Cimarroncito, in the back country

Back country etiquette has a crew waiting to be invited onto the porch. They always are, and then are offered something to drink, like Gatorade or water. This crew is finding out all the site has to offer, including rock climbing (seriously), and in the event of rain, indoor rock climbing walls. When we went back in the evening to do a worship service, it was in the middle of a pouring down rain. The Protestant chapel has outdoor seating, so the staff was gracious to let us use the rock climbing indoor site - and over two dozen showed up. The staff at this camp is quite wonderful, and hosted us for a really great meal, including some back country cheesecake - you won't find any better! As crews are heading for sleeping bags, they have endured two pretty serious pour downs. One's prayers begin to include things like dry clothes, fresh (!) socks, and a leakless tent - all true gifts on days like this.

This magnificent outcropping is called Cathedral Rock. Another angle shows organ-pipe like structure, but I wanted to include the water of the reservoir. It was first built to be the town of Cimarron's water supply, but was never used for that. Instead, it is alive with trout, and the reflections it holds are breath taking. What we see is at least two hundred feet high, I don't know exactly.

This is near Hunting Lodge, a preserved outpost of Waite and Genevieve Phillips, although he wasn't much of a hunter. They had parties there, and guests who were hunters stayed there. The last grizzly bear was killed on the property in 1938, the year Phillips donated the first 35,000 acres to the BSA. The house is amazingly bear-proof, with heavy doors even on the interior, and special door openers that a thumbless bear could not negotiate. There are black bear claw marks on the back door from 2008. Yikes! A little more...

Tired & Muddy

That could describe Scouts by the hundreds. We attempted to take a group up to Uracca Camp, but last night's torrential rain turned the dirt road into mud. We made it down, backing part way. Whew.

Rain is inevitable at this time of year, when this high desert is transformed - it's greener, the sun-flowers are in full splendor (with 3-4" blooms), and I'm waiting to see cactus blooming, ala Isaiah 35 (the desert shall rejoice).

The day would get better...

I went with a group of Philmont Staff Association folks to the Philmont Reservoir. It's a pretty good hike, all up, but what a glorious place. The upper left is part of Tooth Ridge, leading to the afore-written about Tooth of Time. The trout were biting - for someone else. No reason to show up the guests, now is there?

The story I heard is that this was a Depression era WPA project, which means it has endured for around 75 years. It supplies all the water to Philmont's base camp. Hardly feels like government intrusion in our lives...

One of our chaplains fell and broke his arm today, so we're short another one, down to 5 of the 8 it takes to do this right. Say a prayer for Fr. Ray, I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

Just ax me

In 1953, my dad, Bob, used a rare work bonus to gain some special training for Scouters, called Wood Badge. The bronze ax was mounted in 1950 at a place called Shiff (I think that's right), a national training center. I don't know when it was moved here. Dad used lessons from his time there at Zastrow the rest of his days. It also set in motion the time he and I would be there together 13 years later, and 30/35 years after that, I would be there with Jesse (2X), and here with Peggy in '04 and now. Early Scouting had a lot of English imagery, the ax was what was awarded to a "freedman," giving him the privilege of "lopping" firewood instead of just gathering on baronal lands. So the ax became a symbol of freedom. On an earlier visit to this site I found the pre-flood creek bed, as well as some ceremonial stonework fireplaces that were likely in place when he was there. Incidentally, his Wood Badge crew went up the Tooth of Time - on horseback. His horse's name was Banjo, and he said he made a number of promises on the way up, and some more on the way down... but I doubt that Banjo ever got the expected oats, carrots, or even one date with the mare.

As the back country season moves into its last few weeks, all the departments have "Philfests." We were invited to go to Zastrow, by which flows the beautiful Ryado River. A strange thing happened in the mid-1960's. Extensive flooding changed the course of the river from one side of the camping area to the other. I've tried to imagine how that happened. Maybe somewhere upstream, enough boulders were dislodged to change the flow in that area, and the water did what it always does, seeks lower ground. The boulder on which I'm sitting here is at least six feet in diameter - so picture rocks like that flung around by the torrents. Flash flooding continues to pop up every season, but nothing like that one!

