high countrYApril 2010 Volume 33, Number 2

Th e mA g A z i N e o f T h e ph i l m o N T STA f f AS S o c i AT i o N

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Jim lyNch, preSideNTScoTT ToNey, Vice preSideNT, memberShip

fred cribbeTT, Vice preSideNT, SerVicedeNNy duboiS, Vice preSideNT, deVelopmeNT

rAy czech, SecreTAryJAck perSoN, TreASurer

NATioNAl direcTorSrAy bATchelor

bill cASSkeN dAViSSTeVe rick

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bill mckoWN, rANch commiTTee repreSeNTATiVeed peASe, immediATe pAST preSideNT

mArk ANderSoN, philmoNT STAff AdViSor

ex officio memberSemery corley, legAl AdViSor

douglAS fASchiNg, TechNology mANAger

rANdy SAuNderS, execuTiVe direcTorJuliA mcculloch, office mANAger

high couNTry®—Volume 33, Number 2April 2010

ed peASe, ediTordAWN chANdler, ArT direcTor

rANdy SAuNderS, ASSociATe ediTordAVe keNNeke, STAff coNTribuTorkeViN “leVi” ThomAS, cArTooNiST

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high couNTry® iS The officiAl publicATioN of ThephilmoNT STAff ASSociATioN® ANd iS publiShed Six

TimeS per yeAr AS A beNefiT To iTS memberS.

© 2010, The philmoNT STAff ASSociATioN, iNc. All righTS reSerVed. No copyrighT clAimed for

preViouSly copyrighTed or public mATeriAl.permiSSioN grANTed for NoN-commerciAl repriNTiNg

or rediSTribuTioN WiTh proper ATTribuTioN.

high couNTry®, philmoNT STAff ASSociATioN®, pSA® ANd The officiAl pSA logo®

Are All regiSTered TrAdemArkS of:

The philmoNT STAff ASSociATioN, iNc.17 deer ruN roAd

cimArroN, NeW mexico 87714575-376-1138

for memberShip or SubScripTioN iNformATioN,ViSiT our WebSiTe AT:

WWW.philSTAff.com

high couNTry® WelcomeS ArTicleS, phoToS ANdleTTerS for coNSiderATioN for fuTure iSSueS.SubmiSSioN doeS NoT guArANTee publicATioN.

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SeNd SubmiSSioNS, leTTerS or commeNTS To “high couNTry” AT The AboVe AddreSS or e-mAil:

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ScouT rANch, or The boy ScouTS of AmericA.

PSA® FELLOWSBOB HArvEy FELLOW

PAUL & MARY JANE HARVEY

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ANONYMOUS

in this issue

columns

4 from the president6 psa® news7 ranch roundup10 regional reunions28 good reading30 short stuff32 trail talk

articles

12 stained glass 16 little remains of colfax22 the power of prayer

other

5 bulletin board19 under the zia20 kilimanjaro trek25 environment26 wagons are coming27 do you remember?34 good campsite35 poetry

Contributing Writers

ron bromley Dan Ferguson Joanne FoWler sharon latimer

gayle reams

members only aCCess

user name: harlanPassWorD: vacacamp

On the cover: The Tooth shrouded in fresh snow. See page 5 for some surprising snowfall stats. Photo by Bryan Hayek, 2010 Kanik staff.

bulletin board 5 4 from the prez

from the president

operation vacation

This summer the Philmont Training Center will be all Philmont Staff Asso-ciation for the last week of July. This is only the second time in our history that we have been able to have this world class facility for a whole week. We have a great time planned with the Colfax Colloquium starting out the week—seven speakers for each of three tracks—Art, History, Science. That’s twenty-one total speakers in just the first two days. We have Wally Berg giving a talk about his adventures and lots of other truly “once in a lifetime” opportunities. While that is all fantastic, the best part of the week for me and my family will be the less than fantastic. If your daily existence is like ours, there are lots of hurried meals (many involving the ubiquitous question: “Would you like fries with that?”) and not much time to spend together. I can promise you no drive through meals and no reality TV shows for at least a week of great fam-ily time. The meals will all be sit down affairs—family style—with (my favorite part) no prep or clean up time! You’ll get to share some of the magic that you enjoyed—and which in some cases shaped your future—with your family. One of the other great benefits my fam-ily got from the last week-long reunion was the chance for my kids to meet the kids of my Philfriends. It is great to get multi-generational connections made

with people who share your love for the outdoors and many of your same val-ues. In a time when there are many who seek to exploit divisive factors within our country, a PSA reunion always shows me how much people from all over the country, with widely differing political beliefs, really have in common. I never come away from one of these reunions without having made a new friend and gained a fresh insight into something that follows me back home long after the event is over. So, even though my column this month is an unadulterated sales pitch for the annual reunion, I still feel it is the best way to draw your attention to a truly life-changing week that you will enjoy long after July 2010 is in your rear view mirror. Thanks again for reading—and hope to see you at the Philmont Training Center this summer!

BULLETIN BOARD Upcoming PSA® Events

PSA North Carolina Picnic — April 10Blue Jay Point County Park, Raleigh NC — Immediately following the MST Run

PSA® Board and Committee Meetings at Philmont – April 16 - 18

PSA NoCal 100th Anniversary Jamboree Reunion — April 17 2:30PM at the Alameda County Fairgrounds

PSA Midwest Reunion — April 30, May 1 - 2Iowa 4-H Center near Madrid, Iowa

Metro DC/Northern Virginia PSA Reunion — May 8Bull Run Mountain Conservancy, Broad Run, Virginia

PSA Reunion at BSA National Annual Meeting — May 27 5:30PM at the Dallas Hilton Anatole

PSA® Treks at Philmont — July 24 - 30

PSA® Annual Reunion & Colfax Colloquium at Philmont Training Center — July 25 - 31

PSA® Gathering at Centennial Scout Jamboree — August 14:30pm to 6pm at Special Guests Tent, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia

PSA® Northern Tier Voyage — August 28 - September 4

Philmont February Weather Facts February averages:

Precipitation: 7.02 inches snowTemperature: High: 52 degrees (F) Low: 19 degrees (F)

February 2009: Precipitation: 0.78 inches snow

Temperature: Highest: 54 degrees (F) Lowest: 22 degrees (F)

February 2010: Precipitation: 11.18 inches snow

Temperature: Highest: 50 degrees (F) Lowest: 4 degrees (F)

IWTGBTPJim LynchPresident

6 psa news ranch roundup 7

psa® news

electronic conversion

More than 100 PSA members respond-ed to the request that they convert from paper to electronic High Country in the first two weeks of the campaign, and requests continue to come in to the PSA office in Cimarron. About 200 seasonal staffers already receive their High Country in electronic format, so the Association is off to a good start in its goal to voluntarily convert one-fourth of the membership to this environmen-tally-friendly format by the end of the year. Details about how you can join them are found on page 25.

decline/incline of giving

According to the results of the annual Voluntary Support for Education

Metro DC/Northern Virginia PSA Reunion

Saturday May 8 — Bull Run Mountain Conservancy Broad Run, VirgininaNarrated hike — 8amLunch — 12pm Cost —$8 per person (payable on site )Reservations — jwperson@comcast.net (by May 5)

