Philmont Scout Ranch - Pre-Trek Guide to Travel and Base Camp

[@Jj-dr5hi]

Thank for the info. Im going to Philmont in 3 days. We going to fly from CA to Denver and drive over.

[@CampingGearReport]

Have a great trip and trek. Say Hi if you see me. I’ll arrive in a few days for a 617 trek. 😎

[@Jj-dr5hi]

@@CampingGearReport It was a great experience. It rained everyday. My crew went 70 miles

[@Yingchanlan]

Great video. Going Philmont tomorrow. Wish us luck!😊

[@GearreportdotCom]

Very cool. We leave tonight. I’m with a 617 crew this year. 😎

[@Yingchanlan]

@@GearreportdotCom Hi, a quick question, I plan to use propane canister. How many big ones will be enough for a 12-days hike?

[@CampingGearReport]

@@Yingchanlan Depends on many factors. Most folks that use iso-butane canisters report using 1.5-2x of the large canisters.

[@Yingchanlan]

@@CampingGearReport thank you for the tips! Have a safe trip.

[@GearreportdotCom]

You have a safe trip also. 😎

[@iluvsooubway8008]

I’m going in 3 days

[@GearreportdotCom]

Safe travels. I've been home a bit over a week since my last trek. Almost ready to go back. :)

[@iluvsooubway8008]

I came back and it was awesome! I liked the little root beer cantina at Abreu

[@GearreportdotCom]

They were using river water last time I was there. Odd tasting rootbeer. 😎

[@seanlewis7665]

19 years after going to Philmont myself I see the tradition of the trek leader carrying the flag and leading the way still continues! Good luck everyone hitting the trail. Piece of advice, carry a small journal and document your hike daily. You will look back on it decades later and want those details!

[@GearreportdotCom]

Completely agree!

[@christinebicanic]

I will never make it to Philmont (I am 69) but I am planning to backpack the Porcupine Miuntains and Isle RoyleNP. thanks for the inspiration!

[@GearreportdotCom]

Glad we could help. :)

[@buildwalls2001]

Great video! You really nailed Basecamp. I wish I saw this before we went on our track. Thank you so much!

[@Jerry-re5ys]

I am also a Scouter from Central NC so your points about Pre-Trek activities on the way to Base Camp is very helpful. I am going this summer (2022) to complete my triple crown, following Florida Sea Base last summer and Okipik Northern Tier this past January. Definitely going to send this video to my crew!

[@GearreportdotCom]

Glad it was helpful! Where are you going from? I went with a Burlington crew in 2017 and a Charlotte crew in 2021. I'm still a free agent for this summer... :)

[@MrRayMac1963]

We did Philmont this summer. 720S2! It was an incredible experience.

[@GearreportdotCom]

Awesome! Which trek did you do?

[@MrRayMac1963]

@@GearreportdotCom We were south, from Schaefer's around the ridge through Garcia cow, to the Tooth of time. Our Scouts loved it.

[@bbayles4052]

Im leaving for philmont with the rest of my venture crew on Sunday!! I'm so excited!! This video was very helpful and informative

[@GearreportdotCom]

Thanks! Have a great trek. Say Hi to William at ToTT, while you are there.

[@coopergoss350]

My uncle called my dad today about his new baby, and talked to me about "making money no object" if I wanted to go to Philmont. I'm not sure how serious he was, but I figure I better get prepared before I'm sent out halfway across the country lol.

[@GearreportdotCom]

That is very fortunate for you. I'm working on the next Philmont gear review video. It will post in a few weeks when I get back from an extended camping trip.

[@coopergoss350]

@@GearreportdotCom Thanks!👍

[@swgarner1]

Thank you so much man me and my dad leave tommorow (June 29) and we’ve never done anything like this before, but your video really helped. Thanks again man god bless

[@GearreportdotCom]

Can't wait to hear how your trek went!

[@puckaneer]

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like a pretty packed schedule once a crew arrives at base camp.

