Challenging. This exciting 63 mile itinerary begins with archaeology at Indian Writings. Be sure to look for the world's only Tyrannosaurus Rex track as you hike along the North Ponil trail. Learn "Leave No Trace" camping tecfhniques at Dan Beard and do the homesteading program at Rich Cabins, before the awesome hike up the beautiful Greenwood Canyon into Copper Park. From your base camp at Copper Park, you can side hike Baldy Mountain and visit French Henry Camp for gold panning and blacksmithing. Burro packing, logging skills, The Philmont Story Campfile and western lore, including boot branding, complete this excellent trek.

Getting There - Sunday, July 30th, to Monday, July 31th, we flew and drove to Philmont Scout Reservation. We spent Sunday evening at the Best Western Rio Hondo Inn near Old Town in Albuquerque. On Monday morning we were taken by Main Event Transportation to Philmont Scout Ranch where we started our final preparations for our trek.

Pictures from the travel days.

Day 1 - Tuesday, August 1st, Six Mile Gate (elevation 6800 feet) to Anasazi Camp (elevation 7000 feet). Total distance was about 1.5 milres.

The highlight of the day was the Tyrannasourus Rex track.

Pictures from day 1.

Day 2 - Wednesday, August 2nd, Anasazi Camp (elevation 7000 feet) to Old Camp (elevation 7300 feet). Total distance was about 7 miles.

The highlight of the day was the petroglyphs at Indian Writings, until we got stuck in flash flood on our way to Old Camp. The flash flood definitely became the highlight of the day.

Pictures from day 2.

Day 3 - Thursday, August 3rd, Old Camp (elevation 7300 feet) to Dan Beard (elevation 7900 feet). Total distance was about 6 miles.

The highlight of the day were the challenge events. I still can't believe that the entire crew made it over the 15 foot wall. If we had to also get the advisors over the wall, we would have never made it.

Pictures from day 3.

Day 4 - Friday, August 4th, Dan Beard (elevation 7900 feet) to Rich Cabins (elevation 7900 feet). The total distance was about 7 miles.

The highlight of the day were the deer that wandered close to our camp at Dan Beard before we departed in the morning.

Pictures from day 4.

Day 5 - Saturday, August 5th, Rich Cabins (elevation 7900 feet) to Greenwood Canyon (elevation 8400 feet). The total distance was about 7 miles.

The highlight of the day was arriving early at a trail camp, with no activities planned in the afternoon. While we have enjoyed the activities that we participated in at the staffed camps, this afternoon we really enjoyed relaxing and not doing anything.

Pictures from day 5.

Day 6 - Sunday, August 6th, Greenwood Canyon Camp (elevation 8400 feet) to Copper Park Camp (elevation 10,400 feet). The total distance was about 7 miles.

The highlight of the day was making it through the day. We knew that this would be our toughest backpack day, and it was satisfying to have completed it. Another highlight was our dinner. Since we ate today's lunch for our Saturday's dinner we had 2 dinners to eat tonight. We prepared both dinners and we had no problem eating it all.

Pictures from day 6.

Day 7 - Monday, August 7th, Day hike to Baldy Mountain (elevation 12,495 feet), Baldy Town (elevation 9920 feet), and French Henry Camp (elevation 9600 feet). The total distance was about 7 miles.

The highlight of the day was trek to the top of Baldy Mountain. It as also satisfying that we were able to take part in the gold panning and blacksmithing French Henry Camp even though we decided not to take the side trip to French Henry on yesterday because of the rain.

Pictures from day 7.

Day 8 - Tuesday, August 8th, Copper Park (elevation 10,400 feet) to Baldy Skyline Camp (elevation 9140 feet). The total distance was about 6 miles.

The highlight of the day was the black powder shooting at Miranda Camp.

Pictures from day 8.

Day 9 - Wednesday, August 9th, Baldy Skyline Camp (elevation 9140 feet) to Pueblano Camp (elevation 8100 feet). The total distance was about 2 miles.

The highlight of the day was the campfire put on by the staff at Pueblano. The staff was talented musically and they put on quite a show.

Pictures from day 9.

Day 10 - Thursday, August 10th, Pueblano Camp (elevation 8100 feet) to Ponil Camp (elevation 7400 feet). The total distance was about 7 miles.

There were 2 highlights today. The first was dropping off the burros, and the second was having dinner prepared for us and getting as much as we wanted to eat.

Pictures from day 10.

Day 11 - Friday, August 11th, Ponil Camp (elevation 7400 feet) to Ponil Turnaround (elevation 7200 feet). The total distance was about one-half mile.

The highlight of the day was the beautiful scene at the church service that was held in the evening. It was held in an amphitheater, and there was huge field, with deer wandering accross, and a mesa in the background. A thunder storm was moving across the sky in the distance, and birds were flying everywhere. It was very appropriate to be reminded of the beauty of the trek while we were giving thanks to the one who made it all possible.

                                                    Pictures from day 11.