For more information go to the PSA website: www.philstaff.comor contact Denny Dubois: dennisdubois@comcast.net

ranch roundup

survey for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, charitable contributions to colleges and universities declined 11.9% from the same period the year before. It is the steepest decline in the survey’s history—a survey which includes more than 1,000 institutions of higher education across the United States. Alumni participation in annual giving declined from eleven percent to ten percent, also the lowest level ever reported. Although the PSA operates on a calendar year basis (as opposed to the fiscal year basis of the VSE) and therefore comparisons aren’t exact, the PSA’s experience in 2009 ran counter to this trend. Total annual giving to the Philmont Staff Association increased 3.5% in 2009 over the same period the year before. Fourteen percent of our members contributed in 2009.

at the museum

A series of new exhibits will open at the Philmont Museum on April 15 and run through the 2010 season. Included are presentations on the “Centennial of Scouting," the “Art of Ernest Thomp-son Seton," and “Waite Phillips and Philmont History.” Seth McFarland has resigned as Director of the Museum and the Seton Memorial Library. He is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Act-ing Museum Director is Paul Grasse, retired from US Steel and a member of the Executive Board of the Oauchita Area Council. Last year he was payroll master at Philmont, and for the three summers before he was Health Lodge Manager. Come visit the Museum on your next visit—and be sure to patronize the Gift Shop when you’re there!

green vector control

The February issue of High Country included a story reflecting Philmont’s perennial challenge with mosquitoes and flies—and how they were handled in the 1950s (with a mixture of DDT and fuel oil). Dave Kenneke, Environmen-tal Compliance Manager at Philmont, reminds us that we’ve come a long way since those days. Today, Philmont uses native fishes to control mosquito larvae;

we supplement the native “parasitic wasp” population (actually a member of the fly family) that is a natural preda-tor of house and horseflies around our horse and burro camps; we haul manure away from horse camps and use it to help fertilize pasture land and hay fields (and reduce fly populations in the process); and we use grass carp to help control excess vegetation in some of our reservoirs—some of the many ways that the Philmont staff works to keep the Ranch “greener."

the boss patrol

619 – 701 2009 marked an unusual trek at Philmont. Troop 505 of Albu-querque dedicated their trek to the late Lawrence “Boss” Sanchez, one of Philmont’s longest-tenured employees, calling themselves the “Boss Patrol." One of the adult leaders, Juaquin Sanchez, grandson of “Boss” and two Scouts, Matthew Sanchez and Law-rence Sanchez Real, his great-grand-sons, joined two other adult advisors and seven additional Boy Scouts for the event. They reported that the high-light of the trip, in addition to its dedi-cation to Boss’s memory, was the view from Mount Phillips—which wasn’t even named Mount Phillips when Boss began his duties at the Ranch. Boss hired on with Waite Phillips in 1937 at the age of twenty. He served as the Horse Foreman at Philmont for

annual reunion 98 ranch roundup

more than forty-six years. The live-stock headquarters at Philont bears his name, and he was one of the early recipients of the PSA’s distinguished “Silver Sage Award." His presence

was with the “Boss Patrol” throughout their days on the trail, and all were touched by the memory, spirit, and legacy of one of Philmont’s legends.

Sunday, 725Check-in begins at 1:00Mountain Trek Meeting at 2:00Opening Program/Campfire

Monday, 726Family programs beginColfax Colloquium, am and pm sessionsFamily Night at HandicraftCracker Barrel

Tuesday, 727Family programs continueColfax Colloquium, am and pm sessionsBuffalo Barbeque on GreenswardWestern Night Games and Dance

Wednesday, 728Family DayDay hikesDay trips to Raton, Angel Fire, Red River, Taos, Santa Fe

Thursday, 729Family programs continueService Projects in am (Projects @ the Ranch)Off-site toursFamily Night at HandicraftCracker Barrel

Friday, 730Family programs continueAnnual MeetingSilver Sage Award presentationSilent auctionAuthor fair

Saturday, 731Departure dayCheck out begins at 6:00 amMountain Treks return, 9:00 am

The Colfax Colloquium is a collection of speak-ers on a variety of topics concerning Philmont and the Philmont area. There will be seven speakers in each of the three categories; Art, History, and Science. The speakers in each category will give their presentation concurrently on Monday and Tuesday. All PSA members, spouses, and current Philmont Staffers are welcome to attend.

How to Register for the PSA Reunion

If you are a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America:

Go to www.myscouting.org and register under the “Events Reservations” tab.

Be sure to select Week 8: Philmont Staff Association Conference.

Follow the prompts and complete your registration.

If you are not a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America:

Go to the following link:http://reservations.scouting.org/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x21129fdf9

Click on the “Register Online Now” button first.

On the next page, in the required field “Council Name”, select – NATIONAL COUNCIL 999

**(This will not register you as a mem-ber of the Boy Scouts of America)**

Then in the required field “Current/Pri-mary Scouting Position”, enter – PSA.

Follow the prompts and complete your registration.

Above, Boss Patrol takes a moment to take in the view from atop Mt. Phillips. Left, fresh off of the Tooth of Time Ridge trail, Boss Patrol poses in front of Lawrence "Boss" Sanchez' portrait. Back row from left to right: Jerry Han-ley (Scoutmaster), Jonathan Scales (in back), Jason Aldaz (front), Caleb Cervantes, Matthew Sanchez (great grandson of Boss), Lawrence Rael Jr. (great grandson of Boss), Juaquin Sanchez (Grandson of Boss and ASM), Corey Hanley (Patrol Leader); front row: Andrew Kulaga and Mark Scales.

Philmont Staff Association ReunionJuly 25-31, 2010

10 regional reunions regional reunions 11

regional reunions

maryland

The Philmont Staff Association cel-ebrated a rare event in Baltimore in January. Two of our members received the Silver Beaver award, the high-est honor bestowed on Scouters by the local council. The Baltimore Area Council recognized Dana Edwards and Bob Gallo at their Annual Council Recognition Dinner on January 28. The council kicked off their BSA centennial celebration with this event, held at the B & O Railroad Museum in downtown Baltimore. Over a dozen PSA members at-tended the dinner to applaud Dana and Bob, and a PSA reunion happened. Of course, Philmont stories and memories were shared. Old friends met again and new friends were made.

