Inside this Edition: Ranch Hands July 28, 2011 • Issue 8 NAYLE Valle Rescatter Ghost Stories & More!! HILPhilmont Scout RanchEW • Cimarron, New MexicoS Scare Us P N Submission: The Lantern Man By Matt Welch, Ranger We stalked through dusk among the deadfall and along the dry and brittle ground, slowly and carefully feeling out each footfall, toe-heel, toe-heel, cringing against the occasional muffled snap of a twig beneath an errant boot heel and the subsequent venomous glare from Sergeant Judkins. We cadets watched the burly enlisted man raptly, knowing that in 10 days we, too, would be evasion instructors, members of the Air Force Academy’s Combat Survival Training Cadre. Yet in the meantime, somewhere out there were other sergeants, all listening for us, all hunting us. Dark fell heavy among the Brendan Best—PhilNews trees, and it was slow-going through GYMKHANA: A Ranch Hands participant competes in a gymkhana flag barrel race at the at the end-of-trek Ranch Hands rodeo at Ponil on July 22. the pitch. For what seemed hours we stumbled sightlessly through the thick undergrowth of this once- inviting forest made menacing by Youth Give Ranch a Hand the night, like blind trespassers of By Nicole Butler, PhilNews Writer the underworld. Our hands groped and probed at the ends of our The Ranch Hands program and general horse care. They also a good source for the Ranch and the Ranch Hands program outstretched arms, searching for is a “great opportunity to see help with the dude rides and Horse departments, according to twice and then in the summer of a familiar shoulder and guarding a big part of the Ranch” says learn horse and burro packing. Vargas. “We end up hiring a lot 2013, I want to work here [as a against phantom limbs. We moved Horse Foreman Ben Vargas. The According to the Wrangler staff, of these kids,” he explains. “You wrangler].” single file and as silent, the only program offers up to 15 Scouts, the Ranch Hands program gives learn a lot, and if you’re interested Following the week of sounds our ragged breaths coming ages 16 to 18 the opportunity to participants a taste of what it is in equestrian work...it’s a good hard work, the Ranch Hands from the depths of all that vast work with the Ranch Department like to wake up early every day, way to learn about animals,” says participants go on a cavalcade darkness. and to experience a cavalcade, work all day and get some dirt Ranch Hands participant Mark trek through Philmont. The crew, A long while later, a Cheshire- each for eight days. under their fingernails. Burmaster. led by a Horseman and Wrangler, cat grin of a moon rose above the While working with the “You have to get up early... Some of the participants passes through the northern trees, gracing some light on our Ranch staff, participants rotate get the horses, feed the horses... come into the program with the country of the Ranch, with stops path. As I looked up to it with between two of the four horse tack them, groom them, saddle intention of gaining experience at Dan Beard, Rich Cabins, grateful eyes, I saw a thin, bluish camps: Ponil, Beaubien, Clarks them and then wait for the first to work here at Philmont. Muir Baldy Town, Pueblano and Dean light moving among the trees far to Fork and Basecamp (Cattle dude ride after breakfast and says she came out to Philmont Cow. In a typical year, the Ranch the north. I reached out and shook Headquarters). During these then untack them, feed them on trek last year and “fell in love Hands crew is permitted to take the shoulder of Judkins himself, rotations, participants work with and let them go,” explains Ranch with the horses, fell in love with their horses into the Valle Vidal LANTERN the camps’ Wranglers and learn Hands participant Amanda Muir. the place, fell in love with it and RANCH HANDS to saddle, scoop, ride and feed The experience they gain while made a promise to myself that I continued on Page 13 the horses along with hay hauling working at the camps makes them am coming back here and doing continued on Page 7 2 JULY 28, 2011 Ranch Events & Activities PHILNEWS PHILNEWS STAFF • • • • • Editor-in-Chief Owen McCulloch NPS Manager Scott Allen—PhilNews Ephraim Moore —PhilNews CASINO: Camping activities assistant manager Derek (Spud) Nuccio helps DANCE: PTC Participants and staff enjoy an evening of dancing at the PTC Rory Chapman teach poker during casino night at the S3AC on July 21. western dance night. PhilNews Editor Andrea McFarland Inside This Edition... Submit to PhilNews Corrections PhilNews Writer Weather...........................................3 Fate Never Deal Fair....................15 PhilNews welcomes pg. 2: In the corrections Nicole Butler Mark Anderson..............................4 Backcountry........................16 & 17 submissions and letters to the section “one” should be “on.” Owen McCulloch..........................4 Zastrow.........................16 editor. Please I-Camp your pg. 2: