Issue 2 2017.indd - Philmont Scout Ranch

JUNE 16TH, 2017

A family after two days

PHILNEWS Pioneers of the summer

Andrew Kliewer Staff Writer

As the sun glinted off the lush green grass and puffy white clouds floated lazily overhead, Beaubien camp was transformed from its typically quiet idyllic state to a hub of commotion and activity on June 4. At one end of the meadow, green shirted Rangers improvised raps and skits to explain wilderness facts. Halfway down the meadow, others attempted to construct a tent while blindfolded. Finally at the opposite end of the meadow, a group was sang “I’m a Little Teacup,” while putting the points of the Scout Law in order. As each of these groups finished their tasks, they sprinted to the next station, beginning the process all over again. This 220 plus gathering of people and the ensuing controlled chaos is an annual event of the Ranger Department. Known as Ranger Rendezvous, the friendly competition consists of fourteen different events meant to test each Ranger’s knowledge of essential skills. Continued on page 5

ISSUE TWO

Evan Mattingly/PhilNews

Scatter: a unified chaos

Andrew Kliewer and Elizabeth Harper Staff Writers

June 9, 2017- Ranger Mason Gregg goes over lightning and wildlife procedures with Crew 608-F2. A Ranger is assigned to each crew for their first three days, during which they will advise and train the Scouts for their adventure through Philmont. Tanner Britton/PhilNews

Elizabeth Harper Staff Writer

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as the bus pulled into Zastrow Turnaround. The crews on board were anxious to unload, especially after listening to the Philmont Bus Tour, a funny but informative speech intended to get crews ready and excited to hit the trail. As everyone thanked the bus driver and got off to search for their packs, Ranger Mason Gregg directed his crew to a shady spot underneath a tree.

This crew, Expedition 608-F2, had already traveled a long way to get to Philmont. The six Scouts and three adults, who came from three different troops in southeastern Indiana, had ridden a train for 25 hours to arrive at Philmont a day early and start getting acclimated to the altitude change. According to Advisor Dale Schroeder, however, the crew almost didn’t get that far. “They didn’t have enough adults,” said Schroeder, who accompanied his son Dawson. Their group of Scouts was so big it had to be split into two

crews, but there were originally only enough advisors for one crew. So Schroeder stepped up, along with Advisors Nolan Hancock and Clay Yeaton, to make sure their Scouts could have the experience of a lifetime. Once they had enough advisors, the crew began to train in earnest, going above and beyond basic practice hikes. “We all did Wilderness First Aid training,” Schroeder said, indicating the entire crew. Philmont only requires two Continued on page 4

After weeks of enduring the crowds and dust of Base Camp, attending countless training sessions and practicing programs to perfection, the long anticipated Scatter finally arrived for backcountry staffers. Beginning on the evening of June 4, a long line of idling suburbans stretched past the Welcome Center, as staffers piled in with their belongings, made last minute phone calls and said goodbye to most modern luxuries. Once given the go-ahead, convoys of vehicles drove off, ready to deliver workers to the 36 staffed camps that they will call home for the next two and a half months. Transporting staffers successfully across all 220 square miles of Philmont required a level of precision akin to a military operation. Each camp’s departure was staged in fifteen minute intervals from the Welcome Center, with trucks immediately rolling up as others departed. The order of Scatter was predetermined to make sure that camps with

Continued on page 8

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MARKETING AND PHOTO TEAM

Marketing Manager Bryan Hayek

June 2017 Sunday

Monday

11 PTC Week 1Commissioner week

13 12 Late Arriving staff Late Arriving Staff Training -Opening Training- Aims Campire and Methods/ 9:30 Tie Dye Day, YPT/Harrassment in the Work Place/ SSSAC Philmont Brand9:00-Walcutt Room SSSAC

MPS Manager Cassidy Johnson

PhilNews Editor Suzannah Evans

PhilNews Writers Andrew Kliewer Elizabeth Harper

Photography Managers Tyler Sanders Liam Inbody

Photographers Drew Castellaw Madelynne Scales Hunter Long Evan Mattingly Andrew Avitt Shane Mrozek Tanner Britton Dalton Puckett

Lead Marketing Specialist Dave Brinkman

Marketing Media Staff Henry Hibbeln Julia Nadovich

Lead Videographer Kreable Young

Videographer Ben Dorger

PhilmontScoutRanch.org

Friday, June16 ,2017

18 S’mores Evening 8-10 pm, behind the SSSAC PTC Week #3

19 Dodgeball 7-11 pm SSSAC First Closing Camfire

Tuesday

20 Brat Day #2 Ping Pong Tourny 8 pm, SSSAC

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

14 Late Arriving Staff Training-Philmont First Aid/CPR8:30 am-Walcutt Room, SSSAC Late Arriving Rangers Arrive TCT #1

15 Music Jam 8 pm, SSSAC Porch OATC #2

16 S’mores Evening 8-10 pm, behind the SSSAC ROCS #1 First Cavalacade Crews Arrive

17 2nd Breakfast S’mores Evening, 8-10 pm SSSAC

22 Pool Tourny 8 pm, SSSAC

23 2nd Breakfast, SSSAC

24 Salsa Day, SSSAC

21 Footsball Tourny 8 pm, SSSAC

Late Arriving Staff Training - 8:30 am Late Arriving Staff Late Arriving Staff Walcutt, SSSAC Training-Opening Training- 9:00 am, NCAP -AssessmentCampfire (evening Walcutt Room, 619,620, and 621) SSSAC Opening Dinner

