| 2019 description: 'This RUGGED trek offers breathtaking views on a grand and intimate scale. Begins with a scenic bus ride through the pyric ecosystem of Cimarron Canyon and subsequent regrowth from the 2018 Ute Park fire. Your first night is with your Ranger, at Maxwell, which is at 8,460ft. Your ascension continues to Head of Dean, where the staff will level-up your team with valuable conflict resolution skills. Let the excitement of the Continental Tie & Lumber Co. spur your crew into an early start towards Pueblano before crossing Wilson Mesa and the meandering waters of Middle Ponil Creek to bed down at the Rich Cabins homestead. Milk the cow, chase the chickens, and enjoy the Rich family gathering at night before setting forth the next morning into the Valle Vidal. Enjoy the Earth’s magnificent geology as you hike along steep cliffs and the flowing stream that created them as you head to Middle Ponil Low Impact Camp for a night of rest. In June, climb Ash Mountain and in July and August, climb Little Costilla or Ash Mountain…or both! (Little Costilla is closed in June for elk calving season.) Continue your trek through Windy Gap to McCrystal Creek Low Impact Camp for an unparalleled view of the Philmont skyline. The next day will give you the opportunity to learn about the history of Ring Place, or ride some outstanding mounting biking trails with the staff at Whiteman Vega. As your crew returns south, they may be called upon to assist the staff assist with search and rescue exercises by Seally Canyon’s incident command post. Make your way to Metcalf Station to drive some spikes and learn about the railroading history of the North Ponil, then on to the archeological site at Indian Writings where you can help decipher the ancient petroglyphs and complete your conservation project. One more breathtaking view will be enjoyed up and over Hart Peak, before you reach the original Base Camp, Ponil. Lasso a tall drink of Root Beer at the local saloon…this cantina gets lively at night and you won’t want to miss the action. Circle the wagons and follow the dinner bell for an authentic chuck wagon supper, then off to the Cantina Show for a raucous evening of music and festivities. The last roundup returns you to the Ponil Trailhead as you hop the bus to the present era and modern amenities found at Base Camp!' |
| 2018 description: 'If your crew is interested in a MOUNTAINTOP experience, this trek will enable you to climb 11,230 ft. Ash Mountain South or 12,584 ft. Little Costilla Peak in the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest. They are two of New Mexico's finest peaks! Start your experience by touring the historic Chase Ranch and spend the first night at Dean Heck Camp. Continue to Dean Cow for rock climbing and rappelling. Next, challenge events at Head of Dean will bring your crew together. The Continental Tie & Lumber Company at Pueblano is a treat before your hike over beautiful Wilson Mesa to Rich Cabins, where you will learn to homestead and be entertained by the musically talented Rich family. Hike north to the Middle Ponil Low Impact Camp where you will prepare for the biggest challenge of the trek. In June, climb Ash Mountain South, as Little Costilla is closed to the public for elk calving season. In July and August, climb Little Costilla or Ash Mountain… or both! Continue your trek to Windy Gap and safely navigate your way to the McCrystal Creek Low Impact Camp for an unparalleled view of the Philmont skyline. Hike east to Whiteman Vega where your crew will ride some of the finest mountain biking trails in New Mexico. Stop by Ring Place and camp at Seally for the night. Help the staff at Seally Canyon with an important search and rescue mission and head down to Cook Canyon the next day. Lend a hand at the forge or hammer some spikes on the railroad at Metcalf Station, and continue on to Indian Writings for a look even further back in time, to when the Ancestral Puebloan people lived in this canyon. Work with the Conservation Department on a trail project and be sure to stop by the world’s first confirmed T-Rex track… it’s right here in the North Ponil Canyon! Next stop…Base Camp!' |
| Day | 2019 Trek 24 Campsite | 2018 Trek 21 Campsite | Program Differences |
| 1 | Camping Headquarters TB | ||
| 2 | Maxwell | Dean Heck | Low Impact Camping not included in 2019 trek 24 Tour Historic Chase Ranch not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 3 | Head of Dean | Dean Cow | Challenge Events included in 2019 trek 24 Rock Climbing & Rappelling not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 4 | Rich Cabins | Head of Dean | Continental Tie & Lumber included in 2019 trek 24 Homesteading included in 2019 trek 24 Food Pickup included in 2019 trek 24 Hike over Wilson Mesa included in 2019 trek 24 Challenge Events not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 5 | Middle Ponil | Rich Cabins | Low Impact Camping included in 2019 trek 24 Continental Tie & Lumber not included in 2019 trek 24 Homesteading not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 6 | Middle Ponil | Side Hike Little Costilla and/or Ash Mountain included in 2019 trek 24 Low Impact Camping not included in 2019 trek 24 | |
| 7 | McCrystal Creek | Middle Ponil | Low Impact Camping included in 2019 trek 24 Side Hike Little Costilla and/or Ash Mountain not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 8 | Seally Canyon | McCrystal Creek | Folk Weather Forecasting included in 2019 trek 24 Mountain Biking included in 2019 trek 24 Food Pickup included in 2019 trek 24 Low Impact Camping not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 9 | Cook Canyon | Seally Canyon | Search & Rescue / Wilderness Medicine included in 2019 trek 24 Folk Weather Forecasting not included in 2019 trek 24 Mountain Biking not included in 2019 trek 24 Food Pickup not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 10 | Indian Writings | Cook Canyon | Blacksmithing included in 2019 trek 24 Archaeology included in 2019 trek 24 Petroglyphs Tour included in 2019 trek 24 Railroading included in 2019 trek 24 Atl Atl Darts included in 2019 trek 24 Search & Rescue / Wilderness Medicine not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 11 | Ponil | Indian Writings | Cantina included in 2019 trek 24 Chuck Wagon Dinner included in 2019 trek 24 Western Lore / Branding included in 2019 trek 24 Cantina Show included in 2019 trek 24 Conservation Project included in 2019 trek 24 Blacksmithing not included in 2019 trek 24 Archaeology not included in 2019 trek 24 Petroglyphs Tour not included in 2019 trek 24 Railroading not included in 2019 trek 24 Atl Atl Darts not included in 2019 trek 24 |
| 12 | Camping Headquarters HB | Conservation Project not included in 2019 trek 24 |