2019 Trek 24 
2019 Trek 24 | 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; | |||
- No photo available for this campsite or this program at this location. Click icon for specific needs.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 |
| Seton Memorial Library and Philmont 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 |
| Seton Memorial Library and Philmont Museum at Camping Headquarters HB on day 12 |