NCAP Assessment ROCS Session #2 OATC-Session #3 NCAP Professional Assessment Scouting Reception - Villa Garden

PTC-LDS Conference Week #1 Medic #2 Rotation Begins

Out of Eden Walk

Want to hike in a foreign country? Art, Books, Cards, Jewelry, Pottery, Salsa, New Mexico Gifts, & More!

Open Daily! We Welcome Scouters! Check out the article on page 10 to see how your words might get you there.

341 East 9th Street P.O. Box 322 Cimarron, NM 87714

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Phone: 575-376-9040

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Friday, June 16, 2017

The Ranger Mile: Keeping it close to HOmE Spencer Harsh Ranger Trainer

As the season begins to move on full steam ahead, one thing is on every staffers mind; what can I do with my days off? If you’re looking for a good hike, consider Wheeler Peak. At 13,167 feet, Wheeler is just short of being considered a true 14er, but is still a great challenge and a spectacle to behold in the New Mexican wilderness. Wheeler is the tallest peak in the state of New Mexico. Whenever hiking, on or off-

Ranch, consider the Philmont essentials for gear to toss into your daypack or peakbag. Additionally, bring 2-3 liters of water and some snacks. Remember to dress in layers so that you can be flexible with the changing temperatures of a mountain. As an extra safety precaution, bring a buddy or two and tell someone else that isn’t hiking with you where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Wheeler, or the trailhead for Wheeler, is located northeast of Taos and south of Red River. If you will be leaving from CHQ, consider leaving Base between 6-7am. This will allow you to have a nice

morning drive to Taos while giving you plenty of time to summit the peak. In order to reach the trailhead, you’ll have to drive past the Taos Ski Valley resort. You’ll climb the foothills quite a bit until you’ll find the trailhead parking lot on the left of the road. The ascent can take anywhere around four hours, depending on your speed. If hiking in June, expect to find snow and frost on your ascent and descent. This is where gaiters can come in handy. Hikers are also known to use some of the massive snow banks that sit on the sides of Wheeler in June as slides to make shortcuts for a descent. Such

Continuous improvement Gateway to Discussions with fellow staff Mark Anderson members about seven aspects of the future Director of Program healthy living are required. Once

The first crews are about to come off the trail (June 19) and the first week of the Philmont Training Center has come to an end. We have had a chance to implement the things that we practiced during training. It would be easy to say, “I’ve got this” and continue to deliver the program throughout the summer at a beginner’s level. Waite Phillips said “What is really important is what you learn after thinking you know it all.” In reflecting on this statement, I would like you to consider how you could move from the beginner’s level through the intermediate levels to an advanced level over the course of the summer. What steps are needed? Conversation with others in your department or your manager may help you identify things that can be improved and allow you to become more proficient in your delivery. I would encourage you to begin by preparing a list of “next” steps in your summer journey. In addition to things that could advance your work assignment, I would also like to encourage you to consider how you can advance your personal growth and your Philmont experience. Each staff member can earn three special awards over the course of the summer: The Trail of Courage Award, The Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award, and The Duty to God Award. The Trail of Courage is an award that focuses on healthy living.

you have completed the discussion, you are asked to take the Right Decisions/Right Now Pledge: “I pledge to become personally fit, eat a nutritious diet, exercise, be tobacco free, live free of drug and alcohol habits, learn the seven cancer danger signs, and live the Scout Oath and Law.” The Wilderness Pledge Achievement Award focuses on how we practice the Wilderness Pledge and Leave No Trace Principles. The four requirements will help you better understand the guiding principles incorporated in these outdoor ethics. They guide our use as we use the lands of Philmont Scout Ranch and our neighbor’s property. The Philmont Duty to God Program is designed to enhance your personal value system and to help strengthen your own “Duty to God”. Throughout the summer you will have the opportunity to encounter God’s handiwork and to reflect on your religious journey. The five requirements provide a chance for you to experience milestones through the summer to strengthen your religious experience. Applications for these awards will be distributed to all staff members over the next few weeks. Commit to continuous improvement. Consider earning all three awards by the end of the summer. They will add to your efforts in reaching the advanced level in all aspects of your life by the end of the summer.