[@GearreportdotCom]

Yes. It is a lot to do in one day.

[@paulhughes2520]

Great Video and Great Website! We are heading out in about a month!

[@GearreportdotCom]

Dude. I'm super jealous. Have a great trip. Which itinerary?

[@clementgeorge2449]

Great Video!!

[@GearreportdotCom]

Thanks! It took a lot of work to make it happen. Glad you liked it.

[@issacwhaley5720]

Ahh brings back goood memories

[@GearreportdotCom]

Making the video brought back good memories for me as well.

[@henrivanbemmel]

Thanks for the video as preparation aspects were very interesting. However as a Canadian who has no empathy for the US gun culture, and given the terrible level of gun crimes in the US, seeing a row of 14 year olds encouraged by their leaders, proudly holding an automatic weapon is very disturbing. Following that with a tour of the Air Force Academy makes me wonder if this is the Boy Scouts or the Boy Soldiers? Is that all there is in the Denver area to improve the minds of young men? I think it would do everyone a lot of good if young people knew absolutely nothing about guns. Aside from a few hunting rifles, all the others were designed and constructed for the sole purpose of taking human life. I believe that is illegal if not wholly immoral.

[@GearreportdotCom]

Your issues with tools is just that, your issue. Not my problem. If you choose to allow your government and criminals a massive advantage that makes it easy for them to run roughshod over you, then so be it. I think that is silly. As long as nobody tries to take my life or the lives of those I care about, then my guns are no threat at all, regardless if they are marketed as "hunting" guns or for some other purpose. Your fantasy about people knowing nothing about guns is cute. That genie is out of the bottle and can't be put back in. Either you have them and know how to use them, or you give a deadly advantage to everyone that would do you harm that does have them. That is just a fact of how life works... even if you don't like guns.

[@GearreportdotCom]

Also, your ignorant statement about "automatic weapon" is telling. Do you think that any black rifle is automatic? Do you even understand what "automatic" means? What evidence did you see in the video to suggest any of them were automatic?

[@henrivanbemmel]

@@GearreportdotCom Frankly, I don't really care. I glad I don't live in a country so obsessed with personal, vigilante violence it seems almost proud of it. No one should be allowed to own such weapons. If the playing field was not so inequitable perhaps, there'd be less of a threat. I dunno, but I'd bet there are more folks injured or killed in the US each year by accidents or kids getting access to improperly stored guns than any folks that stopped by a gun owner in defense of life or property. It comes off to me as this macho 'he-man' mentality borrowed from a long dead wild west, wholly inappropriate to mire civilized world. Law enforcement is trained in the use if weapons, you don't get to take the law into your own hands, which is far more probable with emotionally untrained people with easy access to

[@Nick_DaBoss]

This is so cool, my troop and I are going this summer. I'm kinda nervous though. What do I do to prepare for the high altitude?

[@GearreportdotCom]

Great question. Here is an article that might help you prepare: gear-report.com/flatlanders-guide-to-altitude-sickness-while-backpacking-at-philmont/ And you might want to join our FB group: facebook.com/groups/455632648316853

[@colinhollywells9673]

A little late, but how cold would you say it gets at night and in the evening?

[@GearreportdotCom]

That completely depends on a TON of variable... like: when, where (altitude is very important), and weather patterns at the time. You can see the general seasonal weather archive here: weather.com/weather/monthly/l/Cimarron+NM?canonicalCityId=ed2bc1ac3c0eff079ccb7b0ed059e5356a9a01597178cc03720f808238bdc4a1 The PSR website FAQ says this: "During the summer, daytime temperatures commonly reach 80 to 90° F but with very low humidity. Night time temperatures are usually very comfortable and sometimes even a bit chilly (occasionally reaching into the 40s and even lower at higher elevations). Mid-afternoon thundershowers are fairly common but seldom last more than an hour."

[@diegoornelas3394]

And is the packing list they give at Philmont the same one on the phillmont on the website

[@GearreportdotCom]

Same list. They give you the list way ahead of time so you don't show up empty handed... Or with the wrong gear.

