Philmont Family Reunion
This Philmont week of family camping has been a dream for my dad for many years. However, our entire family wasn’t able to come this time, but all the grandkids were there, and that was a dream in itself for my parents.
Our week was full of excitement for all of us. While Dad was off in classes for Wilderness First-Aid, the rest of us were divided into age groups and went along with whatever was planned for our groups. As adults, we did have a little more say in what we did as we chose from the many options they had available for us.
Landon and Cami were together in the Small Fry age group. Because we were attending during ‘Shark Week’, they were known as the ‘Shark Fries’. They had a blast everyday at their ‘school’, where they played, had snacks, rode ponies, watched movies, and did crafts.
Cami & Landon
Caleb was quite nervous about being in a group where he didn’t know anyone. As luck would have it, there weren’t enough boys in his age group, so they were grouped with the younger boys. Thus, Mason and Caleb were able to hang out for the week in their group, the Deputies. They went on pony rides, did crafts, went on many hikes (including an all-day one), and tried their aim doing archery & rifles.
Mason & Caleb
The older girls had no issues with meeting new friends and had a great time during the week with them, during group time and outside of group time.
Hannah’s group did many of the things that Caleb’s group did, but at different times. For this girl, the crafts were the highlight of her week. She even went to the craft tent outside of group time to work on projects. She came home with a decorated bird house, a painted shirt, a necklace, and a painted wooden snake.
Hannah & Her Roper Friends
Emma loved the freedom she had during the week to just be with friends as well as to come and go as she pleased. Her group kept her pretty busy with horse rides, crafts, tours, hikes, and rifle shooting. One day the girls left first thing in the morning and went on an overnight hike. We didn’t see them until the following day at lunch time. Emma couldn’t contain her excitement – I doubt she missed us at all.
Emma & Her Mustang Friends
When we told people we were going to Philmont, we only got positive responses from those who had gone or had heard of it. The following is our experience –
When we arrived, we were given a name tag, which was quite exciting for all the kids.
We had the entire afternoon to organize our tent and get settled in Tent City –
Tent City
Tent Home for Chris, Cami and I
We were continually amazed with how clear the sky was during the day and at night . . perfect for star gazing.
Grandpop with Emma, Caleb, & Hannah
On Monday our week started full force. The kids went off with their groups and the adults got to ‘play’.
Monday: My sisters and I did a tour of Cimarron, the town just outside of Philmont.
There wasn’t much to the town, but we did check out the Old Jail,
Jail Turn-off Sign
Eliza & Helen at Jail
an Old Mill Museum (where sadly my favorite part was outside next to the fence),
Old Mill Museum
and the haunted St. James Hotel.
St. James Hotel
Tuesday: My sisters, Chris, and I went on – what was supposed to be – an all-day hike to Window Rock.
On our way up, my sisters and I had a great time talking while Chris was on a conference call.
We actually had a rare sighting of a bear and her cub, next to the water’s edge.
We got part way up to a place called Cathedral Rock where we took a break for lunch.
You couldn’t pick a more picturesque place to picnic!
Cathedral Rock
Philmont had supplied a packed lunch for us to take . . and it wasn’t half bad! We had packets of tuna with crackers, Rice Krispie Treats, nuts, and gatorade drink packets.
Some took the opportunity to take a little nap to get over jet lag.
When lunch was over, the majority of the group decided to not hike the rest of the way to Window Rock, but to start back down. Some of us were a little disappointed but we had a great hike and posed for a group shot before heading back down.
When the kids got home that evening, there was a great Western night provided. We had an outdoor BBQ followed by fun family activities. We followed the kids around as they roped steers,
Caleb After ‘Hooking’ the Steer
got their faces painted,
Cami’s Face Painting
and got items branded with the Philmont Scout Ranch brand.
When all outdoor activities were over, we headed over to the Western dancing. Caleb & Hannah tried their skill at line dancing, but became caught up with swing dancing. So, Chris taught them a few tricks of the trade and they created their own dance routine combining the 2-step and the swing. They spent so long perfecting it that they were thoroughly exhausted by the end of the night!
Wednesday: To make sure the families were having time together for ‘family week,’ Wednesday was strictly Family Day. So, we took the opportunity to leave Philmont and drive out to the Capulin Volcano. We hiked up and around the entire rim.
Some of us felt the need to test fate, while the rest of us just snapped photos – don’t worry, it’s completely staged.
The hike up the volcano got pretty steep and we had to keep Cami motivated to get up the hill to the next benchmark.
The rangers told us to look out for the massive amounts of ladybugs towards the top of the volcano but we had no idea they would just be found in clumps!
Ladybugs
After Completing the Volcano Hike
On our way back to Philmont, we stopped at a popular burrito joint. At least they don’t have much of an overhead!
Lunch ‘Pit Stop’
We had to be back to the Scout Ranch early in the afternoon as some of the kids had signed up for archery and rifle shooting.
Caleb
We found Hannah is quite the sharp-shooter for archery!
Hannah
Thursday: While my sisters went white water rafting, Chris and I went on an all-day hike to Carson Meadows.
Our group was much smaller this hike, but we had a great time hiking up and hearing about the history of what we were seeing as we went up the trail.
Old Chimney at Old Abreu
When we got to Carson Meadows, it was lunch time so we found a good spot and enjoyed our pre-packed lunch.
The hike back down after lunch was just as amazing as it was coming up – you just couldn’t beat the view!
Friday: Our last full day of camp and our last hike! Chris and I decided to get up at 4:00 a.m. to go on a sunset hike to Lover’s Leap with our group. I do admit, there were a couple time that we questioned our decision, but we were so glad we stuck to our guns and went.
It was pitch black when we got to the trail head. We followed our leaders with flashlights in hands. As hikes go, it was a fairly short hike, but the view when we got there was amazing . . and it only kept getting better!
Early Sunrise
On the Rock’s Edge
Isn’t that sunlight amazing as it shoots a pillar of light through the clouds?! My dad even mentioned how beautiful the sunrise was from all the way down at camp!
The light peeking over the trees –
and then touching the earth at different times.
Our short hike was definitely memorable . . . and we had quite the group join us in the wee hours of the morning.
Hiking Towards ‘Tooth of Time’
We had such an amazing week at Philmont! With our kids in their own activities, Chris and I felt like we were on our own little vacation. We got to go on lots of hikes without having to motivate or appease any kids along the way! It was a great week to share with our family!
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