Andrew Kliewer Staff Writer

Crews who have recently registered for a Philmont trek may notice a few key differences in the registration process compared to several years ago. Over the years, registration has evolved from callins to call centers to a third party web portal. Some remember the days when itinerary preferences were mailed to Philmont on postcards. and many remember completing their crew roster on carbon copy paper. Today, an online web portal, known as the Philmont Camping Gateway, serves as the dedicated online platform for registration, itinerary selection, collecting crew roster information and tracking participants in the backcountry. To advisors and Scouts these may seem like minor changes, but to Philmont staff, these changes are part of a massive overhaul that combined several Philmont databases into a single system. After three years of designing and programming, the list of features to add remains lengthy, but the core foundation of the system shows maturity. In 2017, a new Gateway module launched and focuses on incorporating the needs of Philmont’s Logistics department directly into the system. The new module not only helps Logistics

a practice is inherently risky as you may have trouble stopping or a hidden rock may suddenly become too close for comfort. The snow leave the area as July comes around. Early in your ascent, you may pass by Williams Lake, a beautiful alpine lake. If you and your hiking crew are ambitious, you can consider arriving the evening before your ascent and spending the night near the lake. However, remember that as you are up high it will be very cold. You will also more than likely have to carry your sleeping gear on your ascent. As you ascend the tallest peak in New Mexico, remember to stop

every now and then and take it all in. Listen to the breeze on the mountain and breathe in the crisp air. Observe the plants at your feet. Look for the wildlife that calls Wheeler home. Most of all, appreciate the fact that you find yourself on a mountain in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Remember to Follow LNT when hiking on and off-Ranch. More info can be found at: www. alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/ Wheeler-Peak-vie-Williams-Laketrail

schedule bus rides to and from the backcountry for arriving and departing crews, but also allows program managers across Philmont to input backcountry itineraries directly into the system to submit to Logistics for approval. In addition, Logistics can track any modifications made to these itineraries. “[The Gateway] seems to streamline our work process because the data’s all in one spot, it’s one big source,” Logistics Manager Tom Giugni said. “So we don’t have to try and merge different databases.” The idea for the new Gateway was originally conceived by Marketing Manager Bryan Hayek in 2014. Working closely with a programmer, Hayek began designing the new online registration system. “What’s cool about having it online is that all computers these days have a web browser installed on them,” Hayek said. “So you can be on any computer in basecamp, and if you have the right login you can access the Philmont Gateway.” While the system is well known by participants and staff for its intuitiveness and functionality, the programming that drives the system’s backend is complex. It takes a special kind of person to both understand Philmont and write code that will move the Gateway project forward. In 2015, the Gateway’s original programmer decided to moved on. During the transition, a tenured programmer serving as an advisor on a Philmont trek was waiting out a rainstorm in his tent at Copper Park and noticed

Philmont’s “programmer wanted” ad in the PhilNews. Today, the Gateway is used by almost every Philmont department, from chaplains looking to see how many Scouts will be attending their services to bus drivers planning their routes to the Welcome Center counting the number of each day’s arrivals. Throughout a crew’s registration process, automated emails coach participants through roster requirements and deadlines. By June 2017, over 90% of the summer’s crew rosters were completely finished. This is a big improvement over the summer of 2013 when crews were asked to bring a hand-written roster to their arrival day check-in at Camping Headquarters. “What’s interesting is every time we’ve had a meeting about [the Gateway], it’s changed,” Welcome Center Manager Steve Camp said. “We sit down, and we’re all going over it, and it’s like well it would be nice if we all could do this. Then the next time we login, they’ve fixed it a little and made it a little more user friendly.” By the end of the summer, changes made to the Gateway should help integrate the entire Ranch and reduce wasted time, energy and money. “[Our goal] is for everybody to work together and contribute their own information,” Hayek said. “Now we can build a module for each department that has important information to contribute. This way we can collect accurate information directly from the source.”

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members of each crew to complete the training, but their crew decided to do it together. As their Ranger gave them their Turnaround Talk to prepare them for hitting the trail, the Scouts were eager to be off. Once they had learned to read a map and use a red roof, the crew selected Ben Starky, also the Chaplain’s Aid, to be their first navigator and pacesetter. “Is anybody not ready?” asked Crew Leader Alex Volz. “Hike on!” he said when met with silence. The crew was headed to Abreu, a living history staff camp, for program before continuing on to a trail camp for the night. The three mile hike was almost entirely along a road, which proved challenging for the crew as the sun beat down on them. Along the way, the crew stopped a few times to adjust packs and retie hiking boots. Still, they reached Abreu before lunch. At Abreu the Scouts took full advantage of the many programs offered. They started with a tour of the homestead, visited the goats and the chickens, and relaxed in the cantina. They even got a chance to work in the homesteaders’ garden. Allen Seymour, the crew’s Wilderness Guia, grabbed a hoe and started to dig the irrigation system, following the example of one of the homesteaders. He swung the hoe again and again, elongating a furrow for the water

Bearing with it Garrett Hood Bear Researcher

This is the week, the week of the first crews to hit the trails. Excitement is spreading like crazy as staff members prepare for another great summer. I anxiously await my first call into action. Our residing Philmont bears will soon be out and about more often