The Crater Lake article PhilNews Writer Chaplain’s Corner..........................5 Miner’s Park..................16 is on page 12 and the Pueblano Danielle Edwards submission to PhilNews, email Quitting Tobacco Use...................5 Cimarroncito...............17 it to philmontnps@scouting. articles are on pages 12 and 13. Sustainability Statement................6 Phillips Junction............17 PhilNews Writer org or drop it by the NPS Ben McNair Ranch Hands Cont........................7 Basecamp.............................18 & 19 office. All submissions must Valle Rescatter................................7 Cabin Restoration.......18 include your full name, contact Photography Manager Ask Sawmill.....................................8 Commissary.................18 number, location and the date! Samantha Waidler Taos Pizza Out Back.......................9 PTC Dining Hall..........19 Photographs must also include Cassa Del Gavilan.........................10 PTC C.O.P.E.................19 a description of the photo. For Photographer NAYLE...........................................11 World News................................20 Scott Allen a submission to be considered St. James Hauntings......................12 U.S. News......................................21 for the next issue, please have it Photographer UrracaHauntings.........................12 Sports............................................22 to us by Friday at 5:00 p.m. All Brendan Best Lantern Cont...............................13 Entertainment..............................23 submissions become property of The Lantern Light.........................14 Games............................................24 Philmont Scout Ranch. Photographer Ephraim Moore Activities Calendar July 28 to Aug. 10 Photographer Matthew Prokosch Thursday 28 Friday 29 Saturday 30 Sunday 31 Monday 1 Tuesday 2 Wednesday 3 6 p.m. Photographer Art & Photo Contest 11 a.m - 1 p.m. No Events (Activities 6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. Ranger CT: Poops and Announcements Brat Day!!! @ Baldy Pav. Phil Fiesta) Ranger CT: Nature *Buffalo BBQ @ PTC Ranger CT: Kyle Soyer Prints 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Writing 6 p.m. Photography 7-9 p.m. Ranger CT: Tracking Ranger CT: Nature *Interfaith Chapel 7-9 p.m. Ranger CT: Special 7 p.m. Photographer *PTC Handicraft Night Writing Service @ PTC *Handicraft Night @ Treks *Follow Me Boys @ PTC Taylor Thorne 7:15 p.m. 8:15 p.m. *PTC Closing Program 8:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. PTC 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 3 Unstoppable Movie 8:15 p.m. Dance/Rave @ the S AC *PTC Opening Program 7 p.m. Professional Scout Yoga w/ Julia @ PTC Photographer 3 Haylee Train Night @ the S AC Soccer Night @ field by *Wanna-Be Band Reception @ Villa 8:15 p.m. Health Lodge 8:15 p.m. 7 p.m. Craft Night @ S3AC Photo Lab Lead 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Willy Wonka and the *Western Dance @ PTC Matthew Martin Yoga w/ Jason Chocolate Factory Movie 8:15 p.m. Night & candy @ the Ultimate Frisbee in field S3AC Photo Lab Tech by Health Lodge Matthew Allen Thursday 4 Friday 5 Saturday 6 Sunday 7 Monday 8 Tuesday 9 Wednesday 10 Marketing Manager 12 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 11 a.m - 1 p.m. 3 Bryan Hayek Philoween all afternoon Ranger CT: Ranger CT: Philmont *Interfaith Chapel Blood Drive @ the S AC Blood Drive @ the Last Brat Day!!! @ Baldy 3 and after chapel Photography Land Management Service @ PTC 6 p.m. S AC Pav. Marketing Staff 6 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 5 - 8 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Ranger CT: Philmont 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m. Boglarka Bordas Ranger CT: Speical *PTC Closing Program Volleyball Tournament *PTC Opening Program Land Management *Buffalo BBQ @ PTC Yoga w/ Julia @ PTC Treks 8:15 p.m. and BBQ with quiet 8:15 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. Marketing Staff 7-9 p.m. Humans Vs. Zombies hours during chapel Phil Idol in the S3AC *Wanna-Be Band *Western Dance @ PTC *Follow Me Boys @ PTC William McKinney *PTC Handicraft Night in the field behind the 7-9 p.m. 3 8:15 p.m. 8:15 p.m. *PTC Handicraft Night 3 8:15 p.m. S AC and Dodgeball Ultimate Frisbee in the HVZ behind the S AC Lead Videographer Ultimate Frisbee in the in the field by Health 8:15 p.m. field by Health Lodge Emily Fraser field by Health Lodge Lodge Avatar Movie Night 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Videographer Yoga w/ Jason Sean Barber * We ask that staff members wear full uniform at PTC events (Staff may, however, wear western attire at Western Night) and that they be considerate of our participants during the programs. 2 JULY 28, 2011 Ranch Events & Activities PHILNEWSPHILNEWS Weather JULY 28, 2011 3 Weather Forecast July 28 to Aug. 6 Thursday 28 Friday 29 Saturday 30 Sunday 31 Monday 1 Afternoon Scattered