Dana has served on the PSA Board of Directors and has been involved in Scouting for over thirty-five years. He is active in the Council’s Venturing program, and is currently a District Commissioner. Dana worked on Philmont summer staff from 1965-1971 in a number of roles, including in the Ranger and Backcountry departments Bob is recognized for jump-starting the Venturing program in the Baltimore Area Council. He has directed several Powderhorn courses and organized the council’s Venturing committee. Bob is a West Point graduate and worked at Philmont in the summer of 1970, in Food Service.

north carolina

The Philmont Staff Association was in Winston-Salem, NC, on Saturday, March 6th to support the Trey Jones Gearhead EXPO. The EXPO, in its third year, is organized by Jan Jones, Trey’s mother, and the Village Outdoor Shop. Outdoor gear vendors, such as Moun-tain Hardwear, Jansport, MSR, Deuter, and more display and demonstrate their newest products for the public. There is a raffle and a silent auction where their products are the featured items. The proceeds of the raffle and auction, as well as donations from individuals, support two scholarship funds in Trey’s memory. One provides funds for a Scout from the Old Hickory Council to attend Philmont. The other

is awarded to a Scout who will attend the Roving Outdoor Conservation School (ROCS). PSA members were on hand to share Philmont with the public and offer advice to Scouts and their parents who were shopping for backpacking gear. The EXPO was also fortunate to have Philmont’s Director of Program, Mark Anderson, in attendance, who spoke to people about staffing opportu-nities at the Ranch. After the EXPO, PSAers gathered at a local Mexican restaurant to share a meal and get the latest Ranch updates from Mark Anderson. The EXPO date has already been set for the first Satur-day in March 2011. Trey Jones worked at Philmont in the Conservation Department in 2003 and 2004, and was the ROCS Director in 2005.

Bob Gallo and Dana Edwards stand with their wives as they are recognized with the Silver Beaver award for their service to Baltimore area Scouting.

Gathering at the Trey Jones Gearhead Expo: (Left to right, back row) Chris Sawyer, Mark Anderson, Rob Helton, Ann Helton, Randy Saunders, Jan Jones. Below, Ed Hamner with Bella and Lee "Blue" Price.

12 stained glass stained glass 13

The first time I saw it was in November of 1996 as I was being driven around the Ranch by Bill Spice, then General Manager and my new boss. Bill wanted me to see everything so that I would get a clear understanding of what made up this massive ranch and its budgets. I was staying in one of the guest houses at the Villa and Bill had picked me up early and we went to breakfast in Cimarron. Then we began to tour base camp from Cattle Headquarters to the Buffalo pasture. Bill drove and gave me a running narrative of everything we could see, walk to, or drive to. In November many things are not up and running, but one can see and feel the size of the operation, or at least I thought I could. After lunch we looked through the Health Lodge and then drove by four chapels on our way to the camper and staff dining hall. We looked at the ghostly camper tent city, its shower houses, and tent platforms. Bill ex-plained how Philmont rotates tents on a four year schedule and we discussed the number of tents involved (far more than the number of tents in any camp I had worked during my thirty years with the BSA). Bill made a U-turn and

headed back behind the dining hall, trading post, and past the chapels. We neared the bus barn and Bill turned in and waved down Wayne Baker, the camper side Ranger. As we sat and talked to Wayne I saw it for the first time: the stained glass window in the back of the LDS chapel. Some months later I visited the chapel to see the beautiful window from inside the building. I was struck with the fact that it is the only stained glass window I had ever seen in an LDS church house whether it was a branch, ward, stake center, or any of the three Temples I had visited before their dedication. How and why is it there? Who built it and how was it approved? I thought I had a very good working knowledge of the Mormon Church and this win-dow seemed out of place. During my first year at the Ranch I came up with many questions and eventually I found most of the answers, but, I found nothing on the history of the window. One day during the summer operation of 1998 I asked Elder Bob Mills (a retired Director of Mormon Relationships and long time Philmont chaplain) about the window, but he

The Stained Glass Window

By Ron Bromley

did not seem to know the his-tory. That first full year (1997) went by very fast. Soon the campers left and we settled into a fall and winter routine. During that time I decided to contact my very good friend John Warnick. John was a former Scout Execu-tive of the Teton Peaks Council in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and the Ore-Ida Council in Boise, Idaho. I worked for him in both Councils. In 1977, John joined the Na-tional Staff and for eleven years served with the Relationships Division as the Director of Mormon Relationships until he retired in 1988. At a Western Region Retiree reunion, I asked John if he knew anything about the stained glass window in the LDS chapel at Philmont, and he replied, “That’s a Philmont chapel, not an LDS chapel!” He further said, “…that it could be called the rainy day chapel for the idea was to have a place to hold services under cover when it rained.” He said it

was a rather long story that started one afternoon during an LDS conference at Philmont when he had stood out in the rain watching Scouts and their leaders getting very wet at the Catholic chapel. Philmont is famous for afternoon cloudbursts. All of the chapels at the Ranch were open to the elements and John thought some cover was needed, and so the story of building a roofed Chapel began. There is only one chapel at the Philmont Training Center. It is open

stained glass 1514 stained glass

with benches out under God’s blue sky and all religious faiths use it. It’s a wonderful place to sit and take in the beauty of the Ranch, including alfalfa fields, deer and old apple orchards. On the campers' side of the road there are four chapels: a Jewish chapel, Catholic chapel, Protestant chapel, and LDS or Mormon chapel. John said that follow-ing the rain storm he went back to the Training Center and talked to some Scout leaders attending the LDS confer-ence. All thought a covered chapel was a good idea. John also talked to some of the LDS church leadership who were teaching at the conference and they were excited about the concept. The following day John asked to meet with Paul D. Claussen, then Gen-eral Manager of the Ranch. Paul was interested but explained that the Ranch had a three-year building plan and a roofed chapel was not in the plan. A second hurdle was there was no money available to fund such a project and even if there were, the Director of Pro-gram, Lloyd S. Knutson, would need to approve the concept and building plan. Undaunted by these minor road-blocks John went to meet with Lloyd and ask what he thought of a roofed chapel. John said that at first Lloyd was cool to such a plan but did agree, after some discussion, that it would be nice to have a chapel protected from the rain. John explained that LDS Scout leaders and church authorities would raise the money necessary if Lloyd and Paul agreed to the concept. They did , and before the conference was over a small group had formed a

committee to build a roofed chapel at Philmont Scout Ranch. In less than a year the money for architectural and building plans and materials was made available to the ranch management along with a pledge for the total cost of construction. Knut-son agreed to take on the role of on site construction boss. Soon the roofed chapel was starting to become a reality. During construction, the idea of a stained glass window came up and was agreed to. The figure was to be “Bibli-cal” and yet not of any specific person or religious figure. The window was a memorial to Gregory Armstrong Fogg. An engraved plate on the window frame reads: Gregory Armstrong Fogg, 1976 – 1985, A Scout of Faith and Cour-age. It was further agreed that only folding chairs would be used in the chapel. The concept that the room had no front or back allows the chairs to be arranged as various religious groups wanted or needed. In less than two years all the money was raised, the roofed chapel built and an occupancy permit issued. John Warnick, Paul Claussen, and Lloyd Knutson all attended the dedica-tion of the structure and Elder Vaughn Featherstone represented the LDS Church and led the ceremony. Because the Mormon Church was so involved and because the other chapels all have names, the roofed chapel has become the LDS chapel. In the spirit of doing one's duty to God and with the idea that a Scout is respectful of the convic-tions of others, the “rainy day cha-pel” is made available to all religious

Ronald E. Bromley is the former Comptroller of Philmont Scout Ranch. He lives in Prescott, Arizona. The story of the stained glass window was told to him by John D. Warnick, Retired Director of Mormon Relationships.

