This great trek will enable your crew to enjoy great program experiences, hike through gorgeous canyons, and climb the rugged Baldy Mountain! Begin your trek on Ted Turner's Vermejo Park Ranch and spend the night where few crews have the opportunity to camp at Campos Heck Camp. You will then be able to rock climb and rappel at Dean Cow before hiking to New Dean for the night. Continue up Dean Canyon to Head of Dean where your crew will have to work together to make it through the challenge course. From there, your crew will have the opportunity to work with Philmont's Conservation Department on a new trail construction project near Baldy Skyline. If you are lucky, the far east campsite at the bottom of Ewells Park will be available so you can preview your Baldy Mountain ascent and watch the sunset while eating dinner. Side hike Baldy Mountain and visit historic Baldy Town before returning to beautiful Ewells. From there, it will be all downhill, unless you decide to take the challenge and hike over Wilson Mesa to Ponil. Once at Ponil, test your roping skills, learn to brand, cook a chuckwagon dinner, and enjoy the cantina show before turning in for the night. Eat a cowboy breakfast before hiking to the Ponil Turnaround. Next stop… Base Camp! |
Trek Day | Camp | Program Features | Campsite Features | |
1 | Camping Headquarters TB | Opening Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
2 | Anasazi | ![]() | Trail Camp;  | |
Tyrannosaurus Rex Track | Trail Camp;  | |||
Ranger Training | Trail Camp;  | |||
3 | Metcalf Station![]() | Tour Petroglyphs @ Indian Writings |  (Showers; at Indian Writings) | |
Conservation @ Indian Writings![]() |   | |||
Railroading |   | |||
Blacksmithing ![]() |   | |||
Evening Campfire ![]() |   | |||
4 | Seally Canyon![]() | Search & Rescue / Wilderness Medicine ![]() | Low Impact Camp;   | |
5 | Beatty Lakes![]() | Folk Weather Forecasting @ Ring Place | Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp; (Commissary; Low Impact Camp; at Ring Place) | |
Low Impact Camping ![]() | Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp;  | |||
Food Pickup @ Ring Place![]() | Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp;  | |||
6 | Horse Canyon![]() | Challenge Events @ Dan Beard | Trail Camp; (Low Impact Camp; at Dan Beard) | |
Water @ Horse Canyon catchment![]() | Trail Camp;  | |||
7 | Camping Headquarters HB | Western Lore / Branding @ Ponil | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  (Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; at Ponil) | |
Hike to Ponil Trailhead | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |||
Awards Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |||
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 |
Archaeology at Indian Writings on day 3 |
Astronomy at Ring Place on day 5 |
Historic Homestead at Ring Place on day 5 |
Cantina at Ponil on day 7 |
Hike over Hart Peak at Ponil on day 7 |
Gymkhana at Ponil on day 7 |
Cavalcade at Ponil on day 7 |
Cowboy Action Shooting at Ponil on day 7 |
Visit the Villa Philmonte at Camping Headquarters HB on day 7 |
Seton Memorial Library and Philmont Museum at Camping Headquarters HB on day 7 |