Back 2024 Trek 12-4 Forward


Challenging; Approximately 55 miles; Maps required: south


Trek History: New as 5 in 2019; 12-5 in 2020-23; 12-4 in 2024

This challenging itinerary will take you to some of the south country’s most iconic peaks with great program opportunities along the way. Start out at Lovers Leap Trailhead and receive Ranger training during your stay at Lovers Leap that night. Next, hike through Miners Park and participate in rock climbing before hiking up the North Fork Urraca the next day. Enjoy the beautiful hike and be sure to look for the Grizzly Tooth rock formation! Ultimately, you will reach the post-Civil War encampment at Black Mountain and participate in .58-caliber muzzle loading rifle shooting and blacksmithing before heading to Beaubien for a two-night layover. At Beaubien you will learn all about life on the cattle trail, ride horses, eat a hearty chuckwagon dinner, and listen to the sounds of western music at their campfires. Next, you’ll begin your approach towards Mt. Phillips by spending a night at Comanche Creek camp, but not before you stop by and visit the homestead at Crooked Creek. Get your rest, as you will be hitting two peaks of over 11,000 ft. each the next day! Throw some tomahawks with the fur trappers at Clear Creek and then take the new Order of the Arrow trail to summit Mt. Phillips, then you will take a short hike to Comanche Peak before finally bedding down for the night. Sawmill is next on your journey, where you will get to experience reloading ammunition, then firing those rounds through their .30-06 rifles. Make your way to Cyphers Mine to immerse yourself in mining history, take a tour of the Contention Mine, and try your hand at blacksmithing. Be ready after dinner for their evening musical performance: The Stomp. Next, enjoy a hike down Cito Creek to Cimarroncito for your food pickup and some time in the climbing gym or on the rocks. Your journey is not over yet, as you must journey towards your final night on the trail at Shaefers Pass Camp. Get plenty of water at Clarks Fork, as you will need it as you make your ascent to Shaefers Peak and the Tooth of Time. Enjoy the views across the plains to the East, and the beautiful mountains of Philmont to the North and West, reflecting on the journey you have taken and the challenges you have conquered as a crew. Then, make your way across Tooth Ridge and down into your final destination, 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: Comanche Peak; Shaefers Pass;
- 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;  
2Lover's Leap Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersTrail Camp; (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound)


Ranger Training  


Bus to Lovers Leap Trailhead
3Miner's Park Rock Climbing & Rappelling Showers;  


Food Pickup  
4Beaubien Muzzle Loading Rifles @ Black MountainShowers (wood stoked);  


Blacksmithing @ Black Mountain 
5Beaubien Campfire Showers (wood stoked);  


Chuck Wagon Dinner  


Western Lore / Branding  


Horse Rides  
6Comanche Creek Homesteading @ Crooked CreekTrail Camp; 


Cabin Tour @ Crooked Creek 


Food Pickup @ Phillips JunctionCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
7Comanche Peak Rocky Mountain Fur Company @ Clear CreekTrail Camp (Usually dry); 


Water @ Clear Creek 


Tomahawks @ Clear Creek 


Climb Mount Phillips  
8Sawmill Conservation Project Showers (wood stoked);  


30-06 Shooting/Reloading  


Food Pickup  
9Cyphers Mine Mine Tour Showers (wood stoked);  


Campfire  


Gold Mining & Panning  
10Cimarroncito Rock Climbing & Rappelling Showers;  


Blacksmithing @ Cyphers MineShowers (wood stoked);
11Shaefers Pass Visiting Forester @ Demonstration ForestTrail Camp (Usually dry); 
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
3Miner's ParkTraverse WallShowers;
Crate Stacking
4Black MountainPost Civil War Settlers
Hike via North Fork Urraca
5BeaubienClimb Trail PeakShowers (wood stoked);
Climb Lookout Peak
Cowboy Campfire
6Crooked CreekAnimal Care
Phillips JunctionFishing OpportunitiesCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
7Clear CreekMuzzle Loading Rifles
Climb Mount Phillips
Comanche PeakSunrise East of Comanche Peak CampTrail Camp (Usually dry);
8SawmillUte Park Pass Hike PrepShowers (wood stoked);
Hike through 2018 Ute Park Fire Zone
10CimarroncitoHike via Hidden Valley / Window RockShowers;
Climbing Gym
Traverse Wall
Cyphers MineGold Mining & PanningShowers (wood stoked);
Stomp
Mine Tour
11Demonstration 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.