John D. Warnick passed away February 5th, 2006; Paul D. Claussen lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lloyd S. Knutson lives in South Barrington, Illinois.

groups. The stained glass window is a memorial, a reminder that a Scout is reverent and a friendly welcome away from the summer storms.

Join us at the Iowa 4-H Center near Madrid, Iowa (just south of Ledges State Park off Hwy’s 30 & 17) Cabins with bunk beds (bring your sleeping bags) are available Friday and Satur-day nights. Cost will depend on the number of attendees, but is expected to be between $15 and $30 for the weekend. (Lodging, Activities and Saturday meals & Sunday breakfast are included.) Activities include hiking and creek walks on the 4-H camp’s 1,100 acres of wooded bluffs overlooking the Des Moines River, a climbing tower and zip line, canoeing, campfire (bring your instruments), and all the usual friendship, stories, tall tales and fellowship that come with a PSA Reunion—wherever it's held. Randy Saunders will give us an update on things at the Ranch and we welcome any 2010 staff members to join us for the fun (dinner is on “Schmoe” for those lucky enough to be headed HOmE for the summer).

RSVP to Cathy Hubbard at: cahubb@tds.net.www.iowa4hcamp.com or call (515) 291-4402 for directions

Field of Dreams in Iowa!May 1st & 2nd

ATTENTION NORTH CAROLINA

PSAers!Join your fellow Philstaff

for a casual picnic gathering following the MST Run April 10.

Blue Jay County Park in Raleigh.

(Blue Price will bring the charcoal. No, REALLY!)

For further details, contact Blue at kd4gcf@yahoo.com.

colfax 1716 colfax

A legacy of the 17th Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax, Colfax County boasts numerous ghost towns, and according to many, numer-ous haunted places. Sharing the honor of his name are several other well-known cities and streets across the nation including Col-fax Avenue in Denver, Colorado. South of Cold Beer on Highway 64 are the remains of Colfax, New Mexico. Like

Colfax, Colorado, another ghost town, the town ruins live on through their spirits and rumors of times past. Surrounded by farmland, moun-tains and two railroads, the remainders of the once inhabited town [of] Colfax are easily accessed from Highway 64. Colfax thrived from 1908 until the Great Depression of 1929 stifled its economic progress. The town was all but abandoned by the late 1930s. Reported by many visitors to the

town site over the years is the occur-rence of a weeping woman. Until its total collapse several years ago, Col-fax’s schoolhouse, which also served as its church, was the apparition’s haunt. Viewers of the weeping woman say she sat on a pew in the last row grieving for her young son who died in the late 1880s. Others report hearing footsteps and the sounds of a young boy. Ac-counts of the haunting tell that the woman died of grief shortly after her son passed. As well as lingering in the school/church building, the woman ap-parently wanders the town site where she shows up as a ball of floating light. With history that dates back over 10,000 years, Colfax County is rich in prehistoric settlement locations, war

sites, frontier towns, and homestead sites. From the famed Folsom Man of the last Ice Age, to the Anasazi, the Spanish Conquistadors, the Plains Indi-ans, the early copper and gold seekers, and the owners of the land grants, Col-fax County grew out of a rich history to be the 12th New Mexico county, created in 1869. Born out of the St. Louis, Rocky Mountain and Pacific Railroad’s pro-motions, the Town of Colfax boasted proximity to abundant wildlife, rich farmlands, and the coal operations of Dawson just five miles to the west. Colfax opened its post office in 1908 and soon the town offered resi-dents a school and church, a store, hotel and gas station. Driving to the nearby towns of Cimarron and Raton was quite easy until gas prices of the late

Little Remains of the Town of Colfax

By Joanne Fowler

Reprinted with permission by the Sangre de Cristo Chronicle Sept. 10-16, 2009. Photos by Randy Saunders.

zia 1918 colfax

1920s discouraged the practice. Piles of rotting lumber, an adobe wall, an open well, and several railroad cars dot the site of the former Town of

Colfax. At dusk, furtive coyotes skirt the premises and eerily yip and howl at the curious who stop by. Under the Zia: Out & About in New Mexico

Through April 20: Santa Fe – How the West is One: The Art of New Mexico New Mexico Museum of Art 505-476-5072 www.nmartmuseum.org

April 22-24: Albuquerque – Gathering of Nations Powwow. The largest Native American celebration in North America. UNM University Stadium. 505-836-2810. www.gathering-ofnations.com.

May 1 - 2: Santa Fe – Battlefield New Mexico: the Civil War and More. Military drills, skirmishes and cannon fire on view at El Rancho de las Golondrinas www.golondrinas.org

May 13: Santa Fe – Peralta and the Founding of Santa Fe. Lecture at New Mexico History Museum. 505-476-5200 www.nmhistorymuseum.org

May 15 - 16: Eldorado – The Eldorado Studio Tour. Over 83 artists' studios open to the pulbic. www.eldoradoarts.org/StudioTour.html

May 16: Santa Fe – The Santa Fe Century 25th Anniversary. 25, 50, 75 & 100 mile bike rides. www.santafecentury.com

May 22: Chama – Opening day for the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. 888-CUMBRES

May 23: Santa Fe – Opening of Wild at Heart: Ernest Thompson Seton. New exhibit traces how one wolf’s death led to a century of wildlife conservation. New Mexico History Museum. www.nmhistorymuseum.org

May 27 - September 2: Taos – Taos Plaza Live. Music every Thursday evening 6 - 8 pm through the summer. www.taosplazalive.com

Through June 4: Taos – Dwayne Wilcox: Skipping the Light Fandango at Harwood Museum of Art. 575-758-8900. www.harwoodmuseum.org.

Through June 4: Taos – Rebecca Salsbury James: Paintings and Colchas at the Harwood Museum of Art. 575-758-8900. www.harwoodmuseum.org

June 4 - 5: Chama – Sixth Annual Chama Book Fair 505-220-4933 www.nmbookclub.com

June 11 - 12: Red River – River and Brews Blues Fest 575-754-2366www.redrivernewmex.com

Through September 9: Santa Fe – Georgia O’Keeffe’s Legacy in New Mexico and Gustave Baumann: A Santa Fe Legend New Mexico Museum of Art 505-476-5072 www.nmartmuseum.org.

