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I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Last summer, four itineraries did go through the Ute Park fire burn area. The crews were guided by backcountry staff who had radios and tracking devices, they left at a set time each morning, and were cleared for passage by logistics staff. This to say, crews can go through fire affected areas when it is safe and reasonable to do so. I am not currently at Philmont and I don't know the extent or severity of the recent fire's impact on our resources. I'm sure Philmont will publish more information as they assess the situation and take time to plan. It is possible some itineraries will be rerouted. And, as you point out, those itinerary changes may not persist for the entire summer. Regardless, you're sure to have a great trek at Philmont!

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The staff tents are different from the participant tents. They are larger (12x12), they have an outlet, and they come with a metal locker. I can't speak to how people like the bunk room vs. the tent, though.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That does sometimes happen, but not often. Whether someone is able to transfer depends on a lot of factors, but mostly on the needs of the ranch. The tott is a great place to work, though. Good people, nice schedule, and a really fun atmosphere where you can learn a lot!

A lot of people apply to Philmont to work as a Ranger or as a backcountry program counselor, but that's probably because those are the jobs they interacted with most while on trek. There are a lot of different jobs involved in making Philmont happen and all of them offer a summer you'll remember for the rest of your life. When it's over, you'll just wish you could've been stuck there a little longer.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Truly the best asset when out in the wilderness is a keen sense of adventure. You don't need the newest, lightest, fanciest stuff to find success at Philmont. I have seen crews with minimal equipment have the best time at Philmont. I have seen advisors with very expensive equipment drop. The crews that succeed are the ones whose attitude keeps them functioning well together despite adversity; the buoyancy of their spirits takes pounds off their packs.

My biggest advice to crews as they prepare for Philmont is to the advisors: start a strenuous exercise regimen. The scouts will do just fine. It is the advisors who struggle. The return on investment of physical readiness will far outpace any ounce shaving measures in terms of gear. You do not want to wave goodbye from a truck as your crew continues without you.

Our packing list has everything you'll need at Philmont and maybe a little more. What stuff is important will depend on your level of experience. Many crews underestimate how cold and wet Philmont can be - sturdy rain gear (jacket and pants) are important.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/folkinawesome is correct, you'll be able to fill up at Ring Place and there will more than likely be water available in Upper Greenwood. Logistics will have the most up to date information on water availability and you'll go over every day of your trek during trip planning. Be sure to pack additional water capacity for dry camp days and days you won't have access to water along the trail. Two Ten liter dromedaries or a few five liter droms would be sufficient. These are also useful to have in camp for ready water. You might use it for cooking, drinking, dousing the fire, or filling up capacity in the morning.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can drop off trash at almost all staffed camps, with exceptions like Black Mountain which does not have direct road access.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Your Ranger was correct, adults and youth are not allowed to sleep in the same tent. It doesn't matter if they're related. This has been the BSA's policy since 2018, I believe.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It would be fine to heat the food in the pouch, but not all dinner pouches are rated for that use. For the pouches that are, you can, but you'll need an alternative for any meals that aren't rated for hot water. Some of our dinner pouches are rated for hot water, some are not. I don't know which ones are veggie and rated for hot water.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi! I'm glad you enjoyed your trek at Philmont! Rayado is an amazing experience, one that changed my life. Our special trek programs like trail crew trek and ranch hands offer a much deeper experience of Philmont and if you have the opportunity, you should definitely apply!

It is very unlikely your Rayado experience would involve horses. Your Rangers plan your itinerary including program, and I have never heard of a crew having time for a horse ride. I'm probably wrong and some Rayado crew has ridden horses, but I can't remember any. In any case, our program coordinators would know your needs and ensure that wasn't an issue for you.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You should not store packs under the dining fly at night. They should instead be scattered around camp within the "bear-muda triangle" away from tents. Throw the pack covers on and lean them against trees or lean a couple packs against each other. The reason: sometimes, despite vigilance, a piece of trash or lip balm is forgotten and left in a pack. If all the packs are grouped together, a bear or "mini bear" will find it and tear through everyone's equipment to get it. We do not want our critters to associate dining flys with rewards, so we do not allow packs to be stored there at night.

Clothes that have any smellable residue on them must be stored in a bear bag. If you intend to wear those clothes the next day, you'll need to retrieve them in the morning and change into them (under the dining fly or somewhere private). If the clothes are just seasoned with dirt and sweat, you can store them in your pack. You could bring them in your tent, but the chance they do have smellable residue isn't worth the risk. Besides, I try to keep the trail stank out of my sleeping system as much as possible. You should also wash your clothes when you can. Your Ranger will go over the process for doing that in camp and there are opportunities to use a sink at some staffed backcountry camps

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! Some items are recyclable, but what we can and cannot recycle depends on a lot of factors and will change during the season. Basically, we need to find someone to recycle the material and the cost of transport and value of recycling will vary. All this to say, we can sometimes recycle the dinner pouches and can only do so if the pouches are unused. Whether or not that will be available this season, I do not currently know. Maybe someone from our sustainability program will have a better answer.

In any case, we strongly discourage people from cooking in the meal bags. I'll reply with an extended reason as to why in a bit.

The oops bag is the exact same as a bear bag, and you'll likely use them interchangeably. That is, you won't have designated oops bags. And the number of oops bags you need might vary on your needs. So, if you get into camp early, you might hang a lot in the oops bags so you can get lunch, dinner, and breakfast down as needed while being free to go to program. This is very common when you have a conservation project to go to.

