and departed with their parents, or through carpooling with patrol mates.
‘The Cantina,’ not much to look at from the outside, but a welcoming sight and wonderfully cool inside after a long hike – and all the Root Beer you can drink! [Photo by Terin Miller, July 2019, shot with a dying Samsung Galaxy J7 phone]
PHILMONT 2022 IS APPROACHING
This is where stories of the preparations for Philmont 2022 and Summer Camp 2022 will appear, which is why you should keep your eyes on it.
‘The Red Beret,’ an occasional Troop 5 newsletter publication, is moving online, hopefully this month.
Originally, the officer position of “Newsletter Editor” was charged with soliciting articles from Troop members, but as with so many news and information organizations, and in an effort to be more environmentally conscious, Troop 5 is on the cusp of moving articles and photos – usually gathered by the Troop Historian – online.
This has happened after two years of mostly virtual Troop 5 meetings, and because of the needs for future Eagle Scouts to meet Communications Badge requirements to enter this brave new world of the 21st century.
Among the other skills Scouts in Troop 5 learn will be how to write ‘blog posts,’ as opposed to printed newsletter articles. They will learn to not only compose a brief – four to five paragraphs – but also how to accompany such briefs with graphic elements such as photos, and even embedded links, as ‘contributors.’ As currently envisioned, positions involved in this activity will be the Webmaster, Historian and Scribe.
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