Day 9

It's hard to imagine that we've been on the trail for 9 days.  No TV, no radio, no paper, no Internet, no cell phones, no blackberry.  We are fairly isolated and have no clue as to what is going on in the rest of the world.  Ronald Reagan died during our 2004 trek and we did not get the news until we hit base camp.  As hard as it might seem, life seems to move at a slower pace when you don't get your news 24/7 and sometimes ignorance is bliss. 

Also at this stage, we've transitioned from counting the number of days on the trail to counting how many days are left (2 more).  For the boys, they are looking forward to getting back home to their games and electronics, for some of us old farts, we tend to dread going back to lawn mowing and bill paying and other normal adult "games".   

Today is a medium hike but they've got a lot of ground to cover.  Up early and out on the trail.  They can follow two trails down to the old hunting lodge and then hook a left up to Webster Park.  4.8 to 5.2 miles depending upon which trail they take with pretty much the same elevation change for both.  Drop about 1500 feet on the first half of the trek and make it up on the back end with about a 1.5 mile climb of 900 feet.  My preference is the opposite - get your up hill work in early and make the back half a downhill walk to camp, but you have to take the trail God gives you. 

The trek down to the hunting camp should be a nice & easy one.  One path is pretty much a jeep road along the Middle Fork (boring), the other is along North Fork and it is in a narrow canyon that looks like something out of Jurassic Park.  Great trail, lots of rocks to scramble over, several stream crossings.  Should not take long to cover the 3+ miles to the Hunting Lodge. 

They will typically stop there for lunch and a quick tour of the lodge.  This was the original hunting lodge of Waite Phillips who owned most of Philmont and donated it to the Boy Scouts in 1941.  It's been renovated, but still has most of the style and features back went Waite used to to bring up guests and family to hunt. 

From here, they have a short hike up to Webster Park to set up camp.  

As long as they stick to the schedule, they should make camp by 1300.  Plenty of time to set up camp and have time to take care of business. 

More than likely, a few will be tasked to hike down through Cimaroncito and north to Ute Gulch for a food run.  Ute Gulch is one of the back country commissaries/trading posts where you can resupply food, fuel, TP, and pick up a few souvenirs (or trail snacks) plus drop off letters & post cards to home.  It's always nice to send a letter home to the family and we encourage the boys to do so, but trying to get a 14 year old boy to fill out a post card to mom while on the trail is like trying trying to nail jello to a tree.  And don't expect quick mail service.   I've dropped off letters/post cards from the back country only to have them arrive 1 week after I get home.   

At this point, the rest of the crew can lay out in camp and enjoy the rest, hike down to Cimaroncito to take a shower, take a side hike to the Hidden Valley, or try their hands at some rock climbing/rappelling.  Some will try to dry out their stuff from the occasional downpour.