June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3

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Non-Profit Organization high countrY check us out! www.philstaff.com ® Mission unites (PSA) Association Staff Philmont The and present— staff—past Philmont the adventure, purpose of serving the the for Ranch Philmont of experience and heritage . and the 17 DEER RUN ROAD CIMARRON NM 87714 Our Mission High Country®—Volume 37, Number 3 Philmont Staff Association® June 2014 Board Of Directors Ed Pease, Editor Mark Dierker, Layout Editor John Murphy, President Colleen Nutter, Vice President, Membership Randy Saunders, Associate Editor Tim Rosseisen, Vice President, Service Bill Cass, Copy Editor Warren Smith, Vice President, Development Dave Kenneke, Staff Contributor Adam Fromm, Secretary Kevin “Levi” Thomas, Cartoonist Matt Lindsey, Treasurer in this issue Contributing Editors National Directors columns Robert Birkby David Caffey Amy Boyle Bill Cass Gregory Hobbs Ken Davis Warren Smith Mark Stinnett Bryan Delaney 4 from the prez Mary Stuever Stephen Zimmer Catherine Hubbard Lee Huckstep 16 short stuff - the dance High Country® is the official publication of the Steve Rick 28 ranch roundup - eric martinez Philmont Staff Association® and is published six times per year as a benefit to its members. Regional Directors Northeast © 2014, The Philmont Staff Association, Inc. Kathleen Seitz articles All rights reserved. No copyright claimed for Rick Touchette previously copyrighted or public material. Permission granted for non-commercial reprinting Central 5 mysery solved or redistribution with proper attribution. Mitch Standard 6 psa news - bill mckown Phil Winegardner High Country®, Philmont Staff Association®, 8 psa news - amigos needed PSA® and the official PSA logo® Southern are all registered trademarks of: Anne Marie Pinkenburg 10 psa news - rayado/rocs Doug Wahl The Philmont Staff Association, Inc. 12 psa news - bob birkby 17 Deer Run Road Western 14 psa news -2014 reunion Cimarron, 87714 Nancy Stickelman 575-376-1138 Michael Waggoner 18 psa news - autumn adventure

For membership and subscription information, 24 philmont history - bill wadsworth On the cover: visit our website at: Jim lynch, Immediate Past President Laura McMillan Mark Anderson, Philmont Staff Advisor and Chris Saxton with Gunther 30 philmont history - ponil shootout WWW.PHILSTAFF.COM 33 philmont history - living history Ex Officio Members the Snowman during the 2013 Emery Corley, Legal Advisor Autumn Adventure. Photo by Jon Douglas Fasching, Technology Manager . other High Country® welcomes articles, photos and Thompson. See story on page 18 letters for consideration for future issues. Submission does not guarantee publication. 5 bulletin board The editors and publisher reserve the right to 27 87714 pride select and edit materials to be published. Randy Saunders, Executive Director 36 good reading Send submissions, letters or comments to “ High Country” at the above address or e-mail: PSA® FELLOWS

[email protected] Bob Harvey Fellow PAUL and MARY JANE HARVEY ® If you would like to receive High Country Glenn A. Fowler Fellow in electronic rather than paper format, please BRUCE BARNES contact the PSA office at [email protected] George A. Bullock Fellow Members Only Access WILLIAM D. BRYCE Contributing Writers ® Opinions expressed in High Country are those of Bill Cass Ken Davis Cathy Hubbard Colleen Lester Joe Davis Fellow USER NAME: WEBSTERPASS the writers and, unless otherwise stated, BILL CASS Steve Lewis Warren Smith Mark Stinnett Rick Thom do not necessarily reflect the views of the John A. Maxbauer, Jr. Fellow ynthia ruemper arty schetter teve immer hilmont taff ssociation® hilmont Password: fishcamp C T M T S Z P S A , P ANONYMOUS Scout Ranch, or the Boy Scouts of America.

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 3 from the president BULLETIN BOARD Upcoming PSA® Events

Philmont Hikes On PSA North Regional Reunion – May 31, 2014 St. Francis Church Family Life Center, Grapevine, TX Contact: John Ryan at [email protected] In April at the Ranch Committee the Ranch whatever the future needs meeting, I listened intently as John or challenges will be. Lots of exciting PSA Annual Reunion – July 11-13, 2014 Green, BSA National Group Director, times are ahead. This summer nine new Visit www.philstaff.com for more information spoke about the challenges of attract- backcountry itineraries will experience ing young people into . As it the rich history of the Chase Ranch as PSA Summer Trek @ Philmont – July 14-20, 2014 relates to Philmont, he stated that the part of their program. Another high- Visit www.philstaff.com for more information BSA’s strategic focus is to shoot for light of 2014 will be the celebration a host of new Cub Scouts in order to of the 1,000,000th camper to attend PSA Regional Reunion – August 29-31, 2014 Dayton, Ohio have enough future Scouts to maintain Philmont sometime in July. I hope you Contact: Scott Tritt at [email protected] High Adventure attendance levels in will make plans to join us for the PSA the coming years. That was a wakeup Summer Reunion on July 11-12 week- PSA Autumn Adventure Trek – October 12-17, 2014 Philmont Scout Ranch call. I always assumed that the wait list end. We may just get a chance to be a Contact: Steve & Cynthia Truemper at [email protected] for crews was a given because of the part of that 1,000,000th camper celebra- popularity of the Philmont experience. tion event! The PSA Trek will follow the As former staffers both at the Ranch reunion so there is plenty of activity to and at the Training Center, I’ll bet get involved with. The Mystery Solved! that few of us ever worried about not On a sad note, the PSA lost a great The February and April 2014 issues of High Country included the story of a having enough participants during a friend and member last month with the Philmont program from long ago – the Gateway program and the Rangers who summer. All we saw were happy crews passing of Bill McKown. He has been a made it happen. Months of research to prepare the article was conducted by coming off the trail and adults anxious great Philmont supporter and all who Kathy Leach – one of the two initial female Philmont Rangers, and herself a Gate- for leadership training at PTC. We knew him were in awe of his drive and way . In the course of her research, she found among her own Philstuff a cannot predict the future, but one thing courage. He surmounted daily adver- copy of her life membership card, issued when she joined the PSA in 1976. With is for sure – Philmont Scout Ranch has sity with grace. Thank you Bill for your it was a note from Dave Bates, then the executive secretary of the PSA, advising offered through history and still offers service, and I will see you walking on Kathy that she was the second female Life Member. today the best High Adventure draw the upper trail someday. That, as one might suspect, provoked several to ask the question: So who was for young people – and even those “not Finally, thank you to all who took the first? so young” anymore – anywhere. It is time to respond to our PSA member Our inquiry to the membership in the April issue resulted in several responses remarkably well run under the leader- survey. Colleen and others on the Mem- – all with the same answer, and ship of John Clark and Mark Anderson. bership Committee will be compiling since confirmed. The first female They make it look so smooth, although the results and they will published in Life Member of the Philmont Staff we all know the challenges of organiz- the near future. It is time to see what Association was Bobbie Hobbs, ing, operating and funding the Ranch you think is important and what you a member of the Philmont staff every year. want the PSA to accomplish! 1964-66 and 1968-69. Thanks to all The PSA has been a great partner who responded to our request for information, and to Bobbie for her with the Ranch for forty years and - John Murphy loyalty through the years. we stand poised and ready to assist President