[@MatanColl]

I know that in the trek guide it says that there will not be any locations to charge any electronic devices. But is this true. Also what size portable battery packs do you recommend.

[@GearreportdotCom]

There are no electrical outlets in the backcountry available to campers.

[@colonelspicymustard]

There's effectively no outlets in the back country, shy of maybe a few in the bigger camps like Ponil. There's also no cell service almost anywhere, so bringing a phone would be pointless unless you're just using it for a camera. That being said, there are a decent handful of accessible outlets at base camp with nearby seating, and iirc security will charge and lock up any devices you want. I'd leave pretty much any electronic in your locker at base camp.

[@moparmanicgarage]

Do they search your bags?

[@GearreportdotCom]

Who? Airlines? TSA? Your Ranger? I suppose any of them could.

[@clementgeorge2449]

The United States Air Force Academy. Yeeaaa! That's what I am talking about.

[@GearreportdotCom]

It was a neat visit.

[@californyea2992]

Do you know if it’s ok to use a loaner pack

[@GearreportdotCom]

Not sure I understand the question. Do you mean is it OK for you to borrow a backpack from someone for your trek? Sure. Philmont doesn't care if it is a borrowed pack or not. Or do you mean can you use one of Philmont's loaner packs? I wouldn't. But some folks do.

[@californyea2992]

Yeah I was talking about Philmont’s loaner packs, I was gonna use one but it doesn’t seem like such a good idea

[@GearreportdotCom]

You might like this article, which talks about rental packs in more detail: gear-report.com/best-budget-backpacking-gear-philmont-boy-scouts

[@clementgeorge2449]

M + M firearms. Yeeaaa! That's what I am talking about.

[@GearreportdotCom]

I've known the owner for a few years. They make some rather cool guns.

[@diegoornelas3394]

Are they really strict about gear

[@GearreportdotCom]

Depends. If the Ranger thinks you know the Philmont rules and know what you are doing, then they can have some flexibility. But if not, then they will worry that you might not be able to complete the trek safely. Then they would be very strict.

[@thomascole2174]

Plot twist: he didn’t actually go on the trip?

[@GearreportdotCom]

LoL This was filmed before our 2017 Trek. :)

[@stufflyd3317]

Florida sea base is better.

[@GearreportdotCom]

"Better" depends on what you like. I'd be happy to go to either any time.

[@stufflyd3317]

There both good but I’d rather do sea base

[@GearreportdotCom]

Ok. Let us know how it goes

[@stufflyd3317]

I’ve already done both. I like water stuff more so sea base was my favorite.

[@GearreportdotCom]

Great to hear that you liked it. :)

[@ElCheapo3]

HoME

[@GearreportdotCom]

:)

[@jakevinton2075]

I am going on the horse one this summer and I was wondering if scouts can have their phones on the trail and do scouts have any access to any power source at or around tent city

[@GearreportdotCom]

I hope you have a great trek. Scouts are not supposed to take any electronics on the trail except for cameras. Scouts have very limited access to power in tent city. I'm thinking it is just the shared outlets in the bathrooms. There is no power to the tents.

[@jakevinton2075]

Thank you so much for the help and I have one more question. Do you know if scouts can take HAM radios with them since our troop has a few certified scouts. Again thank you for responding this quickly.

[@GearreportdotCom]

The Philmont guide to adventure booklet is available online and I believe it addresses this. I ama away from my desk. But From what I recall though, they do not want non-Philmont staff radios in the back Country. Your senior advisor could ask Philmont if this is a strong concern for your crew. I recommend that all adult advisers carry a cell phone for emergencies. Many parts of Philmont have sufficient signal for emergency voice calls. However there are zero places to charge phones.

[@jakevinton2075]

That helps my crew so much, Thank you for all of your help.

[@GearreportdotCom]

No problem. Be sure to check out our Philmont articles on gear-report.com and Our other Philmont videos as well.