Who me?

I know I said "the end" yesterday, but I have had another day to close up shop. After dinner tonight, this deer appears ready for mass at the Catholic chapel. It's friend grazed contentedly nearby. There were four more (2 does, each with fawn) at the Protestant chapel - either the deer are getting holier or we're getting less threatening in the late season.

After very moderately attended services tonight, it was time to "drain the machines" at the snack bar, always a hit with remaining staff. One discovers there are a few more around than one thought!

The road home beckons. I am thankful for both my point of departure and my destination. Thanks to all of you who have given these lines a read - I hope you've discovered something about the chaplaincy at Philmont. In writing, I have only deepened my love for this place, and for the God who made it.

And so it ends!

I'm not really as happy as I look! The closing campfire is a daily occurrence from mid-June until August 20. Lots of staff turned out to join the 450 campers who came down the mountain the last day. As film of early crews (1941) played, I gave thanks for my Dad, for Jesse, for Peggy, all of whom have shared this Philmont experience. Dad came out for Woodbadge in 1953 (I'm sure I've said that), and so I have lived on his stories, mine, and ours for lo, these 57 years.

I will host one more service tonight, as some staff remain here at base. I expect it to be the classic "where two or three are gathered," but what a privilege. At last night's service, four deer came running almost into the chapel, looking intently at everyone, then proceeded to nonchalantly graze their way around the perimeter. Added to the approximately 40 horses just over the fence - it was altogether fitting. Here are the words of the Philmont Hymn, written in 1946 Philmont legend, John Westfall:

Silver on the sage, starlit skies above, aspen covered hills, country that I love.

Philmont, here's to thee, Scouting paradise, out in God's country tonight.

Wind in whispering pines, eagles soaring high, purple mountains rise against an azure sky.

Philmont, here's to thee, Scouting paradise, out in God's country tonight.

I am almost 10-8, base to Raleigh.

On top of the world

One gets that sense from many locations scattered around 137,000 acres (214 sq mi). This is Sawmill Camp, where staff described that morning's sunrise as spectacular. On their last day there, they weren't about to miss it! A wonderfully spiritual group of loggers.

I think I mentioned this is 9280 feet above sea level. Scouts from Florida and New Jersey and yes, North Carolina, have considerable altitude adjustment. Every now and then, at 6700 ft here in base camp, I find myself taking in several deep breaths - catching up. I hear the air is a little, uh, thicker in NC.

Colleagues

Jim DeLair of Buffalo, NY, is my fellow Protestant chaplain, along with four Catholic and a Latter Day Saints. The collegiality among the team is exceptional, and shows a real ecumenical spirit. Yes, we do our individual services, but we are chaplains for the whole ranch, in peak time about 4500.

The days are shortening in length and in number. The cool of the evening comes more quickly. This evening, I had an errand in town, and saw dozens of pronghorns (they're not antelopes, technically), the buffalo herd,

I got to go to Sawmill camp today, one of the places I hiked to in '95. It's at 9280 ft, which is 4,000 ft higher than Denver, the "mile high" city. The five staff we brought in (gathered) were reluctant for the season to close, and as with most, are making plans to return.

As I go to Cypher's Mine tomorrow, I'll miss their locally world famous "stomp," with fiddle, banjo, etc., and a dance whose steps are, well, more of a "stomp!"

Cypher's Mine is 10-7 for the season!

Led by camp director Edwin (left), the CM staff calls is a summer. Last thing, they gather around the short wave and sign off - they actually sang off, to the entertainment of everyone listening in.

This camp is 20 mi into the back country, terrain so rugged that tents can't be pitched, so campers stay in 3-sided Adirondaks (which is something of a relief, in my experience!). They also feature a "stomp," and this is a truly talented group, well placed for this program.

The ride down (90 minutes) to base camp was a chance to find out all about their summer, the high points, the challenges, and an unending stream of fun and funny things that had happened. They are not as isolated as it sounds, as about every 9 days they get 3 days off - many of which are spent, you guessed it, hiking more of the back country.

Oh yes, the "10-7" - when one is en route to a destination, one is "10-8," when one arrives, one signs off with "10-7."

Trail Bibles - cool!

A highlight of each worship service is giving "trail Bibles" to trekkers. In a long-standing tradition, the Bibles are donated by the National Assoc. of United Methodist Scouters and United Methodist Men. This summer, the Bibles were a special edition commemorating 100 years of the Boy Scouts of America. One of my fellow chaplains (Jim) tells them it's the lightest weight Bible ever made, printed on helium paper, and to take it on the trail will actually make one's load lighter. There's bound to be some truth in there somewhere.

"Gather" continues, and I will be able to go to Cypher's Mine to bring in Fairmont-rooted Edwin Terrell and his crew (Thursday). Don't think he knows I'm coming, although I have seen him this summer.

All the crews we see now are home bound, lots of staff has headed off to start school, and the machinations continue to work very well. Philmont is just remarkable!

What's cookin'?

"Chuck Wagon tonight!" That is a welcome cry, one heard in the vicinity of Beaubien. After varying degrees of rehydrated food, beef stew, biscuits, and sometimes cobbler are more than welcome. The "vat" is full of fire, making coals, which are stacked over and under the Dutch ovens, also in the vat. Fairmont, you know the sound they make - MmmM!

Fr. Mike 2 and I rode up the winding logging road to do services at "B" on Sunday, but decided it was underpublicized, and the census is way down - we've agreed on a couple of steps to make a better experience next year.

"Gather" hits its stride tomorrow. I'll be back at "B," in part to pick up tools of the "cons" crew stationed there all summer (no, not that kind of cons - "conservation!"). Trekkers spend several hours in service somewhere along the way, integral to the Philmont experience, as well as Scouting. After the big fire of '02, leadership decided to do some thinning of down timber, making less fuel (lightening strikes start small fires every year), but also in hopes of making remaining trees healthier. It is a kind of a lab for seeking the proper "balance of nature."