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 4 from the prez bulletin board 5 psa® news The Remarkable Ranger: Bill McKown, 1955-2014 by Mark Stinnett, Contributing Editor center. He carried the Olympic torch when it passed through central Kansas. Long-time PSA board member Bill Bill always remembered his Scout- McKown, 58, passed away at his home ing roots and continually gave back. in Great Bend, KS, on March 19. Bill He became Scoutmaster of Troop 155 served as a Philmont ranger in 1974 in Great Bend and mentored many and 1975. He received an appointment young men to their own Eagle ranks. to the Philmont Ranch Committee in He served as camp director at Camp the 1980s and became its representa- Kanza, the local council camp. He held tive on the PSA’s Board of Directors in positions on the council’s executive 1998, serving ably in both positions up board and chaired multiple committees. Bill with Chope and Virginia Phillips and Julie Puckett in 2011. to the time of his final illness. With his service on the Philmont After his last staff summer at Ranch Committee came more opportu- movements of a couple of fingers on his pher Reeve). Philmont, Bill lived life to the fullest. nities for adventure. Bill never missed right hand. Because beyond his head For the next 14,235 consecutive days He went snow skiing and whitewa- a chance to head into the backcountry and neck, that is absolutely all that Bill of his life, Bill needed help from some- ter rafting. He traveled the country to check out a new staff camp or pro- could do –slightly move a couple of one else to get out of bed, get dressed, with family and friends. He rode a gram site. He visited the Northern Tier fingers on his right hand. Bill was a get washed, get medicated, get fed, get hot air balloon and snorkeled in the High Adventure Base and flew over the quadriplegic. a drink of water, get his nose scratched. ocean. He honed a talent for paint- Boundary Waters in a ski plane. A trip In 1975, after finishing his second Over the years his family members and ing he had developed through high to Sea Base afforded the oppor- ranger season at Philmont, Bill and a small army of more than 500 personal school and continually won awards for tunity to take a boat out to explore the fellow ranger Gary Lucas drove out care attendants assisted Bill with every his artwork. He helped in the fam- neighboring keys. to California to bum around for a few aspect of daily living. And they had a ily construction business. He hosted His service did not go unrecognized. days before heading back to college. lot of assisting to do, because Bill was parties. He visited his brother and his He received the BSA’s Silver Beaver On August 11, Bill was asleep in the all about going and doing and enjoying family in and took part in just Award for service to Scouting. Great passenger seat when a slow-moving life, and a little thing like quadriplegia about every outdoor activity had Bend High School inducted him into its tomato truck driving on the shoulder sure wasn’t going to slow him down. to offer. Hall of Fame. In 2000, Bill became one suddenly pulled into the traffic lane Bill continued his award-winning Bill got involved in the community. of the select few to be named a recipi- ahead of them and caused a collision. art by using a mouth stick to paint. He He joined the local Jaycees and eventu- ent of the Distinguished Eagle Scout In those days of only lap belts and no completed college at Friends Uni- ally became their president. When he Award. shoulder harnesses, Bill went forward versity. He invested funds from his got too old for that organization, he A remarkable life, indeed – and all into the dash. He broke his neck at the settlement and managed those invest- joined the Kiwanis Club, and became the more so because he did it – all of it – C3-4 level and suffered a paralyzing ments himself from his own computer its president, too. He participated in in a wheelchair. A motorized wheel- spinal cord injury. At the next higher at home, using a mouth stylus to punch numerous events at the community chair that he could control with slight level, he would have lost control of his the keys. He became a national dis- respiratory muscles (think of Christo- ability advocate, and even inspired

6 psa news Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 psa news 7 year for the rest of his life. The insur- his brother in Hawaii to start a travel ance actuaries gave Bill a reasonable life business and a wheelchair van rental expectancy of only three years. In 1975, company for disabled people. people with this level of injury simply Bill’s own wheelchair logged more didn’t survive a long time. Bill lived miles at Philmont than most hikers ever 38 years as a C4 level quadriplegic – do. His chair repairman joked that he the longest known period of survival could always tell when Bill had been for anyone with that injury. Ever. Bill to Philmont by the bent tires and fresh always delighted in describing how he dings. At ranch committee meetings, had “fleeced” the insurance company when a convoy of Phil-Suburbans by continuing to live, year after year. THE HISTORY OF PHILMONT AS SEEN would head into the backcountry for That he lived so long, served so well, THROUGH THE EYES OF ITS STAFF. members to inspect a new building or and performed so ably speaks volumes camp, Bill’s wheelchair van would be of the spirit that inhabits the human Bound annual editions of High Country magazine are now available. right there with them. His attendants heart. Bill McKown confronted chal- grew to love the ranch as much as he lenges far greater than those faced by The PSA has begun printing books, one year at a time, did – some have been back to serve on most staffers, and climbed mountains which include all the issues of High Country (print and electronic) issued that year. the seasonal staff. miles higher than any he ever con- In his settlement after the accident, quered at Philmont. Each volume comprises “a year in the life” of the place we love and the Bill arranged for an annuity that would He will be missed. people who made it what it is – a “yearbook” containing news, pay him certain escalating sums every photos, history, tales and much more, of “all things Philmont” that year. Collect them all, access the online index of High Country content back to the first issue in 1974, and you have a living history of the Ranch for the past forty years.

Amigos needed for 2014 Season Staff Each book retails for $12.95 – a bargain when you consider that purchasing individual copies by subscription would cost $35.00. But there is a way for you Again this summer, staff groups at is told. to purchase at least one copy for just $5.00. Convert from print to electronic Philmont are connected to former staff We continue to look for PSA versions of High Country magazine and each December you will be given the members through the Staff Amigo members to connect with staff groups opportunity to purchase that year’s bound annual volume at less than our cost program. They may receive letters, to share their love of the ranch, their to produce it – our way of thanking you for helping us “go greener.” If you are reading material, games or food. Per- stories and some treats throughout already an electronic subscriber, you have until December 31 of this year to pur- haps the biggest thing that they will the summer. If you think that you are chase one copy of each of the bound volumes created since we began the electronic receive, however, is the connection with interested in taking on a group, please option in 2009. That’s right – only $5.00 each for any of the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, adults who love Philmont and have check the website (philstaff.com) for an and 2013 volumes. Buy them all and start your collection – we will be publishing treasured their years on staff. Some of updated list of available groups, and the remaining years (all the way back to the first issue) at the rate of three or four these staff members will write back to contact me at [email protected] books per year. their Amigo. Some will not. Some staff Please provide your top 3 choices. goups have difficulty finding time as Thank you so very much for being a This collection is destined to become the definitive history of the Ranch as seen a group to share the letters and some special part of this 2014 Philmont sum- through the eyes of the staff. run program well into the night. But mer. whether or not they write back, there Start your collection TODAY! is a connection made and a story that - Cathy Hubbard Order online at philstaff.com or call the PSA office: 575-376-1138.

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 8 psa news psa news 9 Rayado & ROCS Scholarships Awarded Philmont Service Scholarship , IL by PSA James Elsmore, Frisco, TX , TX Scholarships awarded this year range in amount from $175 to $475 depending Congratulations to the following outstanding young people who have been se- PSA ROCS Scholarship on need and on the size of the endow- lected as the 2014 recipients of the PSA’s Rayado and ROCS scholarships. Priscilla Hare, Newbury Park, CA ment generating the scholarship. In , CA addition to the named endowments, RAYADO SCHOLARSHIPS: the PSA maintains an unnamed general PSA ROCS Scholarship endowment for ROCS and Rayado Chuck Morales Memorial Scholarship John Sanders Memorial Scholarship Nicolas Baker, San Antonio, TX scholarships, to be awarded where the Sebastien Richard, Alexandria, VA Austin Bruce, Amarillo, TX Alamo Area Council, TX need is greatest. This year, all of these National Capital Area Council, MD , TX discretionary funds were needed to PSA ROCS Scholarship support ROCS scholarships. The vari- David Terrey Memorial Scholarship Ross Stillwell Memorial Scholarship Brianna Baker, Camarillo, CA ous endowments are managed by the Kathryn Sweeney, Navasota, TX Patrick Bus, Garland, TX Ventura County Council, CA PSA’s Investment Committee pursuant Sam Houston Area Council, TX Circle Ten Council, TX to investment policies contained in the PSA ROCS Scholarship association’s By-Laws and the Board- David Terrey Memorial Scholarship Paisley Memorial Scholarship Noah Bryan, Roeland Park, KS adopted investment plan. People who Margaret Neel, Atlanta, GA Antonio Ward, Austin, TX Heart of America Council, MO wish to contribute to either the specific , GA Capital Area Council, TX funds shown here, or to the general PSA ROCS Scholarship Rayado/ROCS discretionary scholar- Kelly Reese Memorial Scholarship John Vogt Memorial Scholarship Samuel Allelo, Ruston, LA ship fund may do so by contacting Katelyn Krzyvon, Round Lake Beach, Ian Ward, Austin, TX Circle Ten Council, TX Executive Director Randy Saunders IL Capital Area Council, TX at 575-376-1138 or at psadirector@ Northeast Illinois Council, IL PSA ROCS Scholarship philstaff.com. Walter Hudson Memorial Scholarship Alexander Handel, Sycamore, IL Kelly Reese Memorial Scholarship Garrett South, Crowley, TX Steven Trellis, Tulsa, OK Longhorn Council, TX Indian Nations Council, OK Walter Hudson Memorial Scholarship Nick Pisor Memorial Scholarship Jakob Hoelscher, Tampa, FL Caleb Fleck, Anthem, AZ , FL Grand Canyon Council, AZ ROCS SCHOLARSHIPS: Nick Pisor Memorial Scholarship Michael Ross, Beavercreek, OH Trey Jones Memorial Scholarship Tecumseh Council, OH Cailin J. Allen, Cary, NC , NC Joe Davis Scholarship Michael Evans, Jupiter, FL , FL