Ongoing: Tierra Amarilla – Monero Mustangs Sanctuary for wild horses of New Mexico. www.moneromustangs.org.

kilimanjaro 2120 kilimanjaro

In June of 2011, a team of PSA members and Phriends will set off to climb Kilimanjaro—the tallest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet—the Rooftop of Africa. Start planning now, and find yourself a place on an expedition that’s sure to become an adventure of a lifetime. PSA member and four-time Everest summiter Wally Berg, owner of Berg Adventures International (one of the world’s leading adventure travel and mountaineering companies), is bringing together years of expertise to organize this special opportunity for PSA members and Phriends. This team will follow a spectacular new route recon-noitered by Wally and his Tanzania staff on Kilimanjaro’s remote northern flank. A highlight will include camping in the summit crater at 18,000 feet. The fee for PSA members and Phriends is $4,500 – a 20% discount over the normal estimated 2011 price. Included will be the cama-raderie and leadership of the best high altitude experts, excellent meals and group equipment, the best team spirit and logistics on the mountain, and the tradition of high altitude porters to carry ev-erything but your day pack. Reserve a spot at the discount price by making a $700 deposit by June 30, 2010. (Not included are round-trip travel to Tanzania, your visa, and personal gear.) Climbing Kilimanjaro is a magnificent personal challenge. You’ll need to be in excellent physical condition—a great goal to shoot for in the coming year. The PSA-Kili team will ascend the mountain at a reasonable pace, both to appreciate the remarkable environment and

Join the PSA Expedition to Climb Kilimanjaro

to allow acclimatization. Your guides will teach you much about high altitude travel and help you make good decisions all along the way. This Kilimanjaro adventure will be cybercast with daily dispatches posted on the web at www.bergadventures.com. Sharing stories and photos while on the mountain will keep families and Phriends updated on the unfolding adventure on the other side of the globe. Check the ‘Dispatches’ section of Berg Adventures site soon to sample dispatches posted from recent Kili climbs and from exciting BAI adventures around the world. Explore the Berg Adventures website for opportunities to add a game-viewing safari after the Kili climb. Going into the Serengeti and other tremendous game reserves of East Africa can be the frost-ing on the Kili climb, both for team members and for family mem-bers joining them after the ascent. PSA members already planning on summiting Kilimanjaro include, Rick Touchette, Lee Huckstep, Bob Birkby, John O’Brien, Adrian “Mo” Rivas, Joe “the Schmoe” Liesz, Jim Lynch and his son, Will. Plan now to be with them at the summit of Kilimanjaro in June of 2011 when the PSA banner is unfurled at the highest point in Africa. It is going to be adventure at its very best.

For more information contact: Rick Touchette at rick.touchette@rcda.org Lee Huckstep at hstp1@aol.com Find detailed trip information at www.bergadventures.com

power of prayer 2322 power of prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to have the strength and perseverance to complete this trek.

That was my prayer when I packed to leave for Philmont. I had been preparing for eight months but didn’t know if it was enough. I was so scared and ner-vous about the physical challenge that lay ahead. Even my doctor said that the physical part would be tough, with the continuous hiking every day without a day or two of rest, especially at a higher elevation. Surely I could do this; I want-ed to see for myself why my husband and kids loved this place so much. They were supportive and definitely wanted me to go. At base camp my fears did not subside, it only made it worse when I met our crew. All were experienced hikers and had extensive training in the outdoors. Their calf muscles looked like

Popeye’s. I realized I had not trained enough. Oh my! What had I gotten my-self into? Dear God, do not let me fail. Give me strength to do this. Not only was it going to be physi-cally challenging for six days, I would be going with people who could run up these mountains and not break a sweat. Oh boy, this was going to be PHun and the stories I would tell my kids. “Yah, mom made it but only on the shoulders of her Popeye crew.” The first day hiking was straight up. We hiked to Cito. My prayer changed. Dear God, just don’t let me die. I tried to breathe but it was so hard; my heart was going to explode. That night I shivered and tried to breathe all night. My hus-band was so “in trouble” for encourag-ing me to do this. Of course he was out the minute his head hit the pillow. It rained five times that night and the most

The Power of Prayer

By Sharon Latimer

Ed Note: For those who’ve hiked Philmont trails, there is nothing particularly new or sur-prising in the story that follows. As we read it, we find ourselves nodding “Yes, that’s the way it was,"or “Of course, I remember it, too." The difference here is that the story is told by the mother of Philmont staffers as she experiences for herself the things they have tried to tell her about this special place and its magical, spiritual attraction. If you have a spouse or family member who might hesitate about joining you on a PSA trek, have him or her read this story—the signup form may be found at www.philstaff.com, by contacting Dave Romack dromack@tx.rr.com or Lee Huckstep hstp1@aol.com, or by calling the PSA office at 575-376-1138. Immediate family members are welcome to hike along.

amazing thing happened: I loved it, the quietness, the stillness, the omnipres-ence of nothingness. The next day was so unbelievable that it is hard to describe. We hiked across a stream so many times I lost count—it was like being in an animated world. There were so many sights to see that I forgot about my worries and I began to breathe. My Popeye crew was alive and energetic. It was magical. I will never be able to describe the look in their eyes of the places they had once been to in their youth and were now getting to touch, smell, and see again. Even the youth of the crew were excited and happy and were going slow for me. Thank you! Tonight will be our last night with Eric, our Ranger, who was by now more than a Ranger, a PHriend. Well, not all my worries were forgot-ten; our third day would be the tough-est. We are hiking over Mount Phillips from Cyphers Mine to Clear Creek. Up we go and up and up. My legs were going to walk away from me—in fact they simply wanted to stop and let me go on my elbows. I didn’t think I would ever get to the top. I was like a kid in the back seat, “Are we there yet, are we there yet?” Lee kept saying “You will know it when you get there.” Then past the tree line over many rocks and then I see it. Wow, oh wow, I could see forever. I had made it. No, we had made it. Somewhere up this incredible mountain it was no longer me, but us. WE MADE IT! My prayer changed again. Thank you God, for letting us see this amazing view. It is like looking through Your eyes.

A thunderstorm is rolling in so we hike on. It was downhill all the way to Clear Creek. Clear Creek is like a world within itself. If hobbits and elves lived at Philmont this is where they would call home. It is so peaceful, with tall pines, and whispering breezes that the outside world is forgotten. I don’t want to leave, I will just stay here—it can’t be better than this; my legs second it. We ate like kings this night. Every night we ate the most wonderful food (brownies, apple/cherry cobbler, and blueberry muffins) but this night was special. Jeff and Lee made spaghetti with pepperoni that was followed by cake and ice cream. The next day we go from Clear Creek to Phillips Junction. Today I hiked with God. I felt like skipping along the trail that was sandy, the scenery was magnificent, and music of the stream filled our heads with peace. At Phil-lips Junction, we stopped for lunch and showers (my legs love me again). For lunch we devoured Hudson Bay Bread that Lee had baked and shipped here as a treat for the Sommers Alumni Association members of the crew. My senses are over loaded again by the smell, taste, and feeling of being here. We go on to Fish Camp, and I hear Lee talking with Rick about this camp. Rick was Camp Director here and I see in his eyes the anticipation of getting there. When we crossed the bridge I could see the cabin and then I could hear the streams babble as they flowed by. Here in front of the cabin is the convergence of the Agua Fria and Rayado Creek to form the Rayado River. Oh my, I think I have found my secret place. When I go

24 power of prayer environment 25

back to my life away from here and the stress builds up I will always have this place to slip back to. It started to rain as we made camp. I lie in our tent in the meadow, near a stream, and listen to the light rain tapping on the tent. This is it. There is no place better than this. That night we went to the cabin for games and cards. They had a fire going and the Popeye crew was home. Home for only one night; we will hike on to Carson Meadows tomorrow. The next day is beautiful with a clear sky and a gentle breeze. We hike on and stop at an out-cropping of rocks to eat lunch and then we cross through the Notch as the wind picked up. We hiked on down to Carson Meadows. I am sad because this is our last night. I can see the Tooth of Time and I know that base camp is not far from here. I lay in the meadow that night and watch the stars for as long as my eyes will let me. It is a very clear night and I want to remember this moment forever. Morn-ing comes too soon and we pack up for the last time. We hike down to Abreu, stop for lunch at Zastrow, and then on to the turn around. It is also the last time to hear Stephen shout HIKE ON! I am completely somber by now as the day is going too fast. I have seen and expe-rienced the most amazing places and it is coming to an end. I don’t want to go. I want to walk back into the woods but the bus comes for us. Kevin shouts, “Sharon you made it!” Yea, I made it, but it wasn’t just the challenge: it was the experience, an experience with the most incredible people, an experience that you don’t

want to end. My prayer has changed once again. Dear God, thank you and watch over the Popeye crew...and God bring us home again.

