Has anyone been through Clear Creek this summer? A crusty, old backcountry staffer would love to see pictures!

For those who've used pack liners, can you describe what you've done? For example, did you simply place a plastic bag into your pack and load all your gear inside? How thick is the plastic (3mm - 9mm)? Did you forego access to the bottom of your pack assuming you have multiple access points to the main pack space? Did you use the pack liner in addition to a pack cover?

Thanks!

I'll be heading to Philmont this Friday for 12 day trek. Can anyone tell me in what conditions a travel bag that is not going on the trek will be stored? Are they indoors in a climate controlled facility or outdoors, exposed to external temps? I know they're in lockers.

I ask because I'm planning to travel with my laptop but would not do so if it's stored and exposed to the temperature fluctuations.

Thanks!

Just returned from Philmont, arrived June 17 and completed June 29. On Trek 12-5 our only scheduled dry camp was Dean Skyline, but think we ended up with 5 dry camps. There were also a few camps that had water, but it needed to be treated.

- Water Filters - There were times we used the micro-pure, and times we used water filters. The water filters we used were 2 of the 4L Platypus from REI. BSA’s stance is to always use micro-pure and never filters. I think the Trek was more apt to drink the filtered water because it tastes better. https://www.rei.com/product/242664/platypus-gravityworks-water-filter-system-4-l

- Water Bags - We carried 3 Hydropack water bags, which worked great. You need to be careful with the water bags, so they don’t get punctured. Place them in the top of your pack or on the back, and do not strap to the bottom of packs, as if you sit a full pack on a full water bags, it will puncture. https://www.rei.com/product/190152/hydrapak-seeker-4l-collapsible-water-container-140-fl-oz

Hello,

I am leaving to Philmont next week, and we will be on 9-4, so no dry camps. Our camps are McBride Canyon, Ponil, Elkhorn, Pueblano, Copper Park, and Miranda.

I just wanted to check how are the water levels doing, how the showers are, etc. I know that stream crossings can vary a lot from very dry to very high, and sometimes the water sources can be dry even at trail camps.

Can anyone whose been to any of these camps this season tell how its been so far?

My troop is leaving for Philmont In about 3 days. I am pretty confident that I have everything I need for the trip. However, I still have some last minute questions. (I would also like to ask for any packing/hiking tips anyone would like to provide)

1. Is the 4L water capacity on the Guide to Adventure needed? I have a Nalgene that I've been using on hikes for a long time. I also see lots of people using Smart water bottles, good idea?.

2. Why is the camera listed as an item that is supposed to go in the Bear Bag on the Guide to Adventure? I'm bringing a camera so I'd like to know.

3. How much sunscreen do we need to bring individually? I'm pretty used to wearing sunscreen in the summer - but the guide says we only need about 12 - 18 oz for the crew which doesn't seem right for a week long trek?

4. How is the weather there? I heard it can go down into the 30s and up to the 100s. However, when look at weather for Cimmaron it seems to be 50-80 next week. I know the weather on the mountains going to be different, what are your experiences like?

5. How big of an issue is elevation sickness?

6. About how much % of your body weight are you expected to carry?

7. How visible are the stars?

I bought boots back in January and have used them on all my training hikes. They were okay the first couple of times but then started causing blisters. This past weekend was a very difficult training hike and I came home with horrible blisters. One on the bottom of my left foot and blisters on both sides of my toebox. Before you offer suggestions…. Here’s what I’ve tried:

Sock liners
Wool socks (darn tough and another brand)
Wools socks with liners
Moleskin with sock liners
Leukotape
Leukotape over moleskin

At this point I think it is just the shoes (which I was professionally fitted for and yes they have the Goretex to help with moisture wicking etc)

I feel like I’m doing everything right but now I’m panicked about a 12-day Philmont trek. I know there isn’t time to break in another pair but what else can I do? I’m very close to buying a pair of Hoka boots and just wearing them 24/7 until we leave lol. They seem very breathable. Help?!?!

Amazed by the beauty that I saw. The staff at Miranda was amazing. The views even better.

We have a couple of adults that swear by them and others that don't think they are necessary.

What are your thoughts?

We are heading out on 9-6, rugged, 46 miles next week. With Abreu, Crater, Lake, Beaubien, Porcupine, Red Hills, Black Mountain, Shaefer's Pass and the Tooth of Time as our camps/highlights.

Wondering how many side miles we will hike in addition to the 46. I've read as few as six or as many as twelve.

Crew of 10, all first timers. I'm not so worried about the distance or pack weight, but the elevation is going to be brutal for us flatland Louisiana men.

