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Entrance To Philmont

Wilson Rook and I went to Philmont Scout Ranch (we were from Longview, Texas) with 24 other boys from Sherman, Texas.  Upon arriving in Sherman, Wilson and I slept that night in the Scout Executive's office.) We left Sherman the next morning via a Scout bus traveling at the rate of 40 miles per hour.  Took us two nights and  three days. 





We were known as SX-10, the first group in Philmont that summer.  Lots of good memories.

Looking SW from the Headquarters.

The top bunk with the two pack frames in front of it is the one I stayed in.  The washing is also mine.  The ranch had a good shower shortly after this picture was taken.	Heavy traffic to and from the showers.  We stoked the coal burning hot water heater every time we took a bath.  The day it rained for the first time.
Looking out of my tent across the South Ponil Creek toward the sleeping quarters of the big wigs.  This is the start of our trek.	Saddling up to go to Indian Writing.  The horse on the lower left is the critter I rode to Indian Writing.
Carving on rocks on the left rock face.	Cliff home of an Indian family many years ago.
This camp on the Bench was sure a welcome sight after a seven mile hike up and down mountains, not hills! I slept in the center tent - what room!	Looking NW from the Bench.  That line down there, just above the trees on the right, is a two lane highway US 64. The mountain the farthest away is Baldy, about twelve miles away.
Taking time out for lunch better called a nose-bag.	Cimarroncito Camp - One of the most beautiful on Philmont next to Rayado.  Note the small mountains.
At Cimarroncito camp we were told that the jackass ate paper so we gave him a roll.  That hat on him is mine.  They carried our bedrolls which were heavy in those days compared to today's light weight ones.	Cutting the trail to Cyprus Mine.  Our guide was the handyman at the axe.  Wilson Rook is standing on the right and Bobby Brooks is the boy in the white T-shirt.  Brooks later became a doctor and worked at Philmont for several summers. To the left of Brooks is Fred Ryle.  He was one of our advisers - the pipe smoker.
Our camp at Cyprus Mine.  My tent is the white one.  We did all our cooking over a wood fire except for the nose bags.	Our group on its way to Porcupine Shelter.  From there eight of us hiked 18 miles to the top of "Clear Creek Mountain."  12,000 feet elevation.
The camp at Porcupine was pitched in a mudflat.  We were enclosed by mountains.	Shown above is a beaver dam which is ten feet high.  Notice the boys in the far background.  They are fixing to go swimming.  The fishing was great!  We had fish three times a day.
We are on the trail to Apache Creek from Porcupine to Rayado in "God's Country."	Rayado as seen from Burn Peak and Lookout Peak on Webster Pass.  You can see our trail to the left of this photo.
Here is a view of our camp at Rayado.  The smoke is coming from a slightly wet fire.  We were rained on that day!	Here is a view of our camp at Rayado looking away from the smoke.  We were camped at the base of the mountains on the left  of Rayado Creek which was on the right.
Phillips $25,000 ranch house at Rayado.  Built by a one armed man.  Can't reach except by trail.	First time in a long time on the trail that we were able to get a shower.  However, we had to stock the boiler with coal and heat up the water.  The shower was located next to Rayado Creek.
Our group on its last hike - Rayado to Crater Lodge to Camp Headquarters. 86 miles in two weeks.	Coming down from Webster Pass on the way to Crater Lodge.
Lover's Leap.  Our group is on the bottom left of this photo.	Me with my backpack.
Once back in headquarters we used the Scout bus to see some things.  This is an old church just some 20 feet off the old Santa Fe Trail.	This is Kit Carson's home.  What is left of it.  The boy there is me!

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Wilson Rook
One photo of Wilson Rook, Bobby Brooks and Dick ? standing on the good old Texas sign north of Sherman, Texas is missing.  I had sent the photo to Wilson Rook's mother after he was killed while landing on an aircraft carrier at night on the West Coast.

"Now is the hour when Scouts must say Good-bye.
Soon you will be leaving on your homeward way.
Philmont was yours,
You lived there,
Loved the thrills.
When you return again,
we'll welcome you."