June 9, 2017- Boy Scouts Allen Seymour and Lucas Stirn dig irrigation channels for Abreu’s garden. Once planted, the garden will yield corn, squash, and peppers for the Philmont staff members living on the homestead. Tanner Britton/PhilNews

to flow through and spraying mud at everyone in the near vicinity. “It was really fun and really muddy,” Seymour grinned later. “[Abreu] had a lot of stuff for you to do and get involved in, which I think is what makes Scouting great, getting involved with nature.” Several of the other Scouts also took turns making the irrigation system, while a few planted squash in the garden. The crew regrouped at their pack line to decide what to do for lunch. Although the sky was still a clear blue, they agreed to hike to their trail camp in case an afternoon storm were to roll through. At last the trail they were on left the road and snaked back into the woods. It wasn’t long before one of the Scouts spotted the camp map for Old Abreu, their stopping point for the day.

As the first crew there, they had their pick of campsites. They settled on one further down the trail, beside Rayado Creek, where they could refill and purify their water bottles. Slowly, they began to set up camp. Three of the Scouts had been to Philmont previously and their training started to come back to them as Gregg taught the Scouts how to hang bear bags and set up their dining fly. Once they finished setting up their tents, they were able to relax for an hour before dinner. Later in the evening, the crew gathered again to do Roses, Thorns and Buds. Everyone had enjoyed at least part of the day, although several expressed frustration at how long it took them to set up camp. “It’s definitely something we can improve on,” Gregg told the

in search for food hoping they will come across that bag of pretzel and cheddar combos they have been craving since last summer. The elusive residing cougars of Ponil and Chase Canyon have been spotted by the friendly Back Country staffers of Ponil. I hope to catch a glimpse upon this magnificent feline with the trail cameras I have set up. Overall, this summer will be one for the bears. Cubs from last season have left their mothers and will be curious to experience Philmont as the participants do. I am definitely looking forward to working with

my new equipment. For example, we plan to use the paintball gun as a tool for mark recapture studies that will hopefully lead to Philmont’s first Black Bear population density survey in a long time. I am looking forward to the arrival of all of the crews and excited to start the swing of Philmont life. Remember to hang your bear bags and if you have a day off and would like to see what a day in the life of a Philmont Bear Researcher is like, feel free to stop by the Conservation Office or find me in Base Camp and ask about ride along opportunities!

June 9, 2017- Crew 608-F2 came together for this portrait at the end of their first day in the backcountry. Boy Scouts of all types come together to trek at Philmont and each will face their own set of challenges and obstacles along the way. Tanner Britton/PhilNews

crew, “and we will improve as you kinda learn… what you should be doing. Soon this will all become automatic.” Despite the struggles they encountered, the crew was still in good spirits and excited for the next day. “The day went good,” said Kevin Brown. “[I’m looking forward to] a good experience and

a fun time.” “We got an awesome campsite,” Volz added when his turn came around. The rest of the crew agreed. Lucas Stirn also expressed a sentiment shared by the entire crew. “My Bud is getting out there tomorrow and seeing what adventure brings us,” he said.

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PhilNews | 5

Continued from page one: A family after two days With their training crews of seven to eight people, Rangers conquer tasks ranging from performing first aid on a sprawled out actor to the famous privacy challenge that involves utilizes tents and dining flys to change clothes in an appropriate manner. After each event, crews are given points based on their performance. The crew with the highest point total at the end of the games gets to sign the famed Ranger axe at a campfire the following night. “[The point of Ranger Rendezvous] is to meet other Rangers, to meet other leadership and things like that, so that way they can expand their resource group that they know in the department,” Chief Ranger Matt Nutt said. “They intermingle amongst their training crews and have an enjoyable day at Beaubien, testing their skills, showing off their skills, and stuff like that.” Ranger Rendezvous is preceded by a four day hike that helps give Rangers the experience they need to take crews out on the trail. The department is divided into 25 training crews, each led by a Ranger Trainer. Groups begin their hikes at one of several Central and South Country turnarounds, ultimately all funneling into Beaubien. The skills that they learn along the trek, from the turnaround

talk to proper bear procedures, are tested in both a written and practical exam the night before Rendezvous. However, the aims of the training hike go beyond simple memorization of skills. By the end of Rendezvous, the ultimate goal is to create a department unified in both experience and mindset, ready to guide another summer’s worth of Scouts through one of the biggest adventures of their lifetimes. “A big thing they’re getting out of [Rendezvous] is how it’s just one big family,” Ranger Trainer Spencer Dennis said. We’ve all been separated until now, and the camaraderie is really cool to see. As far as the whole trek goes I just want them to be confident taking out crews. A lot of these people have come to Philmont before, and so they know the material, but they’re not as confident in teaching the material to people, and so instilling that confidence in them is a big part of training.” At the closing campfire, after a night of entertaining skits, Training Crew Three was revealed to be the winner of the competition. While they were the only group that received the honor of signing the ax, every participant of Ranger training came out with a new family that will stay will them throughout the summer and beyond, even if they