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 10 psa news Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 psa news 11 The 2014 Distinguished Staff Alumni vation Handbook in 1991, two more program - only 50 have been handed Award: Robert Birkby editions of the Scout Handbook (the out in 100 years. 11th edition in 1999 and the Centen- Birkby’s accomplishments don’t Internationally recognized conserva- nial edition in 2010), the Scoutmaster’s just stay outdoors – back inside, he’s tionist, outdoor writer and mountain- Handbook, and the fourth edition of also an accomplished classical pianist, eer Robert Birkby has been named the the Fieldbook in 2004. Birkby’s latest and once played a concert in Seattle’s recipient of the Philmont Staff Associa- work, the fifth edition of the Fieldbook, Benaroya Hall. tion’s 2014 Distinguished Staff Alumni hit bookshelves nationwide just last Author of books that have directly Award. Birkby accepted the award at month. He is also the author of DK influenced hundreds of thousands of the opening staff program May 29 at Publishing’s Boy Scouts of America young people, champion for responsi- the ranch. Today, Scoutstuff, and Eagle Scouts: A ble trail practices since adopted by our The DSAA is presented annually by Centennial History. own government agencies, mentor and the association to recognize “distin- Birkby also developed a long rela- guide for successful outdoor adventure, guished or exceptional personal success tionship with the Student Conservation Robert Birkby’s achievements most or achievement on a state, national Association. For more than twenty assuredly bring honor and credit to the or international level by a current or years, he led trail crews of high school legacy of the Philmont staff. For his former Philmont staff member in any students on month-long trail-building distinguished and exceptional achieve- field of human endeavor, other than projects in national parks and forests. ments, the PSA recognizes him with service to Philmont, that brings honor In 1996, he authored Lightly on the our 2014 Distinguished Staff Alumni and credit to the legacy of the Philmont Land: The SCA Trail Building and Award. staff.” Maintenance Manual, widely consid- ing expeditions in the Cascades and One of the pioneers of Philmont’s ered the bible for backcountry trail Alaska, and international climbing trips conservation program, Birkby started construction and maintenance, and up- Editor’s Note: Robert Birkby is the third to Mt. Elbrus, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the his Phil-career as a program counselor dated it with a second edition in 2006. recipient of the DSAA. Previously named Himalayas. You may know that Fischer at Harlan in 1970 before finding his The Birkby trail-building exper- honorees include Wally Berg, mountaineer, died on Everest in 1998 – fittingly, Birk- true niche in “CONS.” He served as a tise that began so many years ago at explorer and expedition leader (2012), and by later authored his friend’s definitive conservationist and trail crew foreman Philmont extends internationally as Rick Searfoss, former NASA astronaut biography, Mountain Madness. from 1971 through 1973, and returned well. Since 2008, he has spent a month and space shuttle commander (2013). In Birkby’s outdoor writing career as director of the department in 1974 each summer in Siberia assisting vol- April, the PSA’s Board of Directors voted started, appropriately, with works and 1976. His Philmont experience unteer environmentalists and Russian to convert the Silver Sage Award presented for the Boy Scouts of America: merit sparked a lifelong interest in and dedi- national park officials in design and to the late Steve Fossett, which had actually badge pamphlets and articles for Boys’ cation to trail building and backcountry construction of hiking trails around been awarded to him for the criteria that Life magazine. A breakthrough came stewardship. Lake Baikal, the world’s oldest and are now used for the DSAA, to a Distin- with his selection by the National After teaching writing and literature largest volume freshwater lake. guished Staff Alumni Award. Fossett set Council to author the tenth edition of at Southwest Missouri State University, For his decades of distinguished multiple world records in aviation, sailing, the , published Birkby solo-hiked the entire 2,100-mile service to natural resource conservation and adventuring before his death in 2007. in 1990. That issue emphasized the Appalachian Trail before moving to and environmental protection, both These four and all future recipients of the environmental aspect of Scouting and Seattle to launch a career as an outdoor nationally and internationally, Birkby DSAA will be honored in a wall display established Birkby as Scouting’s go-to educator, writer, and adventure travel received the BSA’s William T. Horna- being created in the PSA Staff Dining Hall outdoor author. guide. With his friend, the late Scott day Gold Medal in 2010. It’s the most at Philmont. And the Scouting books have been Fischer, Birkby co-led mountaineer- exclusive award in the whole Scouting coming ever since: the BSA’s Conser-

12 psa news Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 psa news 13 Join Us for 2014 Reunion at the Ranch another

The Philmont Staff Association’s 2014 partner of Philmont Scout Ranch. Start- Reunion will be held the weekend of ing this summer, campers will be able July 11-13 at the Philmont Training to hike and camp on the historic ranch Center (PTC). You and your family are and tour the house as part of their itin- invited to participate in service, fellow- erary. PSAers will have an opportunity ship, and sharing memories. PTC, with during the reunion to visit the Chase its first class facilities, is the perfect Ranch, too. venue for our reunion. Tents are large The Rabbi Zeke Palnick Porch two-person wall canvas on wooden or Talk and ice cream social will be on concrete floors with electricity, lighting, Friday evening, and the annual busi- a wardrobe, and two twin beds. Each ness meeting will be on Saturday. The tent city has restrooms, family shower Philmont Training Center staff will houses, and a laundromat. Bring the offer programs for children as part of family to the reunion as part of your the reunion. There will be pony rides, summer vacation. shooting sports, crafts, games, and As part of this reunion, the PSA more for our future Philstaffers to do will celebrate the arrival of the one- while adults participate in other activi- millionth camper to Philmont Scout ties. Ranch. Some of the activities for the Registration fees for the reunion are: weekend include: day hikes (including $100 per adult and youth ages 12 and the Tooth of Time), conservation service older, and $30 per child up to age 12. projects, campfire programs, tours of This is the best value available to expe- the Villa Philmonte, talks from experts rience Philmont, our HOmE. Check-in about Philmont topics, and the Silent begins Friday at 1:00pm, with all activi- Auction. The Philmont Museum will ties available all afternoon. also be open and a “must see” on your Registration for the Summer Re- weekend agenda. union is now available on our website, In addition, we will be introduced www.philstaff.com. to the Chase Ranch, now a program

