Philmont Fall Adventure 1999

PHILMONT FALL ADVENTURE - OCTOBER 1999

Placed on the web October 1999

Welcome to my website dedicated to the Philmont Fall Adventure that I participated in at the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron, New Mexico. I shared this adventure with 10 other Scout Leaders from my home district, the Osage District located in the Greater St. Louis Area Council in Franklin and Crawford Counties of Missouri. Our trip began as we left Sullivan, MO on Thursday, 7 October and drove through to Amarillo, TX for the night. The next morning we drove on to Philmont but took a side trip to the Capulin National Monument to climb into a dormant volcanoe then went on to Raton for lunch before driving on to Cimarron and the Scout Ranch. Our backpacking trip began on Saturday morning 9 October and we came off the trail on Friday morning 15 October giving us a 7day/6night trip

I have scanned some of my better photos and hope you will enjoy them but they don't do justice to seeing it in person.

Here is a summary of our trip in pictures
Tooth Ridge from the highway!

OUR FIRST DAY
Our beginning photo at basecamp with our Guide Jamie who was with us for the duration. From basecamp we were shuttled to the Cimarron Reservoir at Cathedral Rock where our trip actually began. Cathedral Rock from the reservoir. Looking across the reservoir from the dam with nice reflection. Across the reservoir towards Cathedral Rock. We had a late morning start and hiked from the reservoir through Cimarron Cito Camp, where we stopped for lunch, then on to Aspen Springs for our first night of camp. A view of Tooth Ridge from the boulders at Aspen Springs.

OUR SECOND DAY
On the 2nd day out we headed up Saw Mill Canyon to Saw Mill Camp where we would spend our 2nd night. The Aspens were beautiful along this trail. We also passed a new camp in Saw Mill Canyon that will open next year and there is a new switchback trail out of the canyon on up to Saw Mill Camp. The golden aspens in Saw Mill Canyon - 1. The golden aspens in Saw Mill Canyon - 2. The golden aspens in Saw Mill Canyon - 3. The golden aspens in Saw Mill Canyon along the switchbacks - 4.

OUR THIRD DAY
On our third day we hiked from Saw Mill Camp to Cimarroncito Camp via Webster Park Camp. The aspens through here were also spectacular. After arriving at Cito we took in the sites from atop the climbing rocks above Cito. The golden aspens as we near Webster Park Camp The view towards the Villa from atop Cito. The golden aspens on the ridge atop Cito.

OUR FOURTH DAY
We left Cimarroncito Camp this morning and proceeded to Hidden Valley and on to Window Rock before climbing back down behind Cathedral Rock for lunch and freshening up at the reservoir. After lunch we hiked on in to Clark's Fork Camp for the night..The view from Window Rock.Here I am at Window Rock. Our group at Window Rock before hiking on. Going down the trail just before Clark's Fork Camp with a view of the Valley. While at Clark's Fork we saw the most mule deer of our trip, besides the fields around basecamp, plus there were many horses grazing in the area as well.

OUR FIFTH DAY
On our fifth day we hiked on to Shaeffer's Pass Camp and sidehiked to Shaeffer's Peak after setting up camp. There is a new trail around Shaeffer's Peak now and going to the top of Shaeffer's Peak is now a short side hike off of the main trail.A view of Black & Bear Mountain from the new trail on Shaeffer's Peak.

OUR SIXTH DAY
On our sixth day we hiked on to the Tooth Ridge Camp and carried in our extra water as it is a dry camp. We had eaten 'two' suppers at Shaeffer's Pass Camp to save on the amount of water that we had to carry. We stopped again at the side trail to Shaeffer's Peak and let those in the group go up that had not sidehiked with us they previous day. From there it was on to the Tooth were we took a long break and climbed the Tooth of Time for pictures and the view. A view of Baldy Mtn from along the Tooth Ridge Trail A view of Baldy Mtn from along the Tooth Ridge Trail - 2 Our group on top the Tooth thanks to our Guide Jamie The Tooth view toward basecamp The Tooth view towards Black Mtn Urraca Mesa from the Tooth

OUR SEVENTH & LAST DAY
We left Tooth Ridge Camp very early this morning anxious to get back to basecamp for showers and some 'real' food but we had first been up to watch the sunrise over basecamp from a spectacular viewing point in the corner of the Tooth Ridge Campground. There is also a new trail down off of Tooth Ridge now and it takes a bit longer to descend as it really switchbacks across the end of the ridge before joining up with the old switchbacks. The Sunrise from Tooth Ridge Camp.A mule buck along side the trail as we descended the Tooth Ridge.Our group as we stopped just before entering Basecamp. A picture of the Tooth of Time taken from the Stockade after lunch.

SOME EXTRA PHOTOS
A few weeks before this trip I was in Albuquerque, NM on business and took these photos from Sandia Crest above Albuquerque where there is a 28 mile trail along the crest of the Sandia Mountains. The top of the crest is 10,678 feet so not only the views are breathtaking when you are a flatlander there for a day of hiking. A picture of me along the Sandia Crest Trail. Views looking out north of Albuquerque, NM. Views looking out towards Albuquerque, NM.

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