Happy Birthday Ranger Tim

My first crew of the 2007 Philmont season were great. They told the staff at Zastrow it was my birthday, and they made me cake!




On the secound day that Philmont recieved crews I was called to pick up a crew. The crew was from Houston, was comprised of 4 adults, and 8 youths. Their trek was number six, and I was to hike with them from the Rayado turnaround to Olympia, and then to Zastrow the next day.


The first camp at Olympia, was in my opinion, one of the worst camps at Philmont just for the mere fact that I could not find the sump (water waste area). The entire first day on the trail consisted of me teaching camping skills to the crew. I had an adult and a youth who have been to philmont before, so they helped the others by example. I cooked there dinner and showed how to properly wash dishes. And at night the crew made a fire, and we began to tell stories and bond as a crew.



The view at Olympia was nice.


The next day my crew and I hiked to Zastrow camp, which was a staffed camp whose program was a map orienteering course. After doing program and playing a few games of chess my crew cooked dinner and also a dump cake in a dutch oven provided by the staffed camp. After dinner and my birthday cake my crew and I went on top of a mesa where I gave them the Wilderness Pledge.



The next morning I hiked to the Zastrow turnaround to catch a bus ride into base camp.

Back to the BackCountry

The Ranger Office, AKA ~ R.O.

Ever since I arrived at Philmont I had almost no time to get on a computer. It's been non-stop training for the incomming campers. I've been tweaking my knowledge of Philmont's backcountry, tying knots, hiking, and learning more than enough saftey precautions.

My training began after I was placed in a TC(training crew) comprised of random staff members. For five days my TC and I went in the Backcountry with our Ranger Trainer, or RT, to learn the required knowledge.

If you have a Philmont map: We went from the Turkey Creek Turnaround to Deer Lake first night. From Deer Lake to Lower Sawmill the next day. Lower Sawmill to Lamberts Mine the third day. Lamberts Mine to Black Mountain Camp. Blackmountain Camp to Crater Lake. And finally, from Crater Lake to Base Camp (no bus in).

After camping on the trail with my TC, I've become quite attatched to the group. We all learned to respect each other as people. When your in the wilderness everyones labels vanish. It doesn't matter what religon, race, gender, or personality you have. When it comes down to it, the people in your group are the only ones there for you, and you learn to treat them as family.


My TC taking off their packs at Deer Lake, You can see Black Mountain in the background.


My Ranger Trainer checking out Deer Lake


Deer Lake is so beautiful after all the rainfall Philmont got in the off-season.


A "Red Roof Inn" on the way to Sawmill Camp.


My Crew relaxing at Sawmill before we went over Thunder Ridge.


ME!!!


Hello! From Ohio! I think I'm used to these conditions. Camanche Pass


The Whole Gang. TC 10.


Lover Leap, picture taken while hiking into Basecamp.


Ranger Fun-Day in Taos, NM. We all passed the RAT. (Ranger,Ability,Test)

No Place I'd Rather Be

My dorm for the summer!

While trying to write this blog I found it near impossible for me to describe my feelings and thoughts about being out in the wilderness. This quote by Edward Abbey describes everything I feel when Im out in the mountains. I hope all of you enjoy it.

Well I am looking, I am searching, I have found
Near the ground, my soul, myself, beneath this trail.
There's no other place I'd rather be.
Can't you see me out here walkin' in the rain and hail.

Purpose of life seems to me is
Not to take yourself too seriously.
I wouldn't want to be an old man sittin' in an office
Building someplace far away, with worry on my face.

Well you can take my car, my stereo, my little money.
Leave me with nothin’ but my trail family.
Take my dress up clothes, my cheap cologne,
My college loans I don't mind, I don't mind.


Well if that taxman comes lookin’ I'm at 10,000 feet
Cookin' up some oatmeal or some rice and beans.

I worship the Spirit who doesn't just look down
He looks up and through and all around,
Find Him in the rocks and trees. Cause there's no reason to pray
When you wake up every day to the sunrise over Cito Peak.

So find some ground lace up your boots start walkin'
And you will find reason, enough reason to believe.

Well you can drop your worries at the parking lot
Or way down in the city where the sun burns hot.
Although civilization is a nice place to visit,
I wouldn't want to live there.

Oh just one final paragraph of advice don't burn yourselves out.
Be as I am. It's not enough to fight for the land.
It's even more important to enjoy it while you can, while it's still here.

So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around.
Ramble out yonder explore the woods, encounter the grizz,
Climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers,
Breathe deep that yet sweet lucid air.

Sit quiet for awhile contemplate the precious stillness
That mystery and awesome space enjoy yourself.
Keep your brain in your head and your head attached to your body.
Body active and alive. And I promise you this much.

I promise you this one sweet victory, over our enemies.
Over those desk bound people with their hearts in a box
And their eyes hypnotized by calculators.
I promise you this one sweet victory...
YOU'LL OUTLIVE THE BASTARDS!



The Tooth of Time, I took the picture as we were hiking in from Crater Lake.