Philmont Scout Ranch

Philmont Scout Ranch is located in Northern New Mexico in the Sangre de Cristo Mountian Range. The environment is more akin to the Colorado Rockies than to what most would envision as New Mexico desert environments. The format is backpacking, with crews navigating point to point and setting a new campsite each day, usually 7-10 miles per day over 10 days. At camps that are staffed, programs such a horeseback riding, rock climbing, shooting, fly fishing etc are available. Some camps are unstaffed. There are several dozen treks to choose from with varying distances, terrain difficulty and program offerings.

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Eligibility: At the time of participation scouts must be 14, or 13 and completed the 8th grade. Past experience from Troop 648 crews suggests that Scouts younger than 15 will have a more difficult time backpacking at high altitudes. Mental toughness is also a prerequisite.

 

Crew Size: Minimum of 7, maximum of 12, including at least two adults.

 

Cost: Costs include air and ground transportation, lodging, food and fees. For planning purposes, you should budget approximately $2,500. Depending on what equipment you already have or can borrow, count on at least another $500 for personal gear if you need a lot of stuff.

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More about Philmont: https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/

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