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 14 psa news psa news 15 short stuff that crests and recedes as consistent as would understand. the surf at my feet. When my husband’s brother passed The Dance Remains And when I think I can’t possibly after a cruel illness, the crippling sad- hold anything more, a strange cloud ness was coupled with a blaze of joy. begins to form above the blackened For his battle done. For his new time ocean. A noctilucent cloud from the just begun. A phoenix rising from the by Colleen Lester down. Not get too close to anyone exhaust fumes of the launch vehicle ashes. Too much. Too much to stand or too involved. But the essence of almost 300,000 feet above the earth’s siIently and somehow send him on. She seems electric, this slight, young Philmont slips in like a shadow and surface. Orange and purple and yellow Alone in a deserted parking lot with woman, as she moves from counter to before you’re even aware, you find and green and blue. The sun isn’t even fists again lifted to the night, I sing the table and back again. Smiling, col- yourself up and dancing and facing the a glow in the east, but this cloud is a same song that was sung on an empty lecting ice cream orders, chatting up night as never before with courage and light of its own that grows stronger Florida beach and under the starlight the tourists, her hands in continual hope and everyone else dancing beside with each passing second. An image of New Mexico to the beat of a surging motion. There’s a sunniness about her. you. emerges. Impossible. It is a phoenix drum. A sudden stop, her head snapping so Decades pass, but the dance re- bird. fast, her ponytail whips into her face. mains. And so I do what humans have “I will see you next summertime, “What time is it?” she calls in alarm to On a beach near Cape Canaveral, always done when overwhelmed by Crow Indian Fair and Rodeo, hey-yah-hey- her supervisor. “I gotta go!” The apron light explodes in the pre-dawn dark- something beyond their powers to ab- yo; zips off as she flies past. “Something ness of August 2007. Silhouetted in sorb. I stand alone with fists in the air We will dance the 49 all night long. wrong?” I ask as she digs under the the pounding brilliance is the slim and and I sing. The rhythm of Philmont’s Hey-yah-hah. Hey-yah-hah. Yo.” counter for her purse. “I’ve finally been elegant Delta II rocket rushing for the ceremonial drum spilling across the invited to sing with the Indian Singers sky. Sound much deeper than thunder sleeping Sangre de Cristos again keeps We will dance the 49 all night long. and Dancers at Philmont! I gotta go!” booms and rolls and becomes ever time in my heart. A song from then Yes, we will. Memory snatches me from my louder as the boosters are jettisoned becomes a hymn to now, singing home stool in the Cimarron Art Gallery and almost above our heads. Cheers and a small Mars lander as it crosses alone Colleen (Coleman) Lester (1972) worked Soda Fountain so quickly that my screams and tears, all lost in the light the silence of space. with professional Scouter wives and their breath catches. She’s me. That’s me and the noise and the joy of a picture- There’s a singer and dancer at a oldest children at the Philmont Training over 40 years ago. After all the weeks perfect launch. My heart is breaking for soda fountain in Cimarron I know Center. of waiting and watching and hoping. the beauty of it. Wanting so much to sing as the drum’s The Phoenix Mars Lander is on its pulse shouted in the bones. The time way – now a small, silent speck head- had come to join the circle, to enter ing toward Africa before swinging the hoop. To lift my voice in ancient away on its nine-month journey to the melody with all the others, standing Red Planet’s timeless dust. clean and strong. To become one with I stand alone as the Atlantic licks my the whole. shins. The clamor of excited voices and Philmont does that over and over shouts of success all die as mission sup- again. Some come muddied and weary porters trek back to the Cocoa Beach to its hills and canyons. We don’t even hotel for breakfast. No one stayed. Who know how deep our need. Tired of the will stand watch? world and maybe thinking we’ll ease Tears slip down my cheeks. I don’t into what has to be done and hunker know how to contain all the emotion

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 16 short stuff short stuff 17 2013 Autumn Adventure: Two Treks, Two Itineraries, The best laid schemes… by Rick Thom and Cynthia Truemper gear, buy last minute necessities from the Tooth of Time Traders, and cram The 2013 Autumn Adventure had all of the items into our packs. Crew 1 enough trekkers (22) to form two would begin at Maxwell Turnaround separate crews. We worked out sepa- and camp at Miranda, Baldy Town (2 rate itineraries, one shorter and less nights), Head of Dean, Pueblano, and strenuous—the other more challenging. then hike out to Ponil Turnaround. Since both groups wanted to visit the Crew 2 would start at Ponil Turn- North Country, the plan called for them around and camp at Pueblano, Baldy to meet at Baldy Town for a layover Town (2 nights), Santa Claus, Ute day and optional Baldy summit. The Gulch, and out to the Cito Turnaround. group met on the evening before the Jeff Schirtzinger guided Crew 1. trek for dinner at the St. James Hotel in Helpful staff drove us to the Max- Cimarron. well Turnaround about 2:00 p.m. We photo by Jon Thompson October 13: We gathered at Regis- enjoyed the two mile hike under Hiking back to basecamp. tration after breakfast to sign in, meet sunny skies. Below Miranda Camp we meadow with Baldy Mountain loom- as it nicely blocked the wind. our guides, collect food and group stopped for pictures of the expansive ing in the background. The dusting of October 14: The rain conveniently snow that had covered Baldy the day stopped just before Crew 1 got out of before had melted away. We chose a our tents for breakfast and packing. nice campsite near the cabin and bear After gathering at the scenic Miranda box, prepared dinner, and discussed cabin we headed for Baldy Town via our individual goals for this trek Black Horse Camp. Temperatures fell around the campfire. Rain began about and wind strengthened as we climbed the time for bed. The gentle sound of toward camp. We ate lunch out of the raindrops on tents and occasional dis- wind in the Commissary cabin and tant thunder made for a peaceful night. then set up our tents near the staff tent Blake Jones guided Crew 2, which platforms above the cabins. This was started at Ponil Turnaround. The hike roughly the site of the old Baldy Town to Pueblano was beautiful and the Hotel. Sunlight shown through golden temperature nice and cool. We took aspens above our tents and Baldy beck- the road because we were running late. oned us in the distance. A few crew members caught sight of Crew 2 was glad that the rain a bear and her cub as we were taking stopped before having to break camp. a break. They were moving quickly Satisfied after breakfast and coffee, we away from us. When we arrived at hit the trail around 8:30. We hiked up camp, daylight was rapidly disappear- to Pueblano Ruins and, after consult- photo by Rick Thom ing. We set up quickly and used one of ing the map, decided to take the trail Climbing the ridge to Baldy. the loggerball dugouts as a cook station to French Henry. The trail gradually

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 18 psa news psa news 19 the last few hundred yards to the sum- museum cabin was not heated, but it mit. Ominous, dark clouds formed to offered a gas cooking stove, light, and our west as we took a group photo. shelter from the storm. Base camp had It would be neither safe nor pleasant thoughtfully sent bison meat, spaghetti to linger. As we began the descent to sauce, and noodles for a special dinner. Baldy Town we entered a cold, foggy There were no leftovers. mist. At the saddle, safe from light- After dinner our guides gave us ning, we ate a hasty lunch. Some of last two options for the remainder of our week’s snow still covered the ground. Autumn Adventure: hike out the next New flakes began to drift about us, por- morning or stay at Baldy Town and tending the leading edge of the storm. hike out the following day. The storm We hiked and slid down the steep had changed the game. Mom Nature trail over an icy pack of old snow as had decided that this was exactly new snow began falling in earnest. the right time to deliver some much The forest was dark, quiet, and eerie, needed precipitation to drought-strick- the classic calm before a storm. Other en New Mexico. As poet Robert Burns than a couple of startled mountain cot- observed, “the best laid schemes of photo by Jon Thompson tontails we saw no wildlife, not even mice and men often go awry.” Michael Riojas and tent during the big snow, Baldy Town. birds. We noticed that a bobcat had Our original crews reshuffled into inclined as it followed Ponil Creek, lightened packs for the climb. Tem- taken this trail after the last snow. His the group that would leave the next but became steeper as we approached peratures the night before had dipped old tracks stayed with the trail for half day and the group that would spend the French Henry side. It was a cold into the teens, freezing some water a mile. We finally reached Baldy Town another snowbound day in the high day and it took a while for everyone bottles. We carried breakfast to Cop- and the welcome prospects of a warm country. We trudged through the snow to warm up. French Henry provided per Park and ate in the sunny meadow, cabin and a hot dinner. The kitchen/ to our tents while the blizzard swirled. an opportune time for a lunch break. fueling ourselves for a rugged hike on We all found sunny spots throughout this clear, cold morning. From Copper the aspen-covered area. We arrived at Park we climbed the well-designed trail Baldy Town about 4:30 and pitched that switchbacks to the long ridge that tents in the staff tent area with Crew 1. winds toward Baldy. Our file of hikers Each crew cooked its own dinner showed high spirits as we shouted out on the porch of the Commissary Cabin, the number of each sharp turn to the somewhat sheltered from the blustering next switchback, at least fifteen in all. wind. After dinner our guides warned At the end of the switchbacks we broke that a major snowstorm could hit the for a snack before tackling the last steep Sangre de Cristos the next afternoon. section of trail, which took us above We could still do a clear-weather hike tree-line to the ridge. to Baldy if we left early. Of course, the The ridge offered spectacular views forecast could be wrong and we might of Wheeler Peak and the Sangre de get no snow at all. Just in case, we Cristos to the west and north. Thick planned for an early start for the climb. clouds obscured the eastern slope all Then we retired to our tents for a good the way up the ridge, as if an invis- rest on this chilly, windy night. ible wall held the clouds back from the October 15: Those who chose western slope. We hiked the ridge to to hike to Baldy (some of us stayed the remains of the cabin and mine at photo by Jon Thompson in camp) gathered at 7:00 a.m. with the base of Baldy Peak, then scrambled Playing cards in the Baldy Town cabin.