Training Crew 20 races to complete the Leaf Hunt Relay led by Mary Stuever from Ensenada, NM, during Ranger Rendezvous at Beaubien on Sunday June, 4, 2017. Crews had to combine their knowledge of forestry and insects simultaneously for this challenge. Evan Mattingly/PhilNews

can’t be physically together as a department. “Something surprising to me was how fast we all meshed,” first year Ranger Nick Lechner said. “We’re all thrown in together kind of randomly, we’re all just a bunch of Scouts who like to hike and like the outdoors, and then within two days we’re all buddies.” Above: While the Rangers get ready, Ranger Trainers, Jack Brown, Durant Abernathy, and Alex Trumble prepare for the stations that they run together. At this station the rangers attempted to put the Scout Law in order as fast as possible while singing a song of their choosing. Hunter Long/PhilNews

Above: After all the Rangers arrive at Beaubien and see each other for the first time in five days, Training Crew 20 gets ready for the upcoming Ranger games taking place that morning. Hunter Long/PhilNews Left: Chief Ranger Matt Nutt stands in front of the 2017 Rangers after Ranger Rendezvous on June 4, 2017, at Beaubien. Evans Mattingly/PhilNews

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Chaplain’s corner: A Philmont Crew

Meet the chaplains Wally Mees Protestant Chaplain Hello, Philmont! I’m Chaplain Wally Mees (pron. “Mace”), and I’m the newest protestant chaplain on the staff this year. I live in Culver City, California, where I’m enjoying retirement after 42 years as a Lutheran parish pastor, of which the last 34 were at a church in Pacific Palisades, CA. I first came to Philmont in 1962 for Junior Leader Training, but I didn’t come back until 2003 when my son was old enough to come here. We were luck enough to have our post card chosen for a cavalcade, so we went to the north country that year, and then south in both 2005 and 2007. That’s right! We won the Cavalcade lottery three chances out of three. I’ve seen much of Philmont from the back of a horse, but in 2007, when my horse zigged and I zagged, I ended up in the infirmary with four broken ribs and an early ticket home. It was in the infirmary, visited by a Philmont chaplain, that I decided that if at all possible, I’d be a chaplain here one day. Something about “giving back” I suppose. At any rate, this year I’m keeping my promise to myself, and seeking to be useful to all of you at Philmont any way I can. In addition to Scouting (I’m still an assistant scoutmaster/chaplain at my son’s old troop), I enjoy reading “modern cowboy” mysteries starring Joe Pickett and Walt Longmire, dressing up as Uncle Sam on the 4th of July (I’m doing it again this year in the Cimarron Parade), taking pictures for fun and to tell stories,

Elder Paul Anderson LDS Chaplain

Shane Mrozek/PhilNews

and singing in a Barbershop Quartet and Chorus. My quartet is called “Harmony Smashup,” but we don’t always sound that bad. Our chorus is about 40 men singing 4-part harmony on such songs as “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” “Hello, Mary Lou,” and my current favorite, “Ghost Riders in the Sky” where we basses take the melody. If there are any other barbershoppers reading this, please look me up through the Chaplain’s department. We could ring a few chords or maybe even sing a few songs. As the newest member of the protestant chaplains, I hope to get to know as many of you as possible, singers or not, and be of service to you in any way I can. I view our work as chaplains to begin with

bringing words of inspiration and encouragement at each Chapel service and whenever you need someone to listen. Most of us are a long way from home and can occasionally benefit from a sympathetic ear. I can be just that if you need one. Meanwhile, I can be found most evenings at 7 p.m. at the protestant chapel. There we’ll sing a few songs, read from God’s Word, and tell you how to earn one of the coolest patches Philmont has: the Philmont Duty to God patch. We’ll also offer some “rest for your spirit” and “strength for the journey.” Thank you, Philmont, for making this dream come true for me. It is a real privilege to serve you. P.S. If you have any questions, just send me an email.

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In 2015 a crew arrived at Philmont full of excitement and eager to hit the trail and experience the magic of hiking the trails in God’s country. As part of their pre-hike preparations they attended an evening Chapel Service. They listened to the experiences of returning crews and were encouraged by the Chaplain to work together, look out for each other and look for those special moments when God could touch each of them. Eleven days later they came back to Chapel Service. This time they were asked to share their experiences. First the thorns, which were the mud the rain and the cold, the usual struggles. Then they were asked to share their roses. Four of them spoke up and shared the same experience. It was being together on top of Mount Phillips and the entire crew having their own devotional. After the service, one of the advisors came forward to say thanks and then he said that the boys didn’t tell the whole story. “Would you like to hear the rest of the story?” Of course the answer was yes! Having left the service, they got together to make some goals for their trek. One of the boys, we’ll call him Michael, had a slight physical handicap and it was a little harder for him to hike, so the crew made a pact that they would look out for each other, help each other and whatever they did they would do it together as a crew. Climbing Mount Phillips is one of the more challenging side hikes and was to test their pact. They began the hike, full of excitement and determination. After a while Michael started to get a little tired

