Philmont 2021 802-7Q

Outbound trip

• stopped at Holbrook, camped at a AirBnB backyard tent site next to a KOA
• very little rain

 

Holbrook camping

Day 1

• waiting for everyone to fly and drive in so we could begin training
• met ranger Ben
• no flags or mess hall; food was given out in crates to eat at camp, better than normal food but I miss the community of the hall

Day 2

• changed early bus to late bus due to disorganization
• almost immediately after leaving camp, it started raining hard, then lightning
• did lightning position for over an hour
• walked through Zastrow and then hit a overflowing Rayado; couldn't find the sketchy bridge at first
• got to camp around 7
• on and off light rain while at camp
• did bear bag training
• did food training at 9pm
• rained a bit overnight

Loading the bus to Zastrow trailhead

Getting ready to hike

Hiking in the rain

 Day 3

• wet but no rain in the morning
• hiked to Abreu for the tour, cantina and animals; they had a young burro
• hiked up hill to Carson Meadows; started raining hard half mile from camp
• waited on porch until rain stopped
• campsite was nice but bear bag area was completely flooded
• tent was on slope so didn't sleep well

Abreu homestead

Baby burro

Babies sleep a lot even when chickens bother them

Flooded bear hang

Carson Meadows cabin

Day4

• one scout decided he couldn't keep hiking; he was having a rough time and I agreed with his decision; however, we had to wait for the staff to get a ride for him back to base camp
• hike to Fish Camp was longer and more up and down than I remembered
• got to camp too late for fishing
• had great weather

Rayado River canyon

Dining fly at Fish Camp

Fish Camp cabin

 Day 5

• woke up to lots of dew that soaked our tents
• took a tour of the lodge which was really cool
• hiked up the river but some of the foot bridges were washed out due the recent rain; we had to cross at the roads
• first stop was Philips Junction to get our load of food and chocolate milk
• continued on to Beaubien and go there in time for conservation project
• cons was clear brush and making burn piles; I pulled my hamstring dragging wood up and down the hills but it was fun anyway
• Chuckwagon dinner and campfire were great

Crossing the creek

Beaubien cabin

Making burn piles

 Day6

• had nice sunny weather heading down the meadow
• decided not to hit Trail Peak
• went over Fowler Pass and down into Crater Lake
• did spar pole climbing which was awesome; I was the only one not to make it to the top
• last night on trail

Hiking down the meadow

Crater Lake cabin

Spar pole climbing

Day 7

• cruised down the trail into Lovers Leap trailhead ahead of schedule
• air was hazy due to smoke from western wildfires
  
• decided to hike the extra 2 miles to basecamp rather than wait for the bus
• fun campfire but it had terrible audio

On the trail

Flowers and Tooth of Time

 Day 8

• long drive back home