Sharon was an SAA Trekker on the 2009 Trek. She is the mother of Philmont staffers Thomas Latimer [2006-2007] and Jessica Latimer [2007] both PSA Life Members. Sharon will be return-ing home to Philmont.

Aren’t YOU ready to come home?

Contact your PHacilitators and join the 2010 PSA Trek!

Dave Romack: dromack@tx.rr.comLee Huckstep: hstp1@aol.com

Do Your Part for the Environmentand help the PSA while you're at it.

The Philmont Staff Association has launched an initiative to encourage its members to move their High Country subscriptions from paper to the electronic version of the bi-monthly magazine.• It will save paper and thus help the environment.• It will save printing and postage expenses of the PSA, allowing funds to be used for other programs instead. • And it's voluntary—though we hope you will make the change. It works like this: • Contact PSA Executive Director Randy Saunders at psadirector@philstaff.com or 575-376-1138 or at 17 Deer Run Road, Cimarron NM 87714 and provide him your email address. • Ten days prior to the publication of High Country in paper format you will receive an E-mail. • Attached in pdf format will be the upcoming issue of High Country, exactly as we send it to the printer. If there's an occasional urge to reach out and touch the magazine or parts of it, you can still print it yourself—but we hope that you will simply archive it in electronic format instead. You can make the switch at any time—but we hope you'll do it now. Today. The sooner we move members to the electronic High Country, the sooner we can begin to make a difference, financially and environmentally. And when you contact Randy to make the switch, let him know if you'd like to have a PSA tote—another way you can help the environ-ment by using it instead of paper or plastic on your trips to the market. It's yours free with the thanks of the Philmont Staff Association.

remember? 2726 wagons

At the end of May this year, a Santa Fe Trail Interpretive Park will be opened in Cimarron, New Mexico. The park will be dedicated with the arrival of a wagon train and a celebration including trappers, traders, military units from Fort Union, Scouts and historical interpreters including John Carson, Stephanie Kearny and others. The dates for this celebration will be June 11-13, 2010 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Activities will begin with the arrival of the wagon train at BSA Philmont Scout Ranch on Friday afternoon. The wagons will be set up at the Philmont Museum and Seton Library to give visiting Boy Scouts and staff a chance to visit during the afternoon and evening. On Saturday morning the wagons will hitch up and travel to Cimarron to set up in the new interpretive park. They will remain in Cimarron Saturday afternoon and Sunday. The event will close Sunday afternoon. Opportunities will be offered for vendors to set up booths in the Cimarron village Park to trade goods and demonstrate historical skills. The event will be held in appropriate costume for historical vendors and will include a dinner on Saturday evening, period music in the park and historical activities for visiting children. A period church service will be held in the village park on Sunday morning. Please plan to attend this event and help to share your historical knowledge with visitors who will be coming from locations along the Santa Fe Trail. Local merchants will participate with book signing and western artists in attendance. Santa Fe Trail books and memorabilia will also be available. To date we have the following participants:

•Sevenwagons,includingthreefreightwagons,aConcordcoach, anammunitionwagon,theFortUnionSupplywagon,thefield wagon of the Topographical Engineers. •FortUnioninterpretiveunit,withofficers’ladiesandwasherwomen. •ThetopographicalEngineerUnit. •TheNewMexicoartillery. •AdelegationfromtheJicarillaApacheNation. Cimarron Chamber of Commerce www.cimarronnm.com Cimarron@gmail.com 575-376-2417

The Wagons are Coming!Reprinted from the newsletter of the Cimarron Chamber of Commerce

Calling all Northern CaliforniaPhilmont Staffers!

We have an opportunity to get together and spend a great day of Scouting at the Northern California BSA 100th Anniversary Jamboree at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA, on April 16-18, 2010. The event is being hosted by 11 councils throughout Northern California and will have many jamboree type activities for all levels of Scouting! We are expect-ing 15,000 Scouts and Scouters at this event. The BEST part is we have a Philmont Staff Association reunion set up at 2 PM (2-3:30) on Saturday, April 17th on the site. This is an opportunity to rekindle old Philmont friendships and meet other Philmont staffers who live in our own area. Come join us and spend the day amongst Scouts and Scouters of all ages. The Fairgrounds are located at 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton, CA 94566. There is a $10 admission fee onto the Jamboree site, as well as a $5 parking fee. For information, contact:Tom Giugni (NAYLE Staff 07-09) at tggiugni@aol.com or (707) 249-1046 or Barbara Rogers at barbararogers1226@gmail.com.

www.100thAnniversaryJamboree.org.

Do You Remember — Tornado Strikes Philmont HQ

Tornados are common in Oklahoma and Texas, and we have witnessed many in both states, but in the summer of 1960 a rare tornado hit the Camping Department Headquarters. Dan Shehan, the camp photog-rapher, got some very good shots of the actual funnel and some of the damage. What made it complete was the fact that he was able to get the photos on the “WIRE” immediately, and photos went out all over the country. As you might expect, the phones started ringing. Parents were checking on staff members and campers. Fortunately, there were few injuries and little severe damage. Some of the older cottonwood trees were damaged, and some staff autos were damaged, too, but nothing serious.