and one of the boys ask if he could carry Michael’s sleeping bag. Later another boy asked if he could carry his tent. Another boy asked if he could carry his crew gear and finally, a boy asked if he could carry his pack. Hiking without being weighed down with a pack and gear, Michael did well for a while, but reached a point where he had no more energy. In spite of all the encouragement and help from his crew, he could go no further. They were near the top, and two of the advisors looked at each other and one said to the other, “Will you carry my pack?” He gave his pack to the other advisor, and then went over to Michael, put him on his shoulders and carried him to the top of the mountain. On Top of Mount Phillips, that crew knew the meaning of the Pure Love of Christ. They had worked together and felt the JOY of helping someone accomplish something he could not do by himself. They had found the love and joy of working together to do a hard thing. They had truly had a Mountain Top Experience. I pray that each of us who comes to Philmont can have our own Mountain Top Experience, by working together and loving each other. May God bless us in everything we do!



PSA: Head for the high country Mark Stinnett Editor, High Country Magazine With apologies to my friend and former Chief Ranger David Caffey for shamelessly borrowing his book title for this article, here’s some info for you about High Country, the award-winning full-color magazine of the Philmont Staff Association. Our magazine features stories and photos about Philmont, Phil-staff, and anything and everything associated with them. We bring you news about our HOmE, profiles of people who’ve staffed it, vignettes about the rich history of the ranch and surrounding Colfax County, and terrific photos by seasonal staff members. Our June issue illustrates the wide variety of material we publish: a profile of our Distinguished Staff Alumni Award recipient, Jeff Marion; a look back at the devastating Ponil Complex Fire of 2002; a staffer’s view of the fine program at the Demonstration Forest, and a historical piece

about the stationing of U.S. Army dragoons at “Post Rayado” in the early 1850s. And anyone – including any of you – can be published in High Country! You don’t have to be a professional writer or photographer, or even a member of the PSA. Virtually all of our stories and photos come from current or former staff members who simply have a good story to

tell or image to share. Of course, we can’t guarantee publication of everything submitted to us, but we can definitely promise that we’ll consider your work and run it if we can. Long or short, fact or fiction (tell us which), if you have a good story or anecdote, we want to hear from you. E-mail us at highcountry@philstaff. org, or you can send us written work or photos through the PSA office. For photos, we prefer a high-res digital scan (300 dpi or greater). High Country is published seven times per year, in even-numbered months, with one special issue each summer around July 1. As a member of this summer’s staff, you’ll be getting access to or receiving personal copies of three issues before midAugust. Watch for our special issue in July commemorating this year’s 60th anniversary of the Philmont Rangers. From our staff at High Country (all former Philmont staffers), we wish all of you a great summer – and look forward to writing about it!

Things to do at the SSSAC Brat Day On all days that end in “0” (e.g. June 20, July 10), the staff dining hall closes and bratwursts, hamburgers, kielbasa, and veggie burgers are grilled in the Baldy Pagrillion (next to Baldy Pavilion). The soda machine in the SSSAC kitchen is turned on, and ice cream is served in Baldy Pavilion. Live music is provided by Activities staff and other staff departments – let the Activities staff know if you’re interested in playing!

2nd Breakfast What about second breakfast? If you’re hungry between 8:30 and 10:30am on any day that ends in “3” or “7” (e.g. June 13, July 17), stop by the SSSAC kitchen for some pancakes and juice.

Music Jam Night If you play an instrument, sing, or enjoy listening to spontaneous music-making, come join us on the SSSAC porch on all days that end in “5” (e.g. June 15, July 5) for an informal jam session. All are welcome. We will start at 8pm to respect chapel services.

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SCATTER 2017

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June 6th, the late morning lull hits the Backcountry Warehouse, giving the staff time to catch their breath and prepare for the incoming “Scatter” rush. Dalton Puckett/PhilNews Right: Sawmill staff form an assembly line on June 6 while unloading a truck full of supplies during scatter. Sawmill is a shooting and reloading camp with one of the best sunrise views on the Ranch. On a clear day, you can see for miles. Madelynne Scales/PhilNews

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b b u m w s i a b i fi m L t Ponil backcountry staff eat dinner together for the first time during Scatter on Monday, June 5, w c 2017. Spaghetti, toast, and salad was served for the first dinner. Drew Castellaw/PhilNews o Left: Michael Sheffield, Daniel Montoya, and Rebecca Goughnour watch as camp veteran Andrew m Moore demonstrates how to check the chlorine levels of the camp’s drinking water. While opening and cleaning cabins at the beginning of the season, staff wear masks in order to avoid inhaling n t dust produced by rodent droppings throughout the winter. t


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Continued from page one: Unified chaos

