Back 2024 Trek 12-8 Forward


Challenging; Approximately 59 miles; Maps required: south


Trek History: New as 12-4 in 2020; 12-4 in 2021-23; 12-8 in 2024

This challenging itinerary will take you to some of the South Country’s 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 Philmont’s 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 Company’s 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.

DayCampProgram FeaturesCampsite Features
1Camping Headquarters Opening Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  
2Heck Meadow Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersTrail Camp (Usually dry); (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound)


Water @ Camping Headquarters 


 


Ranger Training  
3Cimarroncito Food Pickup Showers;  


Rock Climbing & Rappelling  


Visiting Forester @ Demonstration Forest
4Thunder Ridge Water @ Cyphers MineTrail Camp (Always dry); (Showers (wood stoked); at Cyphers Mine)


Gold Mining & Panning @ Cyphers Mine 


Mine Tour @ Cyphers Mine 
5Clear Creek Climb Comanche Peak  


Climb Mount Phillips  


Tomahawks  


Rocky Mountain Fur Company  
6Porcupine Muzzle Loading Rifles @ Clear CreekTrail Camp; 


Homesteading @ Crooked Creek
7Beaubien Western Lore / Branding Showers (wood stoked);  


Chuck Wagon Dinner  


Campfire  


Food Pickup @ Phillips JunctionCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
8Beaubien Campfire Showers (wood stoked);  


Conservation Project  


Horse Rides  
9Bear Caves Tie making / Crosscut Saws @ Crater LakeTrail Camp; (Showers; at Crater Lake)


Campfire @ Crater Lake 
10Urraca Challenge Events  


Campfire  
11Tooth Ridge Water @ StockadeTrail Camp (Always dry); 


Sunrise at Inspiration Point @ Urraca
12Camping Headquarters Closing Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  


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
Heck MeadowHike Out from CHQTrail Camp (Usually dry);
3CimarroncitoHike via Hidden Valley / Window RockShowers;
Climbing Gym
Traverse Wall
Demonstration ForestObsolete
4Cyphers MineBlacksmithingShowers (wood stoked);
Stomp
6Clear CreekRocky Mountain Fur Company
Climb Mount Phillips
Tomahawks
Crooked CreekCabin Tour
Animal Care
7Phillips JunctionFishing OpportunitiesCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
8BeaubienWestern Lore / BrandingShowers (wood stoked);
Climb Trail Peak
Climb Lookout Peak
Cowboy Campfire
9Crater LakeContinental Tie & LumberShowers;
Hike over Fowler Mesa
spar pole climbing
Logging Skills
11StockadeCOPE
UrracaChallenge Events
High Ropes Instruction & Advanced Challenge Scenarios
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.