2019 Trek 24

Rugged; Approximately 69 miles; Maps required: North, South

This RUGGED trek offers breathtaking views on a grand and intimate scale. Begins with a scenic bus ride through the pyric ecosystem of Cimarron Canyon and subsequent regrowth from the 2018 Ute Park fire. Your first night is with your Ranger, at Maxwell, which is at 8,460ft. Your ascension continues to Head of Dean, where the staff will level-up your team with valuable conflict resolution skills. Let the excitement of the Continental Tie & Lumber Co. spur your crew into an early start towards Pueblano before crossing Wilson Mesa and the meandering waters of Middle Ponil Creek to bed down at the Rich Cabins homestead. Milk the cow, chase the chickens, and enjoy the Rich family gathering at night before setting forth the next morning into the Valle Vidal. Enjoy the Earth’s magnificent geology as you hike along steep cliffs and the flowing stream that created them as you head to Middle Ponil Low Impact Camp for a night of rest. In June, climb Ash Mountain and in July and August, climb Little Costilla or Ash Mountain…or both! (Little Costilla is closed in June for elk calving season.) Continue your trek through Windy Gap to McCrystal Creek Low Impact Camp for an unparalleled view of the Philmont skyline. The next day will give you the opportunity to learn about the history of Ring Place, or ride some outstanding mounting biking trails with the staff at Whiteman Vega. As your crew returns south, they may be called upon to assist the staff assist with search and rescue exercises by Seally Canyon’s incident command post. Make your way to Metcalf Station to drive some spikes and learn about the railroading history of the North Ponil, then on to the archeological site at Indian Writings where you can help decipher the ancient petroglyphs and complete your conservation project. One more breathtaking view will be enjoyed up and over Hart Peak, before you reach the original Base Camp, Ponil. Lasso a tall drink of Root Beer at the local saloon…this cantina gets lively at night and you won’t want to miss the action. Circle the wagons and follow the dinner bell for an authentic chuck wagon supper, then off to the Cantina Show for a raucous evening of music and festivities. The last roundup returns you to the Ponil Trailhead as you hop the bus to the present era and modern amenities found at Base Camp!

Trek Day	Camp	Program Features	Campsite Features
1	Camping Headquarters TB	Opening Campfire	Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;
2	Maxwell	Bus to Express Trailhead	Trail Camp;
		Ranger Training	Trail Camp;
3	Head of Dean	Challenge Events
4	Rich Cabins	Continental Tie & Lumber	Commissary; Low Impact Camp;
		Hike over Wilson Mesa	Commissary; Low Impact Camp;
		Homesteading	Commissary; Low Impact Camp;
		Food Pickup	Commissary; Low Impact Camp;
5	Middle Ponil	Low Impact Camping	Low Impact Camp;
6	Middle Ponil	Side Hike Little Costilla and/or Ash Mountain	Low Impact Camp;
7	McCrystal Creek	Low Impact Camping	Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp;
8	Seally Canyon	Mountain Biking @ Whiteman Vega	Low Impact Camp; (Low Impact Camp; at Whiteman Vega)
		Food Pickup @ Ring Place	Low Impact Camp; (Commissary; Low Impact Camp; at Ring Place)
		Folk Weather Forecasting @ Ring Place	Low Impact Camp;
9	Cook Canyon	Search & Rescue / Wilderness Medicine @ Seally Canyon	Trail Camp; (Low Impact Camp; at Seally Canyon)
10	Indian Writings	Railroading @ Metcalf Station	Showers;
		Blacksmithing @ Metcalf Station	Showers;
		Tour Petroglyphs	Showers;
		Archaeology	Showers;
		atlatl	Showers;
11	Ponil	Conservation @ Indian Writings	Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; (Showers; at Indian Writings)
		Western Lore / Branding	Commissary; Trading Post; Showers;
		Cantina	Commissary; Trading Post; Showers;
		Chuck Wagon Dinner	Commissary; Trading Post; Showers;
		Cantina Show	Commissary; Trading Post; Showers;
12	Camping Headquarters HB	Hike to Ponil Trailhead	Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;
		Awards Campfire	Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;
Warning: Itinerary details provided by PhilSearch are for planning purposes only. Only the current year's "Treks" book and the addendums to it, if any, should be used for final trek selection.

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Program opportunities not included on the official itinerary

This list is not complete and is dependent on the route you take each day.

Visit the Villa Philmonte at Camping Headquarters TB on day 1

National Scouting Museum at Camping Headquarters TB on day 1

Astronomy at Ring Place on day 8

Historic Homestead at Ring Place on day 8

Archaeology at Indian Writings on day 11 Double Dip

Tour Petroglyphs at Indian Writings on day 11 Double Dip

Hike over Hart Peak at Ponil on day 11

Gymkhana at Ponil on day 11

Cavalcade at Ponil on day 11

Cowboy Action Shooting at Ponil on day 11

Visit the Villa Philmonte at Camping Headquarters HB on day 12

National Scouting Museum at Camping Headquarters HB on day 12