Scouts arriving earliest were given first priority. After leaving the Welcome Center, the first stop for trucks was right around the corner at the Backcountry Warehouse, where staff picked up all program materials. “At the Backcountry Warehouse office I signed off for a bunch of random things that they wanted me to sign off for,” Indian Writings Camp Director Peter Rouston said. “[My staff] did God’s work essentially and just put everything in the back of the truck.” Following that stop, vehicles drove to the Infirmary to pick up necessary medical supplies, including first aid kits and crutches. The next stop at Merchandise Warehouse was the longest, as everything from “foamy” mattresses to shovels were loaded into trucks and tied down. After that, convoys began the journey to their backcountry camps, with some taking over an hour on rickety dirt roads. To ensure the entire process ran smoothly, Camp Directors generally assigned members of their staff to one specific role. “Our Camp Director sat us down yesterday, and gave us each a broad role, like take care of this stuff when when get here.” Sawmill Program Counselor Ryan Bailey said. “I was in charge of making sure we had all the guns and materials to reload ammunition.” When bags and supplies had been unloaded, drivers took off back to Base, leaving staff to set up their new homes. One of the most important aspects of this was de-haunta-ing, where staffers sprayed diluted bleach onto all flat indoor surfaces to kill hantavirus, a potentially fatal disease spread by mice droppings. Once that initial setup was complete, staffers finally got to share a triumphant moment when they radioed Logistics that they were “10-8 for the summer,” meaning that they were set up and established at their camps. For three days, radios all over Philmont buzzed with this message, heralding the start of a new camping season. In less than two hours, most camps were able to complete the entire process and

begin preparing for the arrival of Scouts. “For me [Scatter] felt like just getting shot out of a cannon,” Indian Writings Program Counselor Andrew Moore said. “We knew what was coming, and it was all just primed and loaded in, and [Backcountry Distribution and Support Manager] Gene Schnell gave the go word and it was just like boom, gone. And now we’re here.” Meanwhile, not far from Indian Writings, the staff of Ponil were making their own preparations for the summer. “Never assume anything’s clean, even after you’ve cleaned it,” said Miriam Jackson, holding a spray bottle and a roll of paper towels in her gloved hands. The rest of the Ponil staff, similarly armed with an array of cleaning supplies, seemed to agree. The porch they were standing on was covered in containers, benches, drawers and artifacts. To ensure everything got cleaned, each item had to be sprayed and wiped down, some items multiple times. Camp Director Jake Trione got everyone to regroup and went over what had to be accomplished before dinner. Again, the staff dispersed, anticipating a clean and organized camp. A small team of the Ponil staffers headed over to the showers to clean them. Quickly and efficiently the team sprayed and wiped down each stall, creating a pile of used paper towels on the porch as the showers began to glisten. Dinner was a welcome break for the hardworking group. Music played in the background in the dining hall and a couple of staffers started to dance. Soon, however, everyone settled down to enjoy their meals. Cleaning was forgotten (at least for a little while) as the group relaxed and chatted about getting ready for their camp programs. After cleaning up from dinner, the group headed up to the nowclean cantina to practice the music for their Cantina Show program. Grayson Wolf, the Assistant Camp Director, lead the session, going over songs and breaking them

down for all involved. The mood was light as the band practiced songs like “Happy Trails” and “The Man on the Flying Trapeze.” Lastly, when the instrumentalists practiced the CanCan, five staffers tried to dance along and the practice ended in laughter. To wrap up the long day, the staff met in the dining hall to go over organizational matters. Trione congratulated everyone on getting a lot done and laid out the plan for the next day. “We’re going to clean out the chuckwagon and our shooting sports cabin, the Bent cabin... Then in the afternoon we’re going to go to all of our trail camps and open those up,” he said. “The day after we can just focus on doing program-related stuff.” The staff seemed tired, but pleased. After the Camp Director and the cooks went over a few more training matters, the group dispersed for the night. Similarly, across the Ranch, many Camp Directors and staff members exchanged final words for the evening. As these 36 or so young leaders made their last arrangements of the night, the rustling of trees swaying in the wind at Beaubien, the rushing river at Fish Camp, the last notes of a strumming guitar at Rich Cabins, and something ever so mysterious at Cypher’s Mine hailed in yet another summer at Philmont Scout Ranch - a summer sure to be filled with excitement and anticipation, closely mirroring the mood of Scatter.

Distribution and Supply Manager Gene Schnell from St. Charles, MO, assists Phillips Junction Camp Director Quintin Jennings from Albuquerque, NM, on final checks before scatter on June 6, 2017, at the Welcome Center. Evan Mattingly/PhilNews

Ruel Holt, tent repair, finishes tying down mattresses in the back of a truck at the merchandise warehouse, June 6th, 2017 as a part of scatter. Andrew Avitt/PhilNews

Left: June 6, 2017Program Counselor Collin Ford (a.k.a. ‘Doc’) assesses the mountain of gear they will have to backpack down a steep 1.5 mile trail into Black Mountain; the heaviest of which includes: black powder rifles, calvary sabres, and lead shot that will be used for program throughout the summer. Tanner Britton/PhilNews

