Philmont is a massive scouting camp with over 140,000 acres of land, offering scouts the opportunity to plan their trips into the backcountry. Depending on your choice, you can spend 7, 9, or even 12 days on the trail, backpacking through mountains and navigating to your destination. Our troop chose our trek and embarked on our adventure with the help of a ranger who taught us skills like setting up bear bags. Our journey covered 28 miles. On the first day, we camped near a meadow and practiced our knots. The second day involved a steep hike to a staffed camp called Urakka, where we played a team-building game.
On the third day, we spotted a bear near our camp as we departed. The trail we planned to take wasn’t where it was marked on the map, so we found an alternate route to Miners Park, where we enjoyed rock climbing. The next day, we completed a service project, clearing a new trail. Following that, we hiked to the Tooth of Time, a challenging but rewarding trek with stunning views of the entire camp from the peak. Our final stop was Clarks Fork, where we had a delicious dinner prepared by the staff and rode horses before heading home. Philmont was an incredible experience, and everyone returned with cherished memories.
Check out all the photos here https://troop653.com/photos/
