| 2023 description: '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
Shaeffers Peak as you make your way back to your campsite after your exciting summits! The next morning you will head
down to North Fork Urraca creek and over to Miners Park for the ever exciting 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. You’ll 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. Head to Rayado on your way
to the trailhead and learn about the Santa Fe Trail, try some blacksmithing and tomahawk throwing while you are at it! Then,
load up on the bus and head back to base. What a journey it has been, enjoy the ride!' |
| 2022 description: 'If you are looking for an itinerary that takes you “climbing”, this is the one for your crew! Climb on the bus at Base Camp for your journey to the new Webster Trailhead. You’ll make your way up a gentle upward slope to your first camp, Ponderosa Park. Your Ranger will teach you the ways of camping at Philmont, which will certainly help you through the rest of your experience. Your first big climb is up through Shaefers Pass and to the top of Shaefers Peak, then move on over the ridge to climb your way to the top of the Tooth of Time. The views of the plains to the East will let you see for miles…turn to the North and see Baldy…turn to the West to see Black Mountain…and turn to the South to see Urraca Mesa. It’s 360 degrees of awesome! Carefully climb down from the Tooth and make your way to Stockade Ridge, and then look back up at the Tooth as you near the camp. Pretty impressive! Rest for the night before making your way to Miners Park where you will do some rock climbing and rappelling on natural rock formations, the climbing gym, or maybe even the climbing wall. You will certainly get your fill! Next, take the short hike up to Crater Lake, on your way to Aguila. Here, the loggers of the Continental Tie & Lumber Co. will teach you how to climb a spar pole! Once at Aguila, set up camp for the night and enjoy the views to the West. Be ready for the sunrise, it is amazing as it breaks the horizon at the edge of the plains. From here, head down to the New Mexican Homestead at Abreu. Take a tour of their home, feed the goats and chickens, and enjoy a mug of cold root beer and share tales from your trek with other crews. Your last day on the trail will take you through Zastrow where you will try their geocaching and land navigation activities. Your final hike to the trailhead requires a short climb up and out of the Rayado River basin so you can climb back on the bus and head back to Base Camp!' |
| Day | 2023 Trek 712 Campsite | 2022 Trek 702 Campsite | Program Differences |
| 1 | CHQ Trailbound | ||
| 2 | Heck Meadow | ||
| 3 | Clarks Fork | ||
| 4 | Shaefers Pass | Water included in 2023 trek 712 | |
| 5 | Miner's Park | Conservation Project included in 2023 trek 712 Traverse Wall not included in 2023 trek 712 | |
| 6 | Abreu | Conservation Project not included in 2023 trek 712 | |
| 7 | CHQ Homebound | Blacksmithing included in 2023 trek 712 Kit Carson Museum included in 2023 trek 712 Tomahawks included in 2023 trek 712 Land Navigation / GPS Technology not included in 2023 trek 712 |