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Out of Eden walk Chris Sawyer and Mark Schulte Pulitzer Center

Intentionality has always been one of the guiding principles of the Scouting movement. Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard and Lord Baden Powell were intentional in how they laid the foundation for a youth development program that would be rooted in service, leadership and character development. Intentionality is also a word that could be used to describe Waite Phillips’ gift of Philmont Scout Ranch to the BSA. Eight years prior to his gift, Mr. Phillips laid the foundation of his vision to provide a place for Scouts to recreate and experience the mountains of northern New Mexico in a letter to BSA President, Walter Head. Like Seton, Beard, and Powell, Phillips’ intentionality can be viewed through the lens of his journal entries, letters, and other writings. Part of Philmont’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2013 was the introduction of the Passport to Adventure journal. The journal served as a way to intentionally encourage Scouts to document locations visited as they hiked the backcountry and to record their thoughts along the way by writing. Just like Mr. Phillips had done so many years before.

Friday, June16 ,2017 At about the same time, also in 2013, Paul Salopek, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and National Geographic Fellow, traveled to the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia to begin the Out of Eden Walk. As a journalism project, the walk is an exercise in telling the big stories of our day — climate change, mass migrations and other global issues — from the perspective of ordinary people who live along the route. But it is also a clarion call to us back home in the U.S. At a time when digital technology and global connectivity allow us to act, speak and even to think more quickly and with less reflection than ever before, Salopek wants to slow readers down. When we walk, we can perceive a world of connections and meaning that is unobserved by those who speed by in cars or bury their noses in smartphones. He calls this practice “slow journalism,” and he urges us to follow his example. To learn about a once in a lifetime opportunity to walk along with Paul for two days, visit pulitzercenter.org/scouting Since the walk began, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, a nonprofit journalism organization based in Washington, D.C., has supported the walk’s educational mission. Through online curriculum and innovative partnerships, the Pulitzer Center has brought the story and lessons

of the walk to middle, high school and college students across its network of school partners in the U.S. and abroad. For the past two summers, the Pulitzer Center has partnered with Philmont, a place that understands the significance of extended walking. At the opening Philmont campfire, Salopek greets the Scouts in a video he recorded in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He urges each participant to carefully observe the terrain they pass, noting details in their Passport Journals. “The first thing we learn is that slowing down lets you think,” Salopek says. “Every step is a negotiation with the natural world. It’s literally impossible to be bored. Walking makes use of our problemsolving brains in the way that they were intended.” This summer you will have the opportunity to use your problemsolving brains to support the incredibly complex interpersonal, logistical, and situational needs of participants at Philmont Scout Ranch. Enjoy the walk and the new people you meet along the way. As your lives forever change from those interactions, be sure to record your story and plan for being intentional with every footstep that you take forward from this place.




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Left: Sawmill staff member Dylan Anderson carries boxes of ammo to the truck as "Scatter" engulfs Base Camp on June 6, 2017. Dalton Puckett/PhilNews

Below: Sawmill Program Counslers Logan Maurer, Alex Nicklaus and Ryan Bailey unload foamies on June 6 after having arrived at the camp. Sawmill is a shooting and reloading camp rumored to have one of the best sunrise views on the Ranch. On a clear day, you can see for 69 miles. Madelynne Scales/ PhilNews Above: Emma Kruitbosch pins one of the 12 points of the scout law along a string while all of Training Crew 3 try to sing happy birthday as loud as possible. During the challenge, Durant Abernethy, a Ranger Trainer for Training Crew 2 checks to see if the points are in order. Hunter Long/ PhilNews

Above: Expedition 609-T - 4 and 5 from Allen, TX, and Lucas, TX, load their bus outside the Welcome Center to head to Lovers Leap turnaround to begin their twelve day trek through the backcountry on Saturday, June 10, 2017. Evan Mattingly/ PhilNews Above: Philmont Ranger, Matt Franz, from Peoria, IL, runs back to his crew in the middle of Privacy Training during Ranger Rendezvous at Beaubien on Sunday June, 4, 2017. Each Ranger in their training crews have to successfully change their clothes inside the tent and run back as fast as they can. Evan Mattingly/ PhilNewa

Right: Inside Black Mountain’s Staff Cabin on June 6, 2017, Program Counselor Collin Ford “Doc” takes a moment during the chaos of Scatter to admire his new home for the summer. Tanner Britton/ PhilNews

Above: On June 8, as he watches Lucas more sock into one down before heading first Boy Scouts to

2017 Crew Leader Alex Volz (Right) laughs Stirn (Left) adamantly trie to stuff just one of his many plastic bags Durring the shakeout on their trek. The two will be among the enter the backcountry. Tanner Britton/PhilNews

Left: Bennett Whatcott from 610-SO2 “Longhorn Council” in Fort Worth, TX, laughs with his fellow troop as they play cards and wait to meet their Ranger in the Welcome Center on Saturday, June 10, 2017. Evan Mattingly/ PhilNews