Back 2024 Trek 12-30 Forward

Plan A Only Plans A-D



Super Strenuous; Approximately 84 miles; Maps required: north


Trek History: New as 12-34 in 2020; 12-34 in 2021-23; 12-30 in 2024

This MOUNTAINTOP trek will give your crew an opportunity to climb 12,441 ft. Baldy Mountain and venture into the Valle Vidal unit of the Carson National Forest! Begin by hiking to Bluestem camp for your Ranger Training before heading off to Pueblano the next morning. Climb spar poles and enjoy the Company Meeting Campfire with the loggers of the Continental Tie & Lumber Company. On the hike to Baldy Town to pick up food, spend some time in French Henry to mine for gold, blacksmith, and explore the Aztec Mine, and then ultimately camp at Azurite for the night. Wake up early and hike to the ridge above Copper Park, where you will hang bear bags and day hike rugged Baldy Mountain before camping at Greenwood Canyon. Enjoy waking up in the cool canyon and then make your way into the Valle Vidal! Enjoy the spectacular views of the Carson National Forest and camp near Little Costilla Peak. In June the mountain is closed due to elk calving season, so you will hike on to Ring Place to enjoy multiple rides in their Mountain Biking program. However, if you are here in July you will layover for your climb of Little Costilla Peak. Ring Place is your next destination, where you will get to enjoy their bikes in the day and their Astronomy program in some of the darkest night skies in the country! The next day, make your way to Dan Beard for some team building challenge events and learn skills to help your crew work together as a team. Wake up early and head east until you hear the pinging of mauls driving rail spikes echo off the canyon walls at Metcalf Station. Once you are done building a railroad, head off to Indian Writings where you can check out the Ancestral Puebloan petroglyphs from 1300 CE before bedding down at Coyote Howl Camp for the night. Your last night on the trail brings you to Chase Cow so you can enjoy their rock-climbing and bouldering programs, and maybe play a little “Cow Ball”, too! Once you make it to the trailhead, be sure to take a tour of the historic Chase Ranch House, it is full of amazing artifacts and history! Next stop… Base Camp``

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: Bluestem; Azurite; Unique Campsite: Little Costilla;
- No photo available for this campsite or this program at this location. Click icon for specific needs.

Day/PlanCampProgram FeaturesCampsite Features
1 Camping Headquarters Opening Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  
2 Bluestem Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersTrail Camp (Always dry); (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound)


Bus to Ponil Trailhead


Ranger Training  


Water @ Ponil Creek
3 Pueblano Continental Tie & Lumber  


spar pole climbing  


Campfire  
4 Azurite Food Pickup @ Baldy TownTrail Camp (Usually dry); (Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; at Baldy Town)


Mining History @ Baldy Town 


Assaying @ Baldy Town 


Mine Tour @ French Henry


Gold Mining & Panning @ French Henry 


Blacksmithing @ French Henry 
5 Greenwood Canyon Climb Baldy Mountain Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp; 


Low Impact Camping  


Leave No Trace Training  
6 Little Costilla Leave No Trace Training Low Impact Camp;  


Water @ Middle Ponil Creek
7 Little Costilla Leave No Trace Training Low Impact Camp;  


Side Hike Little Costilla and/or Ash Mountain  
8 Ring Place Mountain Biking Commissary; Low Impact Camp;  


Astronomy  


Food Pickup  
9 Dan Beard Challenge Events Low Impact Camp;  
10 Coyote Howl Petroglyphs Tour @ Indian WritingsTrail Camp; (Showers; at Indian Writings)


Water @ Indian Writings 


Railroading @ Metcalf Station


Blacksmithing @ Metcalf Station 
11 Chase Cow Rock Climbing & Rappelling  


Bouldering  
12 Camping Headquarters Closing Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  


Hike to Chase Trailhead


Tour Historic Chase Ranch @ Chase Ranch
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
BluestemHike Dean SkylineTrail Camp (Always dry);
3PueblanoTie making / Crosscut Saws
4Baldy TownClimb Baldy MountainCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
Tour Historic Baldy Town
7Little CostillaSide Hike Ash MountainLow Impact Camp;
8Ring PlaceFolk Weather ForecastingCommissary; Low Impact Camp;
Historic Homestead
Side Hike to McCrystal Creek Ruins
9Dan BeardLeave No Trace TrainingLow Impact Camp;
10Indian WritingsArchaeologyShowers;
Atl Atl Darts
Metcalf StationMorse Code
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.