Merit Badges at McKee

The Merit Badge classes are good this year. All of our guys seem to like what they are taking. Space Exploration is a favorite. Maybe because Aaron is teaching it?

Speaking of Aaron, the "National Enquirer" snapped a pic of what looks to be him with and an unknown person. Ask him about it?

Romance Merit Badge??

Entrepreneurship Merit Badge is a newer class at McKee.

Anthony, Will, and Ranger Ken looking at a Northern Tier map.

McKee 2008

We get checked in quickly and head to Campsite #3, as usual. Medical review, swim checks, and all of the rules and regulations.

Only 5 Scouts this year. Devin P. (4th year), Jared A., Mac H., Evan C. (all 2nd year), and Manvir B. (1st year). Aaron Shepherd and Will Hogg are on Staff again this year. Hugh B. and I are the 2 leaders, with Daniel "The Weather Man" Gaeddert staying with us for the 5th year in a row.

Brother Troops from P-burg, Salyersville, and Elkhorn City are here at the same time again.

Good supper and a great opening campfire by the Staff.

Doug Ramey, Ralph Mullins, and Glen Felty make the scene.

HoggMan wants a beard like the rest of the climbing instructors.

Austin N. from P-burg is hard at work in handicraft.

Campsite #3 at McKee is Troop 12's 2nd home!

Camp McKee

No rest for the Scouted.

I'm packing up today to go with the Troop to Camp Mckee on Sunday.

More about that adventure in a week!

Back to Kentucky----->

Up at 5:00 am again. Quick breakfast at the dining hall. We board our bus and head back to Albuquerque to catch our plane.

Back in KY, we have a late dinner at the Dairy Queen in Clay City. Is there any place else?

We arrive back in Pikeville around 11:30 pm. We are full of adrenaline and have been talking all the way home.

I wonder how many times, I will think about all of the guys and our adventures at Philmont in 2008?

We Made It !

Up at 5:00 am. Many people are out of water and dehydrated. We hike out early while it is cool.

Finally after what seemed like a thousand switchbacks downhill, we make it back to Base Camp at 8:15 am.

We check in, turn in gear, eat at the snack bar, buy stuff at the trading post, take showers, and rest.

After lunch, we visit the Seton Museum and Library and Vila Philmonte, Waite Phillips' home.

The closing campfire is entertaining and inspiring.

The sun rises on some beautiful mountains.

One of the prettiest pieces of lumber that I have ever seen!

REAL FOOD ?!?!?!?!?!

The Tooth

Since we had all started this trip, there was one thing that was on everyone's mind. Getting to the top of the Tooth of Time.

We leave 'Cito, go through Clark's Fork, and when we get to Ponderosa, we hear that there is no water ahead. We send a crew back to get limited water and have to carry uphill all day. The Tooth Ridge camp is also dry. We finally make it, after 7 hours and 45 minutes, of the toughest hiking yet.

We all climb up the steep boulders of the Tooth to see the best sight ever. I have the honor of presenting Don and Michael with their Venturing Ranger awards.

It has been exactly 30 years, since I was last on this rock back in 1978. I challenged all youth members to return back in 30 years, 2038 for the 100th anniversary of Philmont.

Icing on the cake boys!

Rock Climbers Dream

We have another lay over day here at 'Cito. Rest and hot showers are badly needed. 4 guys go out early and get the last food that we need.

This place is all about rock climbing and rappelling. Along with the natural rock formations, they have an indoor climbing gym and a 2 sided man made wall to climb on.

The old arena with totem poles from the 1950's is still here, but not used any longer.

Brain buckets are required.

Not as easy here as you would think.

Part of one of the old totem poles at the Cimarroncito old arena.

Cimarroncito

Off of this cold rock they call Mt. Phillips and on to Cimarroncito or 'Cito for short.

Breakfast at Commanche Peak. Lunch at Cypher's Mine. While we are there, we pan for gold and tour an old gold mine.

All down hill today. Through Hunting Lodge and finally make it to 'Cito at 4:30. This has been the longest hike so far.

There's gold in them 'thar hills.

Mole skin is an essential tool at Philmont.

Always something to do like eating and cleaning at every camp.

Mount Phillips

Today is Michael Shepherd's 18th Birthday. Nice!

Up to Mt. Phillips. We travel through Clear Creek and take a break and throw some tomahawks there and load up on water to take with us. Phillips is a dry camp, so we must carry all we need.

After 3 hours and 15 minutes of grueling and almost straight up hiking, we make it to the summit and it starts to snow. There are small snow drifts abound.

A very cold, wet, and windy camp. Most go to bed at 6:00, just to stay warm.

Hawk throwing is very cool!

On top of Mount Phillips.

Turning 18 at 11,711 feet.

Wild Horse

Break is over. Up early and head to Wild Horse primitive camp.

Eat breakfast at Phillip's Junction, through Porcupine and Crooked Creek. We arrive at noon at the top of a mountain with springs, marshes, and a bunch of mosquitoes.

We find a fresh bear scratch on a tree near our spring. Lots of bear poop around too. So we are very careful here.

We get almost beaten to a pulp by marble sized hail.

The wild flowers are awesome.

Bear Scratching near spring.

Hail in June? Only at Philmont!

Conservation

Our 2nd day lay over at Beaubien. We volunteered to perform 3 hours of conservation service. Our job was to help in cutting down and removing selected trees. Along with the project, we learned about the importance of conservation.

4 guys go and pick up our next few days of food at Phillip's Junction.

More roping, branding, and horse shoes. Finally we have about 30 minutes of rain. It is so dry out here, that there is a fire ban, so no campfires, just backpacking stoves.

The staff fixes us a Chuck Wagon dinner of beef stew, biscuits, and peach cobbler. Yummy!

Michael Shepherd getting ready to"cut up".

Viet and Devin get into the action.

They are also good at the 'shoes too!

Peach Cobbler is such a wonderful thing!

Beaubien

Off to Beaubien. Only 1 hour and 45 minutes to this cattle ranch camp site. Set up, more Rook card playing, roping, hot iron branding, horse shoe pitching, hot shower, and clean clothes.

Beans and rice for supper tonight. Great meal.

Beaubien is all about cowboys and wranglers. The campfire show is awesome. Viet Pham, aka the "Asian Hammer" wins the Irish Jig contest and is famous the rest of the trip.

The lodge at Beaubien.

Branding is very popular here.

Wonderful music and singing.

The Asian Hammer becomes a celebrity over night!

Black Mountain

We leave Crater Lake and go through Miner's Park and finally make to Black Mountain after 6 hours of hiking. We crossed the creek 48 different times!

Black Mountain is home to the Union Army, black powder shooting, and blacksmithing. Setting by the creek and cooling your feet is nice, but extremely cold.

No campfire program here. This is the Army! All participants must learn drill maneuvers and is one of the funniest things that I have ever seen.

Blacksmithing is a new skill to learn for most.

MAN, that water is cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Line up you bunch of green horns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All staff at these camps really play the part well.

Crater Lake

Onward and upward to Carter Lake. We arrive around 10:00 after a short 1 hour and 45 minute hike. We set up tents, Bear Bags, and everything else pretty quickly.

Crater Lake camp is home to spar climbing, railroad tie making, and general logging. In our spare time, we begin a Rook tournament.

The campfire program here is great. Guitars, singing, and funny jokes with all of the logger guys. ( Alan Watts would love this place! )

Don't look down. Just climb!

Lift and go!

Great show with and even better view.