Back 2024 Trek 12-24 Forward


Strenuous; Approximately 70 miles; Maps required: south


Trek History: New as 12-24 in 2024;

This action-packed itinerary will take you through some of the South Country’s most challenging terrain with great mountain top views along the way. Start out your trek by hiking out of Base Camp to begin your training at Magpie trail camp, then off to Urraca Mesa to work with the highly trained staff and their challenge course. Listen to ghost stories, music and more during their evening campfire. Stop for a visit with the Abreu family and see their homestead on the Rayado. Enjoy a nice cold root beer in the cantina and get your photo opportunity with the burros and chickens! The following day takes you through Crater Lake to learn about the Continental Tie and Lumber Co., and then on to Miners Park for their adrenaline pumping rock climbing program. Enjoy a spectacular hike on the North Fork Urraca trail up to Black Mountain, shoot their .58-caliber muzzle loading rifles, and test your metal working skills in the forge. Stop for some Western Lore and Branding at Beaubien on your way to Bear Creek trail camp. You will make a loop to Apache Springs to learn about the Jicarilla Apache, and then on to the homesteaders at Crooked Creek. Help them care for the animals, the garden, and tour their wonderful old cabin and see how the pioneers lived in the 1800’s. Rest up at Wild Horse that night, as the next day takes you through Clear Creek for a visit to the Rocky Mountain Fur Co., then it is up and over Philmont's second highest peak Mt. Phillips, and then on to Divide. Hike on to Cyphers Mine the next day for a tour of the Contention Mine, pan for gold, and see the iconic campfire program: The Stomp. The next day you will hike down to Waite Phillips' Hunting Lodge before making your way to Clarks Fork. Enjoy the hospitality of the cowboys at Clarks Fork and get in on an afternoon horse ride. That night you can fill up on the chuckwagon dinner and kick back to the setting sun and the tunes from their campfire program. Be sure to fill up your water before hitting the trail the next day! One final obstacle stands between you and Base Camp on your last day… the iconic Tooth of Time

Per the Guidebook to Itineraries: "Due to potential emergencies, such as catastrophic fires, Crews must not deviate from their assigned itinerary. Changes are only permitted for bona fide medical emergencies and must be approved in advance by the Logistics Department."

Dry Camps: Magpie; Aguila; Divide; Unique Campsite: Aguila; Vaca;
- No photo available for this campsite or this program at this location. Click icon for specific needs.

DayCampProgram FeaturesCampsite Features
1Camping Headquarters Opening Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  
2Magpie Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersTrail Camp (Usually dry); (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound)


Hike Out from CHQ  


Ranger Training  
3Urraca Challenge Events  


Campfire  
4Aguila Sunrise at Inspiration Point @ UrracaTrail Camp (Usually dry); 


Cantina @ AbreuShowers;


New Mexican Homestead @ Abreu 
5Miner's Park Tie making / Crosscut Saws @ Crater LakeShowers;  (Showers; at Crater Lake)


Food Pickup  


Rock Climbing & Rappelling  
6Black Mountain Post Civil War Settlers  


Blacksmithing  


Muzzle Loading Rifles  


Conservation Project @ North Fork Urraca
7Bear Creek Western Lore / Branding @ BeaubienTrail Camp; (Showers (wood stoked); at Beaubien)
8Wild Horse Food Pickup @ Apache SpringsTrail Camp; (Commissary; at Apache Springs)


Jicarilla Apache Life @ Apache Springs 


Homesteading @ Crooked Creek
9Divide Rocky Mountain Fur Company @ Clear CreekTrail Camp (Usually dry); 


Tomahawks @ Clear Creek 


Climb Mount Phillips via OA Trail @ Clear Creek 
9Vaca Water @ Red HillsTrail Camp; (Trail Camp; at Red Hills)
10Cyphers Mine Blacksmithing Showers (wood stoked);  


Campfire  


Mine Tour  


Gold Mining & Panning  
11Clarks Fork Western Lore / Branding Showers;  


Horse Rides  


Chuck Wagon Dinner  


Campfire  


Visiting Forester @ Demonstration Forest
12Camping Headquarters Closing Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  


Climb Shaefer's Peak  


Climb Tooth of Time  


Hike in via Tooth Ridge Trail  
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.

Crews passing through staff camps are not scheduled for program. If time and space allow, some crews may be able to participate in some of the programs offered.

DayCampPotential Additional Program FeaturesCampsite Features
2Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
4UrracaChallenge Events
High Ropes Instruction & Advanced Challenge Scenarios
AbreuHomesteadingShowers;
Ride out from Cattle Headquarters
5Crater LakeContinental Tie & LumberShowers;
Hike over Fowler Mesa
spar pole climbing
Logging Skills
Miner's ParkTraverse WallShowers;
Crate Stacking
6Black MountainHike via North Fork Urraca
North Fork UrracaHike via North Fork Urraca
7BeaubienClimb Trail PeakShowers (wood stoked);
Climb Lookout Peak
Cowboy Campfire
8Apache Springs3D ArcheryCommissary;
Sweat Lodge
Corn Grinding
Sporting Arrows
Tipi Tour
Flintknapping
Crooked CreekCabin Tour
Animal Care
9Clear CreekMuzzle Loading Rifles
Climb Mount Phillips
10Cyphers MineStompShowers (wood stoked);
11Clarks ForkCowboy CampfireShowers;
Ride out from Cattle Headquarters
Ride over Schaefers Pass
Demonstration ForestObsolete
12Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
Ride into Cattle Headquarters
This list is not complete and is dependent on the route you take each day.