On our recent adventure to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM, I kept a journal of each day's events. On the trail, the boys spotted me writing, and a couple asked that I make it available after we were done. What follows is a lightly edited version of those journal entries, with corresponding photos from each day. Enjoy!
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Up at 5am and the last shower at home. Shaved off my goatee entirely; for the first time in 7 years I'm clean-shaven. That way the two weeks of scruffy will at least look even.
To the church, kissed Mary goodbye, then off to IAD in plenty of time. Southwest flight nonstop to Denver, 3.5 hours, good flight, got our gear, loaded buses, and down to CO Springs.
First stop, Air Force Academy. I remembered only the main parade ground, chapel (we didn't get to see main chapel, only the basement ones), and athletic fields from my own visit 32 years ago. Brief tour. Loved looking around at the mountains and the low trees at altitude. I really like Colorado, I could get used to this. Cleared from there to Garden of the Gods--gigantic sandstone slabs from ancient seabed. Amazing to see, had not been there before,. Started our acclimatization hike around one of them, but got interrupted: came across two college students, one having a lot of trouble, feeling dizzy and hot. Not even on the trail and already put the wilderness first aid training to use! Got her to drink, which improved her considerably, then another dad and I walked them back to their car before rejoining the group. Did a "good turn" for the day!
Checked into hotel, took quick dip in the pool to further use my lungs at altitude. Have only the slightest headache, much better than usual when I come out here. Drinking lots of water likely the key. To dinner at Golden Corral, overstuffed ourselves and the boys got a little silly with the cotton candy and the fudge fountain. And don't even ask about the "Kum-n-Go" across the street. Back to the room by 8:15 and prep for tomorrow. Today, 15,539 steps on the Fitbit, or 7.36 miles.
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| Crew 713-L-4 awaiting their bus at Denver airport |
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| Not the last pack line we'll make…this one still with shipping bags. |
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| Arriving at Air Force Academy |
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| The mountains just west of the Academy |
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| The boys, sniffing a Ponderosa pine to get its scent |
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| Air Force Academy |
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| Parade grounds at Air Force Academy, dorm to the right |
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| Catholic chapel at the AF Academy |
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| Garden of the Gods: the sandstone slabs we hiked to and around |
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| On the trail to the Garden of the Gods |
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| People doing rock climbing on the sandstone |
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| Hundreds of years old graffiti on the rock (boo) |
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| Hard to capture how tall and how thin these really are. |
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