706 PSA-1 1997

An Account of the 1997 PSA Trek

SUNDAY - 706: It was that time again. Former Philmont staff made the pilgrimage to New Mexixo, coming HOmE (Heaven On Earth), coming back to something that still tugged on them from the past. They gathered together and a crew was formed, a crew that would see Philmont trails, again, for at least one more time.

The members of the crew were Jeff Hancock, Bill Euerle, Steve Harmony, Finn Blom Christensen (From Denmark), Mark Schweer, Les Pope, Joe Lieisz, Tom Florer, and Kevin Thomas. An itineray was mapped out, Ted Zura was assigned as the Ranger, and the usual routine through Base Camp was performed. Tents. Food. Health Lodge.

MONDAY - 707: A morning bus ride brought the crew to the Cimarroncito turnaround and the crew made their way past Cathedral Rock and up the Middle Fork, Cyphers Mine being the final destination for the day. A doe with two fawn were spotted. Strawberries grew in thick patches, and wild, pink roses were everywhere. The trail wasn't that difficult, but it was still a strain, it being the first day, and the stream was crossed at least 15 times before arriving at Cyphers Mine.

They have those adironadack shelters there so no tents or dining flys had to be put up. Claim a spot on the cement slab and camp was ready. There was still plenty of day left so about half the crew set off to climb Cimarroncito Peak while the other half decided to save their knees for the rest of the trek. Not too many people can claim they have Cimarroncito notched into their walking stick, but a few more were able to do so that day.

Evening came, and the entire camp squeezed itself into Charlie Cyphers cabin for the Stomp. The Stomp is guitar pickin', yarn spinnin', and general all-around noise makin'. You just can't help yourself but to work your foot up and down to the music and stomp it on that old wood floor. But as with all good evening doin's at Philmont, the tone will speed up and slow down, the mood changing at different points.

It was time to slow things down and the miners at Cyphers started playing an old Harry Chapin song, a song about the time you've been allotted for your life and what you do with the time.

Cats and the cradle and the silver spoon,

little boy grew into the man in the moon.

When you comin' home Dad I don't know when,

but we'll get together then.

After the song some of the boys in there at the stomp were crying, crying tears, tears running down their faces. And then the miners told a serious story about grains of sand, the point again being time, the time we have together and how we use it.

The cement slabs in those adirondacks are probably the most comfortable cement slabs ever for sleeping on in the whole world.

TUESDAY - 708: There's the easy way to Crooked Creek and then there's the hard way. The crew took the hard way. Steve wanted to take a specific way there so that he could cover a small part of a Philmont trail that he never had been on before, and the crew kind of liked the idea of going over Big Red.

So it was back up out of Cyphers and on up to Comanche Pass, and then on to Big Red. Some of the crew never climbed Big Red before. It's a lousy trail, going straight up over loose rocks, and the view isn't that good. Too many trees. But it's a remote part of Philmont. You're usually by yourself out here, and the sweat you pour out in climbing Big Red is no less than what you'd give for any other moutain, so it's a good feeling when you reach the top. Lunch was eaten up there. Lunch always tastes better after you've climbed a mountain.

The crew swung down into Red Hills Camp, follwing the Comanche Creek before hitting the upper Rayado. There was plenty of bear sign and an unusual display of nature. There were literally thousands of them, all over the place.

Moths. There were moths flying through the air, everywhere, as if there were snow flurries.

A few rain sprinkles greeted the crew as they came into Crooked Creek. The program here was homesteading. The staff put on a knowledgable display of frontier life, but the main attraction for the scouts seemed to be the cow milking in the evening. The cabin at Crooked Creek is almost a novelty in itself. There aren't too many left at Philmont where they use a wood stove. Low impact may be the correct way to interact with the land, but there is something about cooking with a wood stove.

In writing about the day, there doesn't seem much to write about. It was a long hike, so much of the time was taken up by the hike. There was Big Red. The contrast of the dry country up there and then the wetness down in the Rayado. Exploring Crooked Creek took up some of the time too. Moths. Many little things that added up to a full day.

WEDNESDAY - 709: Good byes had been made to their Ranger and today, the crew had all the time in the world. From Crooked Creek they were going to Fish Camp, an easy hike, and a short hike at that. A stop was made at Phillips Junction for a food pick up and showers.

The staff at Fish Camp proved to be most hospitable. The crew was warmly welcomed and allowed to stay in one of the "extra" cabins. There were even extra foamies that the crew laid out on the floor. It was Phil-luxury at its finest. There being so much time that again about half the crew took off on a side hike. They went up the hill opposite of the cabin to La Grulla Lake, just to see a part of the region that they've never been to before. It was a very pretty area but thick with mosquitos.

