This itinerary offers crews one of the first opportunities to hike out of base camp and into the backcountry for their wilderness experience. Make your way to your first trail camp on the edge of Heck Meadow, just below Tooth Ridge. Enjoy the wonderful views in all directions as your Ranger continues your skill training here. Be sure to get up early enough to watch the sunrise, as a New Mexico sunrise is something to behold! Your next stop is at Clarks Fork, where you will learn the ways of the west, ride horses, brand your boots, and enjoy an excellent campfire program that night. Rest up, as your next day brings you the opportunity to summit two peaks, including the iconic Tooth of Time. If you time it right, you can catch the setting sun on Shaefers Peak as you make your way back to your campsite in Shaefers Pass camp after your exciting summits! The next morning you will head down to North Fork Urraca creek and over to Miners Park for the challenging rock climbing and rappelling programs. You'll also resupply here, so load up on food and hit the trail and make your way to Abreu. Learn about this early New Mexican homestead and the family that once lived and worked in this part of the ranch. Youll enjoy a tour of the homestead, learn how to take care of animals, and enjoy a delicious Mexican Dinner on this, your last night on the trail. The next morning you will hike to the the Zastrow Trailhead where you'll load up on the bus to head back to base. What a journey it has been, enjoy the ride! | ||||
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: Heck Meadow; Shaefers Pass; Unique Campsite: Heck Meadow; Abreu; - No photo available for this campsite or this program at this location. Click icon for specific needs. |
Day | Camp | Program Features | Campsite Features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Camping Headquarters | Opening Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
2 | Heck Meadow | Food Pickup @ Camping Headquarters | Trail Camp (Usually dry); (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound) | |
Water @ Camping Headquarters |   | |||
Hike Out from CHQ |   | |||
Ranger Training |   | |||
3 | Clarks Fork | Western Lore / Branding | Showers;   | |
Horse Rides |   | |||
Chuck Wagon Dinner |   | |||
Campfire |   | |||
4 | Shaefers Pass | Water @ Clarks Fork | Trail Camp (Usually dry); (Showers; at Clarks Fork) | |
Climb Tooth of Time |   | |||
Climb Shaefer's Peak |   | |||
5 | Miner's Park | Rock Climbing & Rappelling | Showers;   | |
Climbing Gym |   | |||
Food Pickup |   | |||
Conservation Project @ North Fork Urraca | ||||
6 | Abreu | New Mexican Homestead @ Miner's Park | Showers;  (Showers; at Miner's Park) | |
Cantina @ Miner's Park |   | |||
Cabin Tour @ Miner's Park |   | |||
Mexican Dinner @ Miner's Park |   | |||
7 | Camping Headquarters | Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
Hike to Zastrow Trailhead | ||||
Day | Camp | Potential Additional Program Features | Campsite Features |
---|---|---|---|
2 | Camping Headquarters | Visit the Villa Philmonte | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; |
National Scouting Museum | |||
4 | Clarks Fork | Western Lore / Branding | Showers; |
Cowboy Campfire | |||
Ride out from Cattle Headquarters | |||
Ride over Schaefers Pass | |||
5 | North Fork Urraca | Hike via North Fork Urraca | |
6 | Miner's Park | Rock Climbing & Rappelling | Showers; |
Traverse Wall | |||
Crate Stacking | |||
7 | Camping Headquarters | Visit the Villa Philmonte | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; |
National Scouting Museum | |||
Ride into Cattle Headquarters | |||