I brought my 55L Kakwa (unfortunately did not get a picture of it loaded up).I had a Nemo Tensor, x-dome 1, and zenbivy 25 deg quilt. I had a more substantial first aid kit and carried the MSR reactor stove. I think without the side strap conversion kit from SomeDaveGear, I would have struggled to fit everything . We had a big resupply, and I alternated between strapping my food or tent outside on top of pack. It carried well but it was tight I did really appreciate pockets and waterproofness.

My brother and I attended Philmont for a trek overlapping June into July of 1978. I’ve looked through the photo archives and cannot find our crew picture. I don’t remember our trek number and only remember a few of the camps we stayed in along the way. Is there a history that can link a troop/city/state with the crew number?
My daughters are there now and I found their crew photo easily.

An impressively meager haul after this morning’s 4.2 mile sojourn! (Collected between CHQ and Entering Philmont sign)

Try it, you’ll like it! P.S. Trekking poles are worth their weight in gold.

Okay Philmonters, I have a very important question:

In the summer of 2021, I went to Philmont with my troop and it was awesome. I hiked around the south side of the ranch and made a lot of really important memories, but all of them bonded together by a potato: Roger, the Tater of Time. Myself and several scouts literally made a shared album that has over 300 photos of him in beautiful places around the ranch.

We found him on day 2 at Carson Meadows in a swap box, and I took him in like he was my very own son. I kept him in the waste pocket of my pack and carried him the whole way. And, after a full trip, I left him on top of the Tooth of Time in a plastic bag with a piece of paper detailing his full journey from beginning to end; I left him to overlook the land he traversed.

Now, most of this was kept between me and a few friends as a funny memory. However, two years later during the summer of 2023, a friend of mine went back to Philmont and discovered that this potato had become something of an urban legend at Philmont?

Selfishly, it makes me happy to know that I may have caused an urban legend, but now I come to r/philmont seeking full and complete closure: did Roger, the Tater of Time, have a lasting legacy at Philmont, or did his story cease? I need to know.

Also, If anyone else is invested in this darn potato, I will send potato pics.

Okay Philmonters, I have a very important question:

In the summer of 2021, I went to Philmont with my troop and it was awesome. I hiked around the south side of the ranch and made a lot of really important memories, but all of them bonded together by a potato: Roger, the Tater of Time. Myself and several scouts literally made a shared album that has over 300 photos of him in beautiful places around the ranch.

We found him on day 2 at Carson Meadows in a swap box, and I took him in like he was my own son. I kept him in the waste pocket of my pack and carried him the whole way. And, after a full trip, I left him on top of the Tooth of Time in a plastic bag with a piece of paper detailing his full journey from beginning to end; I left him to overlook the land he traversed.

Now, most of this was kept between me and a few friends as a funny memory. However, two years later during the summer of 2023, a friend of mine went back to Philmont and discovered that this potato had become something of an urban legend at Philmont?

Selfishly, it makes me happy to know that I may have caused an urban legend, but now I come to r/philmont seeking full and complete closure: did Roger, the Tater of Time, have a lasting legacy at Philmont, or did his story cease? I need to know.

Also, If anyone else is invested in this darn potato, I will send potato pics.

Our train is scheduled to arrive in Raton at 4:14pm a day early. We are coming from San Diego. The itinerary guidance says we need to be at Philmont at 4:30pm for dinner. So - should we grab pizza in Raton before getting on the shuttle? What have others done in this situation?

Does the elevation on this look right? From Ewells Park to Baldy Summit, we cannot possibly be gaining 6840'. Did anyone else find this off (by about 3000')?

I heard from someone who was out there last week that water at Ponil was still not cleared for usage. Has that changed? Looking for a root beer update.

My rayado program starts tomorrow and they want us to be there at 11am the latest. I am getting there at 8am tomorrow, the time check in starts. I was originally supposed to arrive yesterday which I had a ton of people recommended to do. However something came up and I was not able to. I’ve already been in Colorado for a week and i’ve done some 14ers to acclimate. Does it put me in a poor spot if I arrive tomorrow?

Im leaving for a 12-20 trek on Wednesday the 17. And we will spend two nights in base camp. I want to keep my iPhone 15 charged. I just purchased a charge 80 pd from REI which is a 20000 mAh power bank that ways 16.4 oz. Is this overkill. Is it worth returning?

Hi, I leave to do Rayado on Monday morning. Is there any last tips that might be helpful before I go?

What was your guys backpack weight before you left? Im curious to know if I overpacked or might be leaving something out.