And even after that there was plenty of time for a tour of Waite Phillips main cabin. However, probably the most cherished moment was when the crew manned the porch and just watched the time go by. No traffic, ringing phones or paperwork. Porch sitting was a skill that the crew had lost from years of being away from Philmont, but they somehow managed to make up for the lost time.

As he relaxed and reclined, Mark noted "It's amazing how you become part of the furniture."

It rained off an on for a time, making the crew happy and content with their luxury accomodations. Somewhere in the world were people paying hundreds of dollars per night for fancy resort hotels, but they were no where close to living it up as were those who were sleeping on old foamies on an old floor in an old cabin.

THURSDAY - 710: Packs were lifted onto backs and the short, but slow climb up to Webster Pass was made, and then the crew turned right for Lookout Peak. Some of the best views of the Rayado are from here, and the crew took a long pack break in order to take in the panorama. Fresh beaver damns could be seen in the Rayado. When the crew got into Lookout Meadow Camp, it was decided to take in some more side hikes.

Crater Peak and Rayado Peak are nestled in here, and the crew wanted to put some more mountains under their feet. Packs were dropped and everyone headed up to Crater Peak. It's an easy climb but there were lots of downed trees, making it hard to find a straight line to walk in. More views of the Rayado and then it was over to Rayado Peak. Not much of a view from Rayado Peak because of the trees but there was one tree that was a recent victim of lightning. The exploded tree and where the various pieces traveled were impressive as to the power of what a quick flash of light can do. All throughout in here were small meadows where the grass was chest high.

By the time the crew got back to their packs it was lunch time and it had started to rain. The weather wasn't bad but a certain gloominess set in and the crew hiked in silence for a long ways.

The crew headed down to the Lower Bonito and on up again to Fowler Pass. As the crew passed a cattle pond some tracks were spied in the mud. Cat tracks.

Montain lion!

Eventaully, the crew made its way into Crater Lake, the next stop on the itinerary. The weather was greatly improved and it was good to be done hiking for the day.

The crew discussed several options and then decided to meadow crash for the night. The idea was to sleep under the stars and not bother with setting up camp. That way, the crew could get a fast start in the morning. It was a long hike tomorrow and it was the last day, so anything that would save time would be helpful.

In the evening the Crater Lake staff put on the Philmont Story Campfire. If there was ever a group of musical instruments and story tellers put together at one time at Philmont, this was the group. People would have paid money to have been entertained the way these guys put on a campfire. And you had to have been there to know what was meant when it was said that they were Evil. Their rendition of the Philmont Hymn was unbelievable.

And then there was the "Guitar Story." It was just another serious moment where a point was to be made, but again the metaphors intertwinded with the time and what you do with time. There was that word again. Time.

Tomorrow, the crew would run out of time. What had the crew done with their time? People never think about time until it's too late. But it's there, always wasted, always used up. What do they say about time?

Cats and the cradle and the silver spoon,

little boy grew into the man in the moon.

When you comin' home Dad I don't know when,

but we'll get together then.

You know we'll have a good time then.

After the campfire the crew lingered with the Crater Lake staff, not wanting to go to bed. It was the last night. It suddenly was almost over.

Eventaully, the crew made its way back to their campsite and slipped into their sleeping bags. During the night it began to rain, forcing the crew to make a mad scramble back to the cabin where they could sleep in the breezeway and stay dry.

FRIDAY - 711: A brief stop was made at Miner's Park and then it was up to Shaefers Pass. The crew climbed Shaefers Peak and then it was on to The Tooth of Time.

After the Tooth was climbed it would be back on the trail, hiking at full speed. The crew really didn't want to go, but time would be needed to check in tents and gear. There would be Arrowhead patches and one last dinner in Cimarron. There were planes to catch and bills to pay. But the time hadn't yet come to leave the Tooth.

For now, the crew was on top of The Tooth of Time. The crew shared time together. And it is so for all Philmont staff. The times they spend together, one summer to the next, time bridging them all together though they may have never met. It is not needed to be on staff during the same year to have shared something, together. It is the time that bridges us all, together, but do we ever realize that?

Baldy in the saddle and the silver sage,

little Ranger grew into corporate ways.

When you comin' HOmE son, I don't know when,

But we'll go hiking when we find the time.

For now, for this moment in time, the crew was together, on The Tooth of Time. The time to leave could wait.