This challenging itinerary will take you to some of the South Countrys most scenic camps with excellent mountain top experiences, a plethora of evening campfires, and great program opportunities along the way. You will start your itinerary by hiking out of base camp to spend the night at one of Philmonts newest trail camps, Heck Meadow. Enjoy the beautiful sunrise before hiking for a quick visit with the forester at the Demonstration Forest but move quickly to Cimarroncito so you can get scheduled for rock climbing! Your next day takes you to on a nice hike up to Thunder Ridge. If you like, you can make a stop at Cyphers Mine to try your luck at panning for gold or take a mine tour! The next day, your crew will climb over Comanche Peak on your way to your summit of Mount Phillips. Enjoy the wonderful views on top of Philmont's second highest peak, then hike down and visit the Rocky Mountain Fur Co. at Clear Creek for some tomahawks and muzzle loading rifles. Say hello to the homesteaders at Crooked Creek as you head to the scenic and tranquil Porcupine camp along the banks of Rayado Creek before heading to Beaubien for a layover for the next two days. While at Beaubien, your crew will enjoy seeing what life was like for the cowboys of the old west. Here you can go horseback riding, eat a chuckwagon dinner, and listen to western music at the campfire program in the evening. They have two different shows, catch them both! The next day takes you over Trail Peak at 10,250 ft. above sea level and the site of a B24 plane crash before you hike down to Bear Caves for the evening. Your crew should hike back to Crater Lake that evening for the Continental Tie and Lumber Companys company meeting campfire with the iconic view of Tooth Ridge as the backdrop. Your crew will enjoy the challenge course of Urraca and their evening campfire the following day before hiking on to Tooth Ridge for your last night in the backcountry. After summitting your final challenge, the famous Tooth of Time, your final stop is right in front of you… 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: Heck Meadow; Thunder Ridge; Tooth Ridge; - 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 |   | |||
  | ||||
Ranger Training |   | |||
3 | Cimarroncito | Food Pickup | Showers;   | |
Rock Climbing & Rappelling |   | |||
Visiting Forester @ Demonstration Forest | ||||
4 | Thunder Ridge | Water @ Cyphers Mine | Trail Camp (Always dry); (Showers (wood stoked); at Cyphers Mine) | |
Gold Mining & Panning @ Cyphers Mine |   | |||
Mine Tour @ Cyphers Mine |   | |||
5 | Clear Creek | Climb Comanche Peak |   | |
Climb Mount Phillips |   | |||
Tomahawks |   | |||
Rocky Mountain Fur Company |   | |||
6 | Porcupine | Muzzle Loading Rifles @ Clear Creek | Trail Camp;  | |
Homesteading @ Crooked Creek | ||||
7 | Beaubien | Western Lore / Branding | Showers (wood stoked);   | |
Chuck Wagon Dinner |   | |||
Campfire |   | |||
Food Pickup @ Phillips Junction | Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; | |||
8 | Beaubien | Campfire | Showers (wood stoked);   | |
Conservation Project |   | |||
Horse Rides |   | |||
9 | Bear Caves | Tie making / Crosscut Saws @ Crater Lake | Trail Camp; (Showers; at Crater Lake) | |
Campfire @ Crater Lake |   | |||
10 | Urraca | Challenge Events |   | |
Campfire |   | |||
11 | Tooth Ridge | Water @ Stockade | Trail Camp (Always dry);  | |
Sunrise at Inspiration Point @ Urraca | ||||
12 | Camping Headquarters | Closing Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
Climb Tooth of Time |   | |||
Hike in via Tooth Ridge Trail |   | |||
Day | Camp | Potential Additional Program Features | Campsite Features |
---|---|---|---|
2 | Camping Headquarters | Visit the Villa Philmonte | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; |
National Scouting Museum | |||
Heck Meadow | Hike Out from CHQ | Trail Camp (Usually dry); | |
3 | Cimarroncito | Hike via Hidden Valley / Window Rock | Showers; |
Climbing Gym | |||
Traverse Wall | |||
Demonstration Forest | Obsolete | ||
4 | Cyphers Mine | Blacksmithing | Showers (wood stoked); |
Stomp | |||
6 | Clear Creek | Rocky Mountain Fur Company | |
Climb Mount Phillips | |||
Tomahawks | |||
Crooked Creek | Cabin Tour | ||
Animal Care | |||
7 | Phillips Junction | Fishing Opportunities | Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; |
8 | Beaubien | Western Lore / Branding | Showers (wood stoked); |
Climb Trail Peak | |||
Climb Lookout Peak | |||
Cowboy Campfire | |||
9 | Crater Lake | Continental Tie & Lumber | Showers; |
Hike over Fowler Mesa | |||
spar pole climbing | |||
Logging Skills | |||
11 | Stockade | COPE | |
Urraca | Challenge Events | ||
High Ropes Instruction & Advanced Challenge Scenarios | |||
12 | Camping Headquarters | Visit the Villa Philmonte | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; |
National Scouting Museum | |||
Ride into Cattle Headquarters | |||