— Gayle Reams

28 good reading good reading 29

Scouting Frontiers: Youth and the Scout Movement's First CenturyNelson R. Block and Tammy M. Proctor, editors

good reading

Scouting is arguably the most sig-nificant youth movement in human history. Since the founding of the Boy Scouts by Robert Baden-Powell a cen-tury ago, more than 250-million people have been touched by the movement. Of course, the overwhelming majority of those who have joined a Cub pack or Scout troop never become Eagle Scouts, but the overwhelming major-ity of them—and many millions of others—have learned that the Scout’s motto is to “be prepared.” They learn that a Scout is (or at least aspires to be) trustworthy—among other quali-ties. And even a Tenderfoot Scout is required to do his best, and to do his duty to God and his country. These are not insignificant things, and that even non-Scouts know these things testify to the pervasive influ-ence of Scouting – an influence that has shaped the character of America and many other nations around the world. Indeed, this influence is so great that today, when Scouting is supposed to be old-fashioned and déclassé, sophisticates who bother to notice are often surprised to find that Scouting

currently engages more than 25-mil-lion youth in 150 countries worldwide. There is no need to look into history for Scouting’s “golden age.” That age is today. Given this history and influence, it is surprising that so little scholarly at-tention has been devoted to the impact of Scouting on the American character, and on youth worldwide. That gap has in some measure been filled in by Scouting Frontiers: Youth and the Scout Movement's First Century. This book is essentially a collection of papers presented at a February 2008 symposium on the history of Scouting. As such, the concerns of the individual essays are highly specialized. A couple of the chapter titles serve to illustrate: “Scouting Down Under: Scouting, Mili-tarism and ‘Manliness’ in Australia, 1908-1920,” or “Scouting in the Inter-war Arab Middle East: Youth, Colonial-ism and the Problems of Middle-class Modernity.” These facts about the book are just that: facts. They are not criticisms. After all, Scouting Frontiers was intended to be a scholarly book, not a potboiler,

Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009.

and the book fulfills its intentions splendidly, with solid research, meticu-lous footnotes, and wise (one might even say loving) editing by Nelson R. Block (a member of the Philmont Staff Association) and Tammy M. Proctor. Both editors have long personal and professional associations with Scouting, so they know their subject well, and the material they add to the book—introductory and concluding essays, an excellent and carefully selected bibliog-raphy, a robust index, and biographical notes on the contributors—enlarge and provide context for even the book’s most narrowly focused essays. That said, those looking for a sweeping narrative of the his-tory and impact of the Scouting movement won’t find it here. Indeed, that book has not yet been written, though in the past decade a few excellent books about Scouting have come out. On My Honor: Boy Scouts and the Making of American Youth written by Jay Mechling, one of the contributors to this sym-posium, comes immediately to mind. Legacy of Honor and Spirit of Adventure, both by Alvin Townley (and both previously reviewed in High Country), are also worthy—though hardly scholarly—additions to any Scouting library. These books excepted, the overwhelming majority that has been written about the history of Scouting—as Nelson Block writes in the first chapter

of Scouting Frontiers—“has been a combination of biography and fairy tale.” These “histories” may have cre-ated a rich storehouse of tall tales to be told around Scout campfires, but they hardly serve as history or honest social science. All of this is why Scouting Frontiers is such a welcome and important ad-dition to our knowledge of Scouting. It is a book important for what it is: solid scholarship into important moments in Scouting’s history. But it is even more important for the standard it sets for other Scouting books that in this 100th anniversary year are sure to follow.

Reviewed by Warren Smith

30 short stuff short stuff 31

short stuff

the nairn graves

In reading the history of the old Nairn place on the Casa del Gavilan website (http://www.casadelgavilan.com/),I noted this passage:

“Always one to be seen in the company of attractive young women, Nairn employed a young nurse at his residence in the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe. He had been suffering from pneumonia and on Sunday morn-ing, November 2, 1947—as reported by Ed Springer to Les Davis—it was this young nurse whom Mr. Nairn asked for a drink of bourbon. The nurse dutifully complied. Nairn finished the drink, laid back, and qui-etly passed away. He was 89 years old. Nairn’s remains were cremated and, together with the ashes of his long departed wife, they were buried near Lover’s Leap, a rock formation one mile west of Casa del Gavilan in Urraca Canyon. Springer, Sitzberger, and Hayward buried the Nairns,

then returned to Springer’s home to drink a toast of Scotch to their departed friend.”

I wonder—has anyone ever seen grave markers, or does anyone know where these graves are located?

Hennon Gilbert, '82Fort Worth TX

the fish camp incinerator

A few steps to the north of the cook’s cabin at Fish Camp sits a stone chim-ney on a two-foot high stage of dirt that is cribbed in with a stone dry wall. Philmont Expeditions hike by daily on their way to and from their high adven-ture of the day. Today, with an empty stage running into the hillside, there is nothing to suggest that in the past glory days of Philmont this was a point of great importance. While standing together with a past Philmont staff member, our memories returned to the early years of 1946-1951. Fish Camp, also called Lookout Moun-tain Base Camp, Agua Fria Base Camp, and Rayado Base Camp, was out center of great Scouting adventure and the rendezvous place for several hundred staff members that we all know by name and reputation. During the winters of 1945 and 1946 the Philmont managers, Minor Huffman and George Bullock, had the Philmont

Horse Department take teams of mules to Fish Camp where they would cut large ponderosa pine and drag them to the hillside above the stage that now holds only a stone chimney. Six or eight large ponderosa trees would provide the fuel for the Fish Camp Incinerator. Dur-ing the ‘40s, this stone chimney had a four or five foot metal chimney mounted at the top. It was 24 inches in diameter with a large hinged door with a metal latch. Beneath the chimney was a four foot space above large metal bars. Below the bars in the side of the stone chimney was an opening several feet wide and high where the fire was built and split ponderosa was thrown in to fuel a fire capable of burning all garbage and trash from the Fish Camp site. This served as an excellent incinerator prior to the time of county environmental laws. The stage behind the incinerator became the saw and axe yard. There were no chain saws, so all staff learned to properly use large two-man twelve-foot crosscut saws, and six-foot one-man crosscuts. Sixteen-inch sections were then split with single blade pole axes, sledges and wedges, to provide fuel for the incinerator. Hot blue smoke assured all of us that the fire had been well tended and that all trash was burned. Sections of wood were also cut into ten-inch lengths. These sections were then split into smaller two and three-inch sticks for the wood range, and car-ried to the cook’s cabin, where the staff ate their meals, and to the Waite Phillips Fishing Lodge to be ready to fuel the wood range or the fireplace for visiting dignitaries. The Fish Camp staff stayed

in the Long House and kept fireplace wood ready for use in its main room fireplace. A great deal of physical fitness was achieved by all staff members as those finishing current tasks were always assigned time at the incinerator. This proved to be an excellent learning expe-rience for all staff—an experience never to be forgotten.

Dan Ferguson, 46 - 51Billings MT

DO YOU REMEMBER?

“Mr. Philmont” contests?

Christmas in July?

$l.00 Banana Splits at my Art Gallery?

Visit me — Ethel Ramsey —

atETHEL’S ART LOFT

Email: ermsy@msn.comwww.ethelsartloft.com

Trompe L’Oeil &Traditional Art.

Observed by your Intrepid Editor, from the Mission Statement of the Colfax Gazette, Roger Smith, publisher: We solemnly promise to not slander, defame or humiliate, unless it is very humorous.

trail talk 3332 trail talk

book commemorating the 500th birthday of John Calvin, Reformation theologian and man of letters. The book, Calvin and the Voca-tions, is part of R&R Publishing’s “Calvin 500” series and is due out in October 2010. Address: 4701 Beechcrest Place, Charloote, NC 28269. Phone: 704-831-5600. Email: warren.smith@thecharlotteworld.com.