20 psa news Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 psa news 21 gested cheery Christmas lights. That to Lovers’ Leap Turnaround. Crater evening we spread our sleeping pads Lake again had water. (On last year’s on the floor of the commissary cabin, Autumn Adventure it was dry.) We crowded, but safe from the cutting ate lunch at Miners Park, then hiked wind. The scampering feet of resi- toward Lovers Leap. Some big animals dent rodents were sometimes audible had recently shared our trail. We between the snores of tired campers. found mountain lion scat and tracks Although not a comfortable night, this and later followed very fresh bear was another memorable experience. prints in the snow. The trail also of- October 17: After breakfast and cab- fered fine views of the Tooth of Time. in clean-up we shouldered our packs The 2013 Autumn Adventure set and hiked the road to Highway 64 and records for most trekkers, most snow, a ride back to base camp for lunch at and the first trip to be interrupted by a PTC. Here Philmont gave us a special blizzard. It was a good reminder that treat: hotel rooms rather than the usual Mother Nature is not obliged to clear tents for lodging. After showers and her plans with Logistics. As Steve photo by Jon Thompson clean clothes, we gathered at Colfax Lewis aptly observed, this trek was Baldy group at the top. Tavern for pizza. The warm rooms and “light on the Autumn part and heavy real beds provided a welcome contrast on the Adventure part”. And, after all, This night would be a good test of tents further snow accumulate until the sun with the cold, cabin-floor sleepover. isn’t that the big reason we head for the and of attitudes. came out later that day. We guessed October 18: For the few who re- backcountry? October 16: Ten inches of snow fell that about a foot had fallen during mained, Steven and Cynthia arranged a during the night, and the tents looked the storm. Laura McMillan and Chris bonus hike, since we really would still Editor’s Note: for additional photos, see like snow-covered boulders. The snow Saxton couldn’t resist playing in the have been on the trail that day. Guide restricted ventilation, causing conden- snow. Using gold pans as scoops they http://i-ca.mp/PSA_2013AA_Review Blake Jones and five trekkers took a sation within the tents, and knocking built a magnificent snowman between mostly downhill hike from Crater Lake accumulated snow off the tent from the the museum and commissary cabins. inside caused the condensation to rain They decided that he represented a Ger- down. Bags and clothing were damp man miner and named him Gunther. this morning. Gunther guarded our camp and posed During breakfast in the cabin we with us for a group picture. He was made final choices on the pack out op- probably Baldy Town’s first snowman tions, struck our tents and moved gear since the mining boom days. to the cabins. Nine of us hiked to Max- We explored around Baldy Town well Turnaround via the supply road. and took snow pictures. But we spent With four to six inches of snow on the most of the day in the relative warmth trail, the crew enjoyed a brisk, downhill and comfort of the museum cabin, hike to rendezvous with vehicles at a substituting a dinner for a lunch for two meeting point near the Atmore Ranch. hot meals. The time passed quickly as However, the vehicles were taken pris- we played card games around the big oner by the muddy roads. Thankfully, table, told stories, and drank hot choco- photo by Jon Thompson Jim Johnson and his assistant were able late. Throughout the day we visited From back row, left to right (then middle row, then front row): Blake Jones (guide), Steven Truemper, to free the vehicles, and the crew made the creek to refill water bottles. The Tiffany Cook, Chris Cook, Chris Saxton, Bill Matthews, Jim MacGillivray, Tim Barnes, Cynthia it safely to Basecamp. colorful bottles piled in the new snow Truemper, Amanda Lewis, James Livermore, Rick Thom, Randy Saunders, Barbara Saunders, Mari- The people who stayed watched and ranked along the porch railing sug- anne Graham, Charlie Saunders, Jon Thompson,Jeff Schirtzinger(guide), Bill Terrell, Kathy Leach, Steve Lewis, Michael Hunstad, Michael Riojas, Laura McMillan.

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 22 psa news psa news 23 philmont history before. Wadsworth returned to the It did not turn out that way because Boy Scouts after military service and his camping expertise was so much was located in the Onondaga Council in demand that he remained with the Bill Wadsworth (Longhouse Council today) in Syracuse, National Office for the balance of his not far from his hometown of Fulton. career. His first contact with Philmont was Wadsworth was not a desk-bound by Marty Tschetter and Bill Cass very informal; in 1948, he and his wife Scout executive; he was a field-oriented Bobbie, an attractive, vivacious former innovator whose involvement with Abridged from the book, The Life and ski instructor, were on a ski- Philmont Ranger training could not Times of Jack L. Rhea by Bill Cass ing vacation and decided to drive south have been more timely. He pioneered to see what Philmont was all about. novel cooking methods and had cre- In 1961, Jack Rhea took advantage of They were enchanted, but it would be ated some of his own camping equip- a tremendous opportunity that was more than a decade before he had any ment years before, including the tab tailor made for the Ranger Department. official contact with the Ranch. In 1960, tent which became a BSA standard Beginning that year, Bill Wadsworth, Bill Wadsworth moved from his job as a item. Camping equipment was chang- assistant national director of camp- district executive and council camping ing rapidly. Contoured, exterior frame ing, came out from the National Office specialist in Syracuse to the National backpacks with hipbelts and nylon to help train rangers. The timing was Office as the assistant director of camp- pack bags, lighter fabrics for tents, and perfect; the legendary Doc Loomis ing. Bill expected that job would be a backpacking stoves were beginning to had retired due to health issues and short-term position and that he would emerge market-wide, and Wadsworth Wes Klusmann, BSA’s national direc- be assigned back to Syracuse as the was on top of it along with the camp- tor of camping, wisely decided that council executive in about three years. ing latest techniques – all of which was the rangers ought to have a younger, more ranger-like man representing the National Office. Wadsworth first got acquainted with Jack Rhea in 1960 and a year later became an integral part of Photo courtesy of Bobbie Wadsworth ranger training, bringing the latest ad- Bill Wadsworth from the National Office joined Philmont Ranger training in 1961. vances in backpacking equipment and camping techniques. It would be hard company before joining the BSA profes- to imagine a better man for the job. Bill sional ranks. At that point, he had a grew up in Fulton, New York, near the wealth of experience gained from both southeastern shore of Lake Ontario. An Scout council camps and independent Eagle Scout (class of 1930), he went to private camps. After Schiff training, Syracuse University where he was a he went to work as a field executive in member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity and Asbury Park, New Jersey. a star on the varsity swimming and Then World War II came and Bill skiing teams. After graduating in 1938 was off to Fort Benning and Officer from Syracuse’s Maxwell School of Candidate School in January 1943, just Citizenship, he spent nearly two years missing Jack Rhea who had graduated working in Philadelphia at a relative’s from Infantry OCS only three months Bill and Bobbie Wadsworth at the entrance of their tent from September of 1960.

