Hubby and M- are back after 12 days and close to 140 miles of hiking at the Philmont Scout Ranch!
Warning - lots of photos in this post and since I wasn't there I am going on the boys commentary of their experience. But, I know a lot of you are awaiting some photos from their trip:) Enjoy! If you aren't a scout, you're gonna wish you were as this is some gorgeous country!
Arrival at the Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico (3 hours from our house) - I can't even estimate the acreage, but it is immense! Most, if not all, donated by Waite Phillips a self-made millionaire who valued the benefits of the Boy Scouts.
Inspection of packs at the Trailbound Camp. There is also a Homebound camp for those returning from their journey. There were about 2200 boys from all over the country on treks during same period of time the boys hiked. Honestly, when I picked them up I felt a bit overwhelmed with the multitude of teenage boys! There are girls too - but not nearly as many.
Packing up the food for next few days and getting it in the bear bags. When setting up camp, they adhere to something called the "bear-muda" triangle to stay safe from bears - thankfully they only saw signs of bear no actual bears.
Look at all the packs lined up and ready to get on the trail.
On the bus to get dropped at the trail for the beginning of the adventure! How happy do they look? Honestly, Michael has wanted to hike Philmont since he was a boy scout. To do it with his son - priceless!
And they are off! Their crew consisted of 8 boys and 4 adults. M- was the youngest by by 2 years.
Their trek consisted of many stops and programs along the way. Staff dress in 1800's period clothing and the kids get to do a multitude of activities. Sadly, some were rained out so they didn't get to do as much as they might have. 1st stop, the spar poles.
There's M- at the top!
Here he is at the blacksmith making a hook.
The crew in miner attire - they went in an old mine and had to find their way out in the dark.
More hiking - does this even look like New Mexico?! Such beauty - if it didn't mean I had to have no shower and wear no deodorant and pee in the woods for 12 days, I'd be all about getting out here!
Hatchet throwing - I guess M- was the only one in his group to land the target:)
Hubby shooting the black powder rifle.
Packing up more food for the next 5 days.
In the distance - Mt. Baldy (ha ha great name for the mountain without the trees). That's where they are headed.
On top of Mt. Baldy. This makes me want to start singing "On Top of Old Smokey... all covered with cheese... I lost my poor meatball"... Okay I digress:)
The boys
Again - the beauty of New Mexico... pretty amazing.
A C.O.P.E course - exercise in trust (M-'s falling)
Selfie on top of the Tooth of Time
The last day has taken it's toll - waiting for the bus to head back to Homebound camp
Here's E-! We drove out to pick them up and enjoy the closing campfire. Stayed at the Haunted St. James Hotel...more on that from E- later. Let's just say I didn't sleep! Many deaths there - gun shot holes in the ceiling. Many famous people stayed there - Annie Oakley, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Kit Carson. Very cool.
An experience of a lifetime! So glad they got to do this and happy to have the family home again:)
Oh, I miss those beautiful mountains of Northern NM. That camp looks fantastic!! Those two look like they had and incredible time. I can't wait to have those moments with my boys and husband. So cool!
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