1980sgarry Banter (84-89) and his wife Paige (m.1990) have a daughter Ashley and a son Thomas. He works for Consolidated Grain and Barge Company as Asst. Regional Accts. Mgr. He served as Cubmaster and Scout-master in Hoosier Trails Council and Troop committee Chairman and Asst. Scoutmaster in Shawnee Trails Council, where he was also Lodge Advisor for White Horse Lodge and a member of the board. He and Thomas hiked Philmont in 2008 and stood together on top of Baldy Mountain. Address: 710 Friedman Lane, Paducah, KY 42001. Phone: 618-748-9562. Email: gwbpmb@bellsouth.net.

gordon gross (84, 87, 91, 99, 01-04, 06-08), instead of working at Philmont in 2009, with his wife Evelyn moved from Salida to Canon City—same highway (US 50), same river (Arkansas), same state (CO), new Address: 1108-B Fairview Avenue, Canon City, CO 81212. Phone: 719-315-2870. Email: grossgordy@hotmail.com.

1990schristopher hornberg (92-93) after Philmont, completed a BSEE from Arizona State University. After five years in the semiconductor business, he moved to the aerospace industry. He and his wife Kim were married five years ago at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. They have twin sons Tristan and Asher, and look forward to many outdoor adventures with them. Address: 2997 West Pepper Drive, Tucson, AZ. Phone: 602-332-2553. Email: ketill1@gmail.com.

Michael (Mic) Mullins (99-07, 09) is Back-shop Manager, Skis on the Run, Park City,

Utah. Address: P.O. Box 1902, Park City, UT 84060. Phone: 865-771-9467. Email: micmullins@yahoo.com.

Shelley taylor (93-95, 97-98) is now engaged to Nick Odille, following his proposal of mar-riage atop Baldy. Address: 948 Fairway Drive NE, Warren, OH 44483. Phone: 330-392-2536. Email: staylor@paigebyrnes.com

2000sMark Bryson (04-09) began service with the Peace Corps on March 16, where he will train to be a Community Sanitation Officer in Jamaica. He is saddened by the inability to return to Philmont staff for a seventh year, but is excited about this new venture and vows to return for reunions. Address: 3710 Hillcrest, Hudsonville, MI 49426. Phone: 616-901-4589. Email: mark@thelifeofbryson.com

Kyle “da cook” Schneider (04-08), after leaving Philmont, built a music program in Seward, Alaska—and now is busy with work, enjoying the absolutely breathtaking scenery and adventures which Alaska has to offer. Address: P.O. Box 421, Seward, AK 99664. Phone: 773-620-3833.

Brittany Smith (05-09) is teaching English to middle-schoolers in Spain for the 2009-2010 academic year. Address: c/Ancha #46, Gaudix (Granada) 18500, Spain. Email: Brittany.smith686@gmail.com.

in memoriam

Paul Durrett (47-55) died February 9, 2010 in Plano, Texas.

Bobby Joe Brooks, M.D. (50-58) died in December, 2009 in El Cajon, California.

John grout (72-73) died February 1, 2010 in Downers Grove, Illinois.

1950sAlbert (Pete) Silldorff (54-56) lives a life of commitment to Scouting and others (life member of the PSA and NESA, BSA District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, James E. West Fellow, national Jamboree staffs, and more) which was recently honored by his home community. He is a recipient of the presti-gious 2010 Jefferson Award for the Susque-hanna Valley. Address: 3029 Tunnell Hill Road, Lebanon, PA 17046. Phone: 717-273-4103. Email: petesilldorff@yahoo.com.

1960srobert (Bob) W. Anderson (69-70) retired after 29 years as a BSA professional and is now a ski bum at Breckenridge. Address: 166 North 93rd Street, Milwaukee. WI 53226. Phone: 414-258-3285. Email: BobBun1@gmail.com

Douglas r. trevett (61-64) worked for West-inghouse Electric from 1968 to 2000, his first job at Newport News building nuclear sub-marines. He started a printing and mailing

company in 1988 which he still runs today. He and his wife of 41 years, Lynne Higgs, have three children and nine grandchildren. Address: 142 East Selwood Lane, Columbia, SC 29212. Phone: 803-781-3150. Email: doug@trevett.com.

1970sDavid Ebrite (74) recently shared a Philstory with High Country. While working at Philmont (74), he checked out a copy of Larry Murphy’s Philmont: A History of the Cimar-ron Country from the Seton Library. It ended up in his gear and stayed with him till 2005 when he was lucky enough to be an adult advisor for a trek that included his son, Tyler. So, 31 years later he returned the book in ex-cellent shape—and the museum waived the late fees. That same son, tyler Ebrite (09) is a fourth generation Eagle Scout and a Philmont Ranger. Address: 5820 Stratford Drive, Gainesville, GA 30506. Phone: 770-532-4767. Email: DSEbrite@aol.com.

Warren Smith (75-79, 84-85) has contributed a chapter titled “Calvin as Journalist” to a

trail talk

PHILMONT STAFF CHECK THER TWEETS OFTEN

34 good campsite!

Always on this mountainside,I hear the voices of those who pass before, Released from worry,they listen and watch over us,

In the pebbles, in the boulders,in the softer earths of the sapling aspenAnd Uracca Creek autumn cottonwood,in the ever-changing clouds,Mooring their returned sailing ships.Welcoming respite, they do not judge but accept, Their assembly embraces alland all is home to them,Baldy to Black Mountain,Up the Rayado to Apache Springs,Rippling pathways,flyways,

They keep no right-or-wrong lists.Speak no separation diphthongs, they do not grieve their own dear losses,For you are restored to them, on the rails, in the gloom and in the gleam,They maintain the outer riggings: ten o’clock and all is well.

poetryMooring Their Returned Sailing Ships

by Greg Hobbs

Greg Hobbs

Baldy Town sits perched on the eastern slope of Old Baldy Mountain at an eleva-tion of 9,900 feet. The one-time hub of Colfax County's gold mining activities, now welcomes thousands of participants every year, and five or six lucky Philstaff who call it home for the summer. Philmont acquired Baldy Town, and over 10,000 acres of surrounding country in 1963 through the generosity and foresight of Scouter Norton Clapp. These days, Baldy Town serves as one of Philmont’s commissary camps and is literally a high point in participant and staff treks to and from the 12,441’ summit of Old Baldy. As one might expect, the “General Store” is always full of activity while staff and crews load up on jerky, apples, oranges, and the like—but it in no way over-shadows the awe and wonder of visitors to the small Baldy Town Museum. This trove of relics gathered from the ruins of the old town offers another of those wondrous Philmont opportunities where one can seemingly coexist within the present and with the pioneers who camped here over a century ago. Truly, the exhilaration of time spent at Baldy Town in the crisp (and fairly thin!) mountain air, amid shimmering Aspen and gnarled pines, can only be dwarfed by the grandeur of the views that it affords. Whether one chooses to gaze upon and study the peak of Old Baldy or take in the majesty of the unspoiled Ute Creek Valley and the plains beyond, there is little doubt that you will leave unchanged—and much for the better.

— Dave Kenneke

another good campsite

Photos by Cat Daddy