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 24 philmont history philmont history 25 passed on to the rangers to keep them Back, the 2011 book about Philmont at the leading edge. Rangers, so it will not be repeated here Every June, Wadsworth arrived to except to say that the ranger leadership Where are YOU showing your 87714 Pride? participate in ranger training, and in of 1961 took the lyrics from Onon- some ways overshadowed Mister Dunn daga Council’s “I Want To Go back To As our readers are aware, High Country publishes occasional photos of the world – not surprising since Wadsworth stood Marcy” as the model for the Ranger travels of various Phil-gear, usually accompanied by a brief explanation – and a six feet, four inches. Wadsworth com- Song. Mt. Marcy is New York State’s shameless promotion for you to buy Phil-stuff from the PSA. OK – there’s no 87714 highest mountain, which is located stuff in this photo, but the picture and the story were just too good not to use, even manded a lot of respect whether it was though this is technically a violation of our practice of brazen self-promotion and presenting to individual ranger training close to a place very near and dear to unflinching effort to peddle Phil-goods. crews or leading the songs at the eve- Wadsworth, Onondaga Council’s Camp ning campfires during ranger training. Askenonta which itself is located on an Eventually Wadsworth became the island in Lake Placid. national director of High Adventure Bill Wadsworth retired from the and was a leader in the establishment Boy Scouts’ professional ranks in 1978 of Sommers Canoe Base as a national and launched his second career as the facility, Maine High Adventure, Land founder of the National Bow Hunter Between The Lakes, and Florida Sea Education Foundation. He had always Base. been interested in bow hunting, which He was a tireless Philmont pro- might not be very surprising since his moter and a close ally of Joe Davis in middle name was actually Hunter. On that regard. Wadsworth’s article in the his mother’s side, Bill was related to the March/April 1970 issue of Scouting, Hunters of the Hunter Arms Company, “Rangers Can’t Forget” encouraged manufacturers of the legendary L.C. crew advisors to pay attention to their Smith double-barreled shotguns which rangers as the best way to get the most were very popular in the first half of Be honest now – have you ever seen two more perfect sets of teeth behind two such cheesy out of a Philmont experience – and it the twentieth century. The National grins?! certainly facilitated ranger recruitment Bow Hunter Education Foundation, On the left, Lt. Commander Dave Golden, formerly of the Philmont Conserva- in the early 1970s. still going strong today, was launched tion Department. Wadsworth is also credited with by Bill to encourage bow hunters to be On the right, Alex Ave Lallemant, State Department Senior Political Advisor in having a hand in designing the unique leaders in respecting fellow hunters, Regional Command-East, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, a former Philmont Ranger. They got together at a little Italian-run pizza joint in Kabul. Seriously. We Philmont Ranger backpack patch. More wildlife, and the environment. Those couldn’t make this stuff up. Dave, a Navy Seabee, was there to oversee a project at ISAF important was his role with the train- bow hunters and the Boy Scouts of (International Security Assistance Force) HQ in Kabul, and has since returned home. Alex ing rangers of 1961, his first year as a America lost a good friend when Bill has been in country for two years to oversee ISAF actions in the 14 provinces of Eastern ranger consultant. At Ponil that year, Wadsworth died on January 12, 1991, at Afghanistan. This photo was taken after the pizza in a little coffee bar at ISAF HQ. he worked with the training rangers the age of seventy-four. to develop presentations that went Wadsworth clearly identified with Share your 87714 sightings with us for future use on the website, in High Country or far beyond Doc Loomis’ campcraft the rangers, so much so that he made a both­! E-mail [email protected] with your sightings, and if for some inexpli- cable reason you don't have your 87714 sticker yet, contact the PSA to purchase some presentations. But what is probably very telling comment in his congratula- at eminently reasonable prices. Shop for T-Shirts (and other cool 87714 gear) at www. Wadsworth’s most lasting contribution tory letter to Clarence Dunn upon the philstaff.com. to Rangerdom was his major role in latter’s retirement in 1970 asking, “I the development of the “Ranger Song.” hope you’ll allow me to be counted as That story is well told in I Wanna Go one of your rangers. It’s an elite group.”

26 philmont history Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 87714 pride 27 ranch roundup years, but he eventually died in 2007. the past, Eric says this year’s staff can The memories Eric has of Philmont, ex- expect to see some significant changes. ploring it with his father, is one reason, “We have 140 7-day crews this sum- Eric Martinez Takes Over As Chief he says, “Philmont is a special place for mer so far,” Eric said. “The demand Ranger our entire family.” for those shorter treks, treks that allow Ten years after Eric Martinez made adult advisors to take only one week by Warren Cole Smith But that took a while. The Martinez that trek with his father, he will become off from work, have proven to be very family came back to the Training Center Chief Ranger at Philmont. popular.” This summer will also be When Eric Martinez’s father told in 2003 as well, but it was 2004 before Though his father passed away the first that crews will make extensive him their family would be going on Eric and his father were able to go on before Eric became a Ranger in 2008, use of the Chase Ranch, and the first vacation to Philmont, the future Chief a backcountry trek together. “It was it’s impossible to think he would not year for so-called STEM Treks – treks Ranger was unhappy. Lover’s to Crater,” Eric recalls, using be proud of his son’s rise through the that emphasize science, technology, en- “I wanted to go to Disneyland,” Eric Philmont shorthand for the itinerary Ranger ranks, a rise that included two gineering, and mathematics. “Ranger said. that begins at Lover’s Leap and goes years as Associate Chief Ranger before training already has a good bit of STEM But he dutifully followed his father, next to Crater Lake, in Philmont’s taking the top spot this summer. De- language in it,” Martinez said. “But who spent the week in classes at the South Country. “To this day I can tell spite that ascent, Eric remains modest, we hope to be more intentional about Philmont Training Center. It was 2001 you every camp on the itinerary. Every and says he just wants to continue the it this year with all crews, not just the and Eric was just 11 years old. His program we did.” great work done by his predecessors STEM crews.” family came back in 2002 “By the end “It was also the last time Eric’s Christine Salisbury and Adam Herren- But don’t expect Martinez to be all of that week,” he said, “I was begging father ever saw Philmont. Soon after bruck. “Christine really streamlined the work and no play. You might even hear him to come back and I had already they returned home, he discovered he Day 1 process,” Eric said. “I’d like to a little slide guitar coming out of the decided that I wanted to be a Ranger.” had colon cancer. He fought it for two take the process she went through there Ranger Office this summer, as Marti- and see if we can do as good a job with nez plans to bring his prized Republic the final day.” Highway 61 steel body guitar with Eric said one of the things that im- him. “When I got interested in music, pressed him about Adam Herrenbruck I noticed that everyone could play the was that “he knew every Ranger. By guitar, but no one was playing the steel the end of the summer he could look a guitar,” he said. “I thought the steel Ranger in the eye and call that person guitar would be a bit more interesting, by name without cheating a look at the especially when I played with others.” name tag. That’s going to be my goal, Making things a bit more interesting too.” when you play with others: that’s not a Despite this reverence for Ranger bad philosophy when you’re a Ranger, traditions and the best practices of either.

Ricklefs Appointed.

As we go to press, High Country learns that Philmont’s long-time ranching superintendent, Bob Ricklefs, has been appointed by New Mexico Governor Su- sana Martinez to the State Game Commission. Looks like others have figured out what we’ve long known – the man knows his stuff. Congratulations, Bob!

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 28 ranch roundup ranch roundup 29 Shootout in Ponil Country successful that he was invited back for could keep and take home with them. the next eight summers to serve on the The trip back to Ponil got them back fledgling staff as Philmont was begin- by about 4:00 in the afternoon where Early Philmont Staff Work as Seen ning to develop its program. Bob supervised care of the horses. Through the Eyes of Bob Martin The PSA was fortunate to have Bob They took off the saddles, curried the Martin, who now lives in Albuquerque, animals and fed them. That was also by Kenneth P. Davis contact the Ranch sometime in late the time to check horseshoes and fix or 2011 or early 2012 and mention that he replace any that needed it. Then the It was sometime in the mid-1940s in had served on the staff and had some horses were turned out for the night to northern New Mexico. The Philmont stories and pictures he was willing to graze until morning. staff member rode alone into Indian share. We followed up and got him This was the daily routine with each Writings as a part of his normal work to tape an interview during a PSA/ succeeding group, and staff members to be ready to take Scouts on trips Ranch Committee weekend on April 14, were paid $15 a month and “found” into the North Country. As usual, he 2012. He later enlivened the 2013 PSA (room and board) with a day and a half carried food, water, a bull whip and Reunion at the PTC with a presentation off each month. Bob early learned to a rifle. He soon noticed a young man about his time on staff on July 16, 2013. combine two months so he could take on the ground skinning a calf which The following remembrances are a off three days in a row. When he did he had obviously killed. When asked result of those discussions and presen- have a day off and chose not to go fish- by Bob Martin what he was doing, the tations. ing in the Backcountry, a trip to Cimar- young man reached for his rifle and In 1942, when virtually all program ron for a milkshake was also done on Bob Martin regaling 2013 PSA reunion attend- for Scouts at Philmont was in the north horseback. forced Martin to go for his. In the next ees with tales of long ago. few minutes the two exchanged shots country, Martin was an assistant horse- Early on the program opportunities and both were injured. Martin hit the and Martin’s wound was attended to. man at Ponil. The job was to take up had three possibilities--a one week trip, interloper in the leg and was himself As was the wound of the young cattle to 48 Scouts at a time (never more than the most favored two week trip and a hit in the shoulder. Both withdrew and rustler who was in an adjacent room in one group) from Ponil to Indian Writ- month-long trip at the Ranch. If you headed towards help for their injuries. the hospital. In the end, everyone re- ings and return. His day stated at 3:00 signed up for a month you moved from Martin would later remark that if covered, but the story as told by Martin am when he got up to feed the horses. Ponil all the way to the South Country the young man had answered his ques- certainly makes it clear that the early By 4:30 they were eating breakfast and before you were finished, again using tion by saying that he was trying to days on the Philmont staff were more getting ready to teach the Scouts how horses and pack animals. The recogni- feed his family, he would have prob- primitive than what most of us have to saddle and bridle the horses. All tion in those days (before the Arrow- ably let him take the calf meat with experienced. movement was by horse with pack head patch) was received at a closing him. Unfortunately the guns came out Bob Martin grew up outside Tulsa, animals for moving food and equip- campfire--each participant received too quickly. and had the good fortune to ment. In those days at Philmont you the black Philmont bull patch. Unlike So he made his way back to Ponil be picked as an Eagle Scout to attend walked or rode horses. There was no today’s Rangers who leave each crew and got Philmont manager George Philmont in 1941 at age 14 and later backpacking. If you walked, you had on the third day, Philmont staff mem- Bullock to help him with his wound. work on the staff from 1942-1950. Why pack animals to carry everything. bers stayed with groups throughout There was a doctor those days in was he a Scout? Because in the early The trip over to Indian Writings their treks in the early days. Lacking Cimarron and they went to find him. 1940s with a war on, the only game in was about three and a half hours. They marked trails and knowledge of the Unfortunately, the doctor was in the town for challenge, fun and adventure would then take an hour or more for country, discretion was the watchword local watering hole and had obviously was the Scouts. He did so well on his lunch and then go looking for pottery in the early days--better safe than sorry. been there a while. Bullock suggested first trip to the ranch that he was asked and arrowheads in the area. Lacking In 1942 and later the Ranch was they continue their trip and go on to to stay an additional two weeks on the the more stringent rules of archaeology totally self-sufficient. There was a ma- Raton to the hospital. They made it OK “Service Corps.” That service was so today, whatever the Scouts found they chine shop, a blacksmith shop, a dairy,