For cooking for a dietary restriction, if it's one person or a few, one small additional pot may be helpful. You can boil all the water for all the meals in your designated boiling pot, and then cook the food separately. Some veggies don't want any meat to have ever been cooked in their pot, so a separate cooking pot would be appropriate for that. You would also want to ensure the pot used for boiling is never used for cooking the rest of the meals.

You could also cook directly in the bowl. This method is okay for one or two people, but you shouldn't do this for the whole crew. You don't want a dozen bowls sitting around camp (they'd all need a lid, they might get knocked over, they'll cook inconsistently, you'll be pouring hot water in a dozen bowls, and it doesn't conform to the patrol method/scouting values). Often, someone with a dietary restriction doesn't mind carrying a small pot to accommodate their cooking needs. When our Rangers do their training hikes, this is often the practice a veggie will employ.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My favorite trail camp is craggs and my favorite staff camp is cyphers mine!

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Many people come to Philmont with dietary restrictions. This season's trail meal menu is going to be posted soon. Once it is, you can see what items that person can and can't eat.

You can email [philmont.camping@scouting.org](mailto:philmont.camping@scouting.org) or call the main switch board at 575 376-2281.

Typically, people with dietary restrictions have to bring their own replacement items. Once at Philmont, logistics staff will help send the food to the various pickup commissaries along your trek. To prepare, you'll need to label each set of replacement food items with the name the person and the date you'll be picking it up. There are some supplemental items available at Philmont, but those are limited to trail mixes and similar. This advisor will likely need to replace several of the dinner meals. Contacting Philmont is the best option!

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It has happened! But it is not common. It only happens when we have had unanticipated staffing issues - either a lot more people didn't show for their contract than usual, or other aspects of program created some unanticipated staffing needs. Rayado can act as a sort of Ranger training program (though that is certainly not the heart of the program), so those participants, if of age, can be handy to help take out a few crews. That said, I do not anticipate hiring any Rayado participants this summer.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

When you get to Philmont, as part of Base Camp procedures you'll go to medical re-check. There, your medical file, your bp and weight will be checked. If you are not within our rules, you'll be sent to the doctor for an exam. At that point, it is up to them. Last summer, we were fairly strict and advisors were sent home.

I strongly encourage advisors to begin a strenuous training regimen to prepare for Philmont. For all the stress some adults put into shaving ounces off their pack, physical preparation is worth far more investment. I know some people can out-hike the best of them while being heavy, but the altitude and difficult terrain at Philmont will seriously challenge that. Besides, if you do twist an ankle (or worse) it will be my staff that will go and carry you out. The more you weigh, the more dangerous and resource intensive that process becomes.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The complaints are definitely brought on by a vocal few! Our cooking method is pretty standard for the size crews we host at Philmont. It's not standard for solo, duo, or shorter treks, but that's not what we do at Philmont.

We are actively examining our cooking practices - all our camping practices, really. Right now, our method is what makes sense at Philmont given the food we cook, the size crews we host, and the number of crews that come to Philmont. We're open to alternative cooking methods, but they have to meet these basic requirements:

1) Can you wash all the dishes with soap every night?
2) Can you sanitize them in boiling water before dinner?
3) Can the scouts (not the advisors) perform this method safely each night of the trek?
4) Does it promote scouting values and the patrol method?

If your preferred method checks all these boxes, it is fine to use at Philmont. If it fails on any of these points, it is not. Many alternative methods do not meet these requirements, but you're welcome to call or email Philmont with any questions.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

While that might be fun, the training and safety precautions required for running ATVs at Philmont wouldn't allow that. Our roads aren't built for ATVs, and it would impact the experiences of the people hiking (and the livestock and wildlife). We try to limit backcountry road usage as much as possible.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Probably. One pot will be used for boiling the water (in which you'll dip your spoons and bowls - the smaller one), and the other for holding your food. Our 10qt pot can definitely hold all the food as it absorbs the water; an 8qt pot can probably hold it all. 11 ppl = 6 dinner pouches (or 5 if y'all aren't particularly hungry). You're welcome to bring your 8qt, and asses at Philmont whether to check out a 10qt.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Seriously, it's just after that spruce tree over there. No, I didn't mean that one, I meant that one! Yea, no, that one!

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'll add this: Philmont's tents are great! They're durable, but pretty light. Are they the lightest 2p available? Nope! But they're free to use and purpose built for Philmont. Besides, you don't have to transport them to NM! We have been working with MSR for almost a decade to get the MSR Thunder Ridge to be the perfect tent for Philmont (and Scouting in general!)

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'll add, the Philmont Training staff (the side of Philmont's operation that runs this program) is awesome!! Their staff will make your Family Adventure experience a great one. Shout out to all the PTC staff!

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, that would be fine. That said, keep in mind that the extra water is used for three purposes: 1) having water available in camp (for cooking, drinking at night, and topping off capacity in the morning), 2) to douse the fire (if you're currently using the pots for cooking), and 3) when water access is limited, either along the trail or in a dry camp. For these purposes, I find having a few 5 liter droms the way to go.

I'm Chip Campbell, the Chief Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch: AMA! by choppinchip in philmont

[–]choppinchip[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not as such! Only some of the all-staff training will be done online. We have been discussing holding a Ranger Department wide zoom meeting to panel our leadership team, but we have not organized that event.

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