The Church of the Holy Child is right across the road, and also part of Philmont. Once a family chapel, the 1904 structure has been well preserved, and is open for mass on just one day each year - today. 19 year Philmont chaplain, Fr. Don Hummel, presided. The Maxwell family home is just across from it, also being restored, and studied along the way.

A real bonus today was seeing Edwin Terrell roll in from Cypher's Mine, where he is the camp director. It was a joy to be able to introduce him at the church service I was leading as someone from "back home." I will give everyone else the same introduction when you also show up here for a service of worship.

My old NC friend, Lee "Blue" Price, is giving a blacksmith demonstration to some Scouts who have just finished their 10 day trek. He was gracious to give us lunch, and we toured what was Kit Carson's trading post. On the Santa Fe Trail, the stage coach track. We learned that a little way off was the wagon train track, and the stage coaches did not want to get behind the wagon trains, which they were in danger of doing on one 24 mile stretch. Stage coaches went 70 miles a day, wagons 12 ... this traffic issue has a 21st century ring to it. If they'd only known, all they needed was a round about. Ok, Raleigh humor.
The staff had a serious bear incident a few weeks ago, with one of them doing hand to paw combat, and winning.

Boy Scouts of America, Happy Birthday! July 27, the new Scouting stamp was unveiled at Philmont, as it was the day before at the National Jamboree. This represents 100 years of Scouting, a direct result of Lord Robert Baden Powell's vision in England. National and local postal officials were on hand in front of the Villa Philmonte, the home of the legendary Waite Phillips, also donated to Philmont (it is now used as a museum. I started saving stamps at about age 9 in Cub Scouts, and still have the 50th anniversary of Scouting from 1960. I'm not old, I'm durable.

"Congratulations! You're a chaplain's aide - pick out the softest rock and have a seat." And they do. Then I give them the lowdown on what the chaplain staff does. They, however, are now youth spiritual leaders for their crews. They get a white pack tag (something of a prize), which is filled with info on how to do their job. From there, I greet a gathering of all their advisors, highlighting some of the same information, and encouraging them to support these young people, especially in encouraging their whole crew to earn the "Duty To God" award - a unique Philmont creation. It is another important way that Scouts live up to the 12th of the Scout laws, "A Scout is reverent."
In a couple of days I have the opportunity to lead a crew in a devotion at 5:30 am, watching the sun rise from Window Rock. How I merited that duty has something to do with being the new guy, I'm pretty sure.

See, here's the deal - my back was to this most ominous cumulo-nimbus... moments later, we were drowned out, but not before I had received the offering, given away 100th anniversary of Scouting Bibles, and blessed 'em on their way. I guess I'm mostly forgiven, but there were some drowned rats, er, Scouts.

The new day found me covering a variety of camping headquarters duties, meeting staff, speaking to rangers, outbound chaplain's assistants, and advisors. Even on a day when it rained ALL day long, the feel of the place is magnificent. I really enjoyed listening to the patter of the staffers doing their various routines. The wet weather made back country driving too hazardous to, uh, hazard, so I missed my first venture to one of the great camps, Beaubien. More cometh.

Philmont Eve
Spending the night at the Liberal Inn, in Liberal, Kansas. Home of Dorothy, of Wizard of Oz reknown, and also the International Pancake Festival. Please tell me how it gets any better than that.
Tomorrow, I'll roll into Philmont Scout Ranch, 214 square miles of wilderness, with over 300 miles of trails, and lots of black bears. 20,000 or so Scouts go through here every year. Oddly, I arrive just as the National Jamboree week is about to begin, marking 100 years of Boy Scouts in the USA. Because of that, Philmont is able to host a week long staff reunion - a truly great week for me to begin.
So I'll be in the midst of buffalo roaming, deer and antelope playing (they don't play well with each other). It will be my home for the next month... my sixth journey to Scouting's promised land. I'll meet with Elder Wilson and learn my rotation of assignments.
I hope to begin to add pictures soon. I'll take any prayer requests you want lifted from a mountain top!

Countdown 7 days

Hello, Phil Fans!

Philmont Scout Ranch, near Cimarron, NM. One of the many staff-driven proclivities is to make everything a Phil-something. Thus the title and greeting.