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 30 philmont history philmont history 31 poultry raising and processing. If it ture Among the Magic Mountains, philmont history was needed, it was done on the Ranch. Philmont: the First 50 Years, which Staff size for the summer during the was published in 1988. There is a 1940s was typically about 28 total on picture of Martin on horseback in the Why Living History at Philmont? the entire ranch. There was no electric- book. ity anywhere and kerosene lanterns Trading posts and sweet goods were would eventually be supplemented not available on the Ranch in the early by Steve Lewis winter snows. Candles were made from by an old donated Navy generator at days. Some groups found ways to beef tallow, and his root cellar could Ponil. The water system pulled water compensate. One mother sent out such Several years ago I was able to join preserve the meager harvest of crops from the local streams and moved it up a large package of cheese that it took up a PSA trek through the South Coun- raised during a short growing season. to holding tanks. most of the inside of a Model A Ford to try. It was the first time in over thirty He took us into his confidence, telling One summer Bob moved down and get it back to the Ranch from Raton. years since I had visited those beloved in hushed tones how he and his family did the horseman chores at Cimmaron- The most spectacular arrangement haunts. I never expected to see some were suffering misfortunes because of cito camp. On his fourth year he took to provide something special for camp- of these places again in my lifetime high-level political and legal power pack trains three times a week from ers came the year that one of the lead- and it was a very moving experience. struggles beyond their control. We Crater Lake into Fish Camp. In those ers from a Nebraska group happened A flood of emotion poured forth as a could sense the grief in his heart from to be an Air Force officer stationed days motor vehicles could only get as result of one experience in a particular the loss of most his livestock, after Max- at Offutt Air Force Base. When he far as Crater Lake and then supplies backcountry camp. I mentioned to Ed well Company men came by night to discovered the lack of soft drinks and had to be carried on pack animals be- Pease that I broke down and cried like drive them off in order to motivate him candy at the Ranch, he ask if he could yond that. Every Monday, Wednesday a baby, but I never shared the reason to abandon his property. Promises had have some delivered, sent a wire and and Friday each week Bob headed over for my behavior. What follows is the been made, but those promises were eventually an Air Force plane (no doubt the trails with supplies for Fish Camp. rest of the story. not kept. It wasn’t fair, but we could Being a horseman for most of his on a “training exercise”) appeared and Crooked Creek was an empty, sense his determination to persevere. time at Philmont, Martin often came dropped a package by parachute con- isolated trail camp when I last saw it Despite the hardships and injus- into contact with the Ranch’s most taining a BIG box of candy for the boys. during my time as camp director at tices, there was still a twinkle in his eye famous horseman, Boss Sanchez. At Clear Creek in 1974. The same beauti- and we could feel his deep joy at being one point Sanchez said to Martin “for ful meadow still exists, but today there free to live in such a wild place. It took a Gringo, you are the best Editor’s Note: The conclusion of Ken Da- is life in that place. The restored cabin a great ingenuity to lighten the burdens I’ve ever seen.” That no doubt made vis’s article about Bob Martin will appear is now the home of a pioneer family, of frontier living. We were introduced Martin feel like he had picked up some in the August issue of High Country. It and the evidence of their existence is to a clever hand-held washing machine, skills for handling horses. is representative of the PSA’s commitment everywhere. Livestock of all kinds are a marvelous cook stove with dozens Martin was around when the fabled being cared for, homestead crafts are of ingenious features, as well as his outdoorsman, Doc Loomis, arrived at to capture and preserve oral histories of being carried on, and the sound of joy- the ranch where he remained until the the ranch and its people. If you know of method of producing lye from ashes to ful voices echoes through the trees. early 1960s teaching outdoor skills, Phil-folk from years gone by whose recol- make soap and tan hides. He let us in As we approached the cabin we including the famous woods tools and lections might contribute to this effort, on the secret of his handmade “bench” were greeted by the homesteader and “how to care for your ax” talk, as well please advise Randy Saunders at randy. that could not be taxed as a table top. as his legendary dutch oven cooking [email protected]. We will arrange humbly welcomed into his home. He We promised not to tell anyone that the demonstrations. to record/interview them and preserve their told us how he chose this location and back folded down to serve as his table! He was on the staff long enough stories for posterity. shared some of his tricks for surviving This man made the hardships and to be remembered and was one of there. He explained how the dirt floor joys of frontier life come alive because the sources for early Ranch Manager of the cabin was hardened using ox he embodied them for us. Events of the Minor Huffman’s book, High Adven- blood, and how the roof beams were Colfax County War were no longer just designed to bear the weight of heavy

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 32 philmont history philmont history 33 lifeless facts in a dry history text. He Village have gone to great lengths to humanized them. We could identify create “convincing environments” – but with his plight, and it caused us to within earshot there is still the sound wonder what we would do if we were of highway traffic and modern civiliza- in his shoes. He gave us an example tion. By contrast, I hear nothing but to follow by handling hardships with the sound of my own footsteps on the dignity, giving us hope that it really is trail as I hike into Crooked Creek, Clear possible to live by the principles of the Creek, Cypher’s Mine, French Henry, Scout Oath and Law even when times or Pueblano. are tough and things aren’t going our Why living history at Philmont? way. The natural locations on the Ranch In a classic work on historical inter- practically serve it up on a silver plat- pretation, Freeman Tilden, the grand- ter. Philmont eliminates the need for father of American living history, once contrived environments in which to wrote, “It is true that visitors to these practice historical interpretation. What preserves frequently desire straight a gift! But such a gift can be squan- information, which may be called dered. An interpretive program must instruction, and a good interpreter will avoid the extremes of reciting only facts always be able to teach when called and figures on the one hand, or on the upon. But the purpose of Interpreta- other degenerating into mere entertain- tion is to stimulate the visitor to gain an ment. Each program has a message to understanding of the greater truths that communicate, and it also has the poten- lie behind any statement of facts...Not tial to change lives. As Freeman Tilden with the names of things, but by expos- put it, “The chief aim of Interpretation ing the soul of things.” is not instruction, but provocation.” That is exactly what we experi- This provides a gauge by which enced at Crooked Creek. The best of Philmont’s living history programs “Living History” was displayed in a can be evaluated: have they made a remote mountain meadow at Philmont. positive difference in young people’s Most of the large, popular interpretive lives? Are they better as a result of hav- parks and historical sites would give ing hiked through this remote corner anything to do what Philmont staff of the wilderness? I will never forget members can easily accomplish in their my experience at Crooked Creek. It unique natural settings. moved me and changed me. It also Stacy Roth, a more contemporary strengthened my faith in living history interpretive expert, says: “On their at Philmont. These important programs grandest scale, living history museums need our help and support. are dedicated to recreating convinc- ing environments, such as the Pilgrim village at Plimoth Plantation.” Colo- nial Williamsburg, Greenfield Village, Bent’s Old Fort, and Old Sturbridge

