New Hanover Scouts Trekking 100 Miles of Wilderness in 12 Days – Reading Eagle

This summer, nine New Hanover teens embarked on a life-changing adventure backpacking the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.

Known as Travel Crew # 2, the New Hanover Township Troop 367 Boy Scout hikes nearly 100 miles in 12 days, backpacking on the territory of bears and mountain lions, steep climbs on the Phillips Mountains, encounters and more. Faced many challenges. Rapidly changing and sometimes dangerous weather.

Philmont Scout Ranch is America’s largest national high-adventure-based boy scout covering 140,177 acres of rugged mountain wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains in northeastern New Mexico. The Scout Ranch operates camps with 35 staff and 55 trail camps on rugged terrain between 6,500 and 12,441 feet above sea level. Since the first camp season in 1939, more than a million scouts, ventures and advisors have experienced Philmont’s adventures (https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/).

New Hanover Scout Jake Dawson, 18; Michael Beck, 18; Joe Super, 18; Nick Burger, 16; Neal Brounce, 15; Christian Gartshore, 14 years old. Zac Womer, 17; Connor McCartney, 17 years old. And 17-year-old Griffen O’Brien can count himself among those who experience an adventure in Philmont.

“I loved finding gold dust spots in a stream that was flowing so fast that the gold bowl station was closed. I also enjoyed hiking on Mount Phillips and the view from the top.” — Boyertown Scout Joe Super

While in Philmont, the New Hanover Scout carried everything he needed to survive while hiking on the camp-to-camp trail.

“The most rewarding thing for me was climbing a mountain called Trail Peak, which is a much straighter road up to 10,000 feet,” said the BSA unit in New Hanover Township. Christian Estebeth Gart Shore, a 367 star scout, said. “I and my crew had to stop many times before we could reach that peak.”

They participated in backcountry programs such as rock climbing, fly fishing, pole sparring, gold mining, blacksmithing, and powerful rifle shooting, as well as conservation projects that helped maintain the Philmont ecosystem.

“One of my favorites at Philmont was 3D archery at one of the camps. Basically, we were shooting fake deer, bears and rabbits,” said Esteves Gartshore. Told.

There were many moments competing for his favorite part of the trip, but what stood out at Boyertown’s Scout Joe Super was a hike at the Gold Pan Station and Mount Phillips.

“I loved finding gold dust spots in the stream that was flowing so fast that the gold bowl station was closed. I also enjoyed hiking on Mount Phillips and the view from the top.”

“The only part of the whole trip that I always look back and hate was the trail of tears. It’s a long winding path down the mountain, most of the time I look at the camp, turn my back and then turn back. , And so on, all under the scorching sun, with minimal shade, “Super added.

Overall, supers have a better understanding of backcountry life, and on the trails, if you want to make sure you do what you want to do, even if it wakes up at 4am and hikes in the dark. Means

“On the first day, I passed through a geocaching camp, but it seemed a bit sunny because it was raining a lot, and I was able to reach the campsite. I set it up before it started to rain again,” said Super. Said.

Jim Gartshore, Scott Lepa and Jeff Beck of the New Hanover Scout Corps acted as adult advisors on this trip.

“I know the boys got a lifelong memory of their experience at Philmont,” Gartshore said. “They definitely understood what they could achieve. Some boys asked internal questions about the physical challenges of hiking and climbing with a weight of over 45 pounds. I hugged, but everyone was working hard, and I hoped that teamwork and friendship would work together to get things done and learn the value of supporting each other in the process. “

In most cases, their crew were alone on the trail and camping alone.

“The biggest challenge I’ve ever had was going out in the middle of the backcountry with no support other than gear, maps and a compass,” said Gartshore. “The miles were long and the weather changed quickly, but despite the rain shower and the storm of hail popping up, we all slept every night with a full, warm and dry sleeping bag!”

He said the scouts were grateful and confident in knowing what they could achieve individually and collectively.

“Adventures like Philmont require applying many of the skills that Scouts have learned over the years. Important life skills such as cooking, first aid, knots, orienteering, many that are already better than anyone else. It’s a skill. Don’t join the scout, “Gartshore said.

Crew # 2 was greeted three times in 12 days, twice at the summit, and once in a full-scale thunderstorm with pea-sized hail.

Other crew members sent boys and adults back to the base camp clinic due to hypothermia, ankle twists, back tension, and home illness, but Crew # 2 worked together as a united team. I did all the chores every day and continued my average hike. According to him, it’s nearly 11 miles a day, with 1,500 to 3,000 feet of ups and downs every day.

“The Philmont adventure was energetic and physically demanding, but it was very rewarding as we all completed all the steps of the road together,” Gartshore said.

There were three adults on the trip, but they only gave guidance. The scouts had to make their own decisions as a team.

Beck hopes that this trip has given the Scouts the courage to face the challenge head-on and a sense of independence and self-confidence.

“It will give them the confidence that they can survive without the ability to google all the comforts of the home and the answers to all.”

He also wants to encourage others to strive to continue this adventure by explaining the adventure to young boys in the army.

“My wish is for all young people, boys and girls, to know this opportunity to join the scouts and plan to go to Philmont someday. It was life-changing for me. And they gave me confidence in my daily life. “

Lepa wants to move away from the experience of having a deeper understanding of what Scouts can achieve with preparation and patience.

“Two of the basic goals of Scouting are to develop outdoor leadership skills and gratitude,” says Repa. “Filmont is arguably the ultimate scouting experience to drive both of these goals. For almost two weeks, our scouts have a very beautiful and very challenging backcountry setting in Rocky Mountain. So it was my responsibility to ensure that all members of the crew (including adults) were kept safe. From this, the satisfaction gained by pushing personal limits to expand my abilities. I think everyone learned the feeling. “

Although Philmont is a physically demanding environment, Repa believes that the biggest challenge for Scouts was to maintain a positive attitude both before trekking and on the trail.

“Philmont trekking is an experience that requires both physical and mental strength. Both are personal attributes that help the participating Scouts while preparing for the challenges they face outside and as adults.” — Scott・ Repa, adult advisor

Preparations began more than a year before the trip and included countless meetings, planning sessions and training trekking. Through these experiences, Scouts set long-term goals, break them down into preparation milestones, and sometimes continue to focus on the ultimate goal in a tedious task, when unexpected complications occur. I learned how to adapt to.

“As a youth-led program, it is imperative that scouts do most of this work themselves, and adults only act as mentors and guides,” Lepa said. “Our scouts, especially those in key leadership positions such as crew leaders (Connor McCartney) and navigators (Neil Brows), encounter both through trekking planning and execution, and all scouts encounter along the way. I learned from both successes and failures. “

“In order to fully understand and enjoy the rugged beauty that makes Philmont a special place, we need to fit in different ways,” Lepa added. “Philmont trekking is an experience that requires both physical and mental strength. Both are personal attributes that help the participating Scouts while preparing for the challenges they face outside and as adults.”

As an adult leader, Lepa said he was honored to be able to help promote this experience for the New Hanover Scouts.

“Helping our crew scouts build their leadership skills and experience the trips they will remember for a lifetime added another dimension to the unforgettable experience that was the trip itself. . “