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 34 philmont history 35 good reading As one writer has commented, “No one describes the aftermath of the murder has documented its membership, orga- of Rev. Franklin Tolby in September of nization, techniques, and purposes to 1875. Tolby had been a staunch defend- Chasing the Santa Fe Ring show that it existed as an entity rather er of the rights of settlers and miners than simply as a group of men individ- who had moved into the area thinking ually pursuing similar ends in similar it to be public domain. Many believed ways.” Furthermore, the supposed that Tolby’s opposition to meddling by by David L. Caffey members did not refer to themselves the Ring resulted in his death although UNM Press, 2014. $34.95 cloth. 336 as being a part of a “Ring” leaving that nothing substantial was ever proven. pages, illustrations, index. appellation to newspaper editors and Nonetheless, the parson’s death led to others who objected to their methods a series of revenge killings that became Review by Steve Zimmer and activities. Caffey comprehensively known as the Colfax Country War. consulted an exhaustive range of court Elkins departed New Mexico in 1877 Readers of New Mexico history during cases, government documents, and Ter- eventually settling in West Virginia its Territorial Period (1848-1912) invari- ritorial newspapers for references to the where he was subsequently elected to ably find references to a group of busi- Ring, and the result is the first system- the United States Senate. He continued nessmen and governmental officials atic study of the nebulous group. his relationship with Catron and New who controlled much of the economic Readers of High Country will be es- Mexico, however, and was invaluable and political life of the Territory. Based pecially interested in Caffey’s treatment in promoting Ring interests from his in the capital, the group was called of the Ring’s complex involvement position on the national stage. Al- “The Santa Fe Ring” by their detractors with the Com- though residing in the East, he main- who accused them of fraud and corrup- pany in the 1870s. Although Elkins was tained a leading role in the Ring’s en- tion in pursuit of financial gain. the company’s initial legal counsel and tanglement in the The Ring was led by two lawyers, served with Catron on its Board of Di- in the southeastern part of the Territory Stephen B. “Smooth Steve” Elkins and rectors, they and their associates were in the late 1870s and early 1880s. Thomas B. Catron. They had been ed to acquire Spanish and Mexican ultimately unsuccessful in gaining pos- Caffey’s book is a must addition to friends at the University of Missouri Land Grants and invest in mining, rail- session of all or part of the land grant library of anyone interested in New and after graduation in 1865 both ven- roading, and cattle and sheep ranching. due to the diligence of the Land Grant Mexico’s Territorial Period. Not only tured to the Territory of New Mexico In addition, they aggressively sought Company’s manager, William Morley is the scholarship and interpretation of in search of business opportunities government beef contracts destined and legal counsel, Frank Springer. top rank, it is marked by his usual fluid where ever they might find them. They for the Territory’s military posts and But it wasn’t for lack of trying. Caffey writing that makes it a pleasure to read. found them in quantity whether in land Indian reservations often using extra- grants, mines, or cattle ranches. The legal means and collusion to achieve Chasing the Southwest Chief two were among other like-minded in- their goals. dividuals from the East and Mid-West In Chasing the Santa Fe Ring Dave Amtrak carries about 250,000 passengers per year on its Southwest Chief, which who went to other western territories Caffey, long time Philmont staff mem- runs between Los Angeles and Chicago. About 2500 of these passengers are like Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming for ber and one of New Mexico’s premier bound for Raton, NM for High Adventure at Philmont Scout Ranch. Amtrak has similar reasons after the Civil War. historians, has undertaken the daunt- proposed re-routing the Southwest Chief from western Kansas, southern Colora- Over more than a thirty year period ing task of identifying the members of do, and northern New Mexico to a new route through central Kansas, Oklahoma, the two men, in league with a diverse the Ring along with describing their Texas, and central New Mexico. Service to Raton would be discontinued before group of businessmen, governmental myriad activities as well. His job was the 2015 camping season. Philmont and affected communities are negotiating officials, lawyers, and politicians scat- especially challenging given that the with BNSF (which owns the tracks) and Amtrak to try to find a resolution which tered throughout the Territory, attempt- Santa Fe Ring was not an actual entity. will keep current service intact.

Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 Volume 37, Number 3— June 2014 36 good reading good reading 37 trail talk backcountry volunteer geologist at French Henry. He owns his own oil and Oops! Our Oversight. gas exploration company in Oklahoma City. Contact: 11608 SW 3rd Street Yu- The April issue of High Country 1950s kon, OK 73099. 405-203-6866. weston- proudly announced the award of [email protected]. the BSA’s highest recognition, the Don Wilson (59-61, 63, 66-68) and his Silver Buffalo, to two members of wife Ruth celebrated their 50th wed- 2000s the Philmont Staff Association. ding anniversary on January 11, 2014. But there were three. The third: He remains active in the Grand Canyon Bob Crume (04) and his wife celebrate Chip Turner of Ft. Worth, TX. Council (Phoenix, AZ) as and will be the birth of their son Clayton on March But in our defense…….The honored by NESA with the Distin- 6, 2014. Contact: 6751 East Cedar Place, BSA’s official announcement listed guished Eagle Scout Award during Lakewood, CO 80226. 469-955-7908. one of the honorees as Ralph Turner. the national council annual meeting in Seriously – is there anyone who Nashville in May. Contact: 42120 N. 2010s knew that Chip’s “real” name was Anthem Heights Drive, Anthem, AZ Ralph? But we extend apologies 85086-3007. 623-533-6131. wilsondon@ Ellyn Washburne (10-14) completed a for the oversight – and we’re very cox.net. PSA Members Receive bachelor’s degree at the University of proud of Chip’s well-deserved rec- Evansville (2009-2013) and is currently ognition! 1980s Silver Antelope in graduate school at the University of , where she is a teaching Keith Karnes (87-91) after Philmont, Four members of the Philmont Staff assistant studying musicology – and at nuclear power plants, now doing completed his collegiate studies with a Association were among those recog- resisting the urge to holler “Welcome to design work for retrofits. He has 25 BS in Athletic Training from the Univer- nized at the BSA National Council Beaubien” as she begins a class lecture. years serving at the council level, most sity of New Mexico. Contact: 221 Riggs Annual Meeting with the Silver An- Contact: 13445 Bender Road, Evans- recently as Assistant Council commis- Road #3, Hubert, NC28539. 979-492- telope. The highest award bestowed ville, IN 47720. 540-419-1647. wash- sioner. Contact: 22 South Golfwood 5843. [email protected]. by the BSA for service to youth at a [email protected]. Avenue, Carneys Point, NJ 08069. 609-221-4234. davethecommish@gmail. regional level, the Silver Antelope 1990s this year was bestowed upon 28 David Lyons (12-13) is an engineer com. outstanding volunteers at the Region Dr. Nathan Schaumleffel (96), Associ- Luncheons conducted May 21 and ate Professor of Kinesiology, Recreation Can you help us with Virgil Reeder? 22 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Sport at Indiana State University, in Nashville, Tennessee. Please join has been named the university’s 2014 In the research for his upcoming book documenting the history of conserva- the PSA in congratulating these sef- recipient of the Faculty Distinguished tion at Philmont, Bob Birkby has collected snippets about a Philstaffer from less volunteers for their significant Service Award. In addition to his the late 1950s/early 1960s named Virgil Reeder. While we’re not even sure teaching and research responsibilities, contributions to the young people of if we have the spelling correct for his last name, we understand that he was Dr. Schaumleffel is Executive Director America: Philmont’s first “Trails Director.” Telephone interviews have yielded these of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance recollections: From Texas Tech. A music major. Killed in a Jeep accident on (a nonprofit management certificate Jerry Case (Northeast) program). Contact: 3381 Wiley Lane, the Rayado Road in the early 1960s. Since Philmont’s employment records Charlie Garwood (Southern) Terre Haute, IN 47803. 812-514-7319. from that period have long since been lost, we are asking our membership: Eric Hiser (Western) [email protected] Do you know anything about Virgil and/or the early “Trails” program at Don Wendell (Southern) Philmont? If so, please contact Randy Saunders at 575-376-1138 or psadirec- Michael W. Smith (96-14) comes [email protected]. He will put you in touch with Bob Birkby for a prompt to Philmont every summer as a followup. Thank you!

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