Philmont began for me when I was in my Scout troop and the older guys were really into backpacking. I could never be old enough or have the correct things to do what had to be done in order to go with them. So I would have to suffer that fate.
    It was not until 1991 that I was able to attend Philmont, and with my dad. I had one of those end of the season-shortened treks that are just as great, but once you work for the place they become somewhat different. After that trek, I thought that was it for me and oddly enough I got an application in the mail from the Ranch. So, I filled it out and sent it back without another thought about it.
    About 2 weeks before I was to do my Eagle court of honor, actually while I was planning it, Dean Tooley (Philmont camp director at the time) called and asked if I wanted work out there for the summer. I took the job without know much about it. I proceeded to repair tents almost all summer at the Merchandise Warehouse. Not a glorious job, but at least my foot was in the door.
    However, the summer of '93 turned out a bit differently. Philmont instead offered me a position of cook at PTC. I turned them down because I did not want to work as a cook at the Training Center. Instead, I found a job with my local Council camp. With the local camp I took on the job of Scout Craft director for the summer. At the end of the summer, I decided to give Philmont another chance and re-applied.
    My patience was reward, for the summer of 1994 was the first year being a Ranger. I had a great time of not knowing a thing about what was really going on.  I took things on that I never knew I could and generally saw more things than I had ever expected. Being a first year ranger has to be, if not, one of the best positions out there. (Just take it in stride and everything is great) Though, not knowing the other positions in full, I was a bit biased. To make up for not knowing was a touch of ego, a smidge of acting, and a whole lot of making sure you taught the crew all you could.
    At the end of the 1994 summer, I put in again and was accepted again. I was back for 1995 as a second year Ranger. While I thought 1994 was the top of enjoyment, 1995 provided to be the greatest summer of my life simply because of the people I got to know in my training crew. On the downside, other issues clouded the view, tensions grew, and I knew by the end of the summer I had enough of this without breaks. There was getting to know more about the ranch and generally becoming familiar with some of the politics of the place that one never wants to admit is there. By the end of summer, I realized I needed to find another venue of employment at the Ranch.
    My final summer was in 1996 when I worked for Logistics and learned more about the Ranch than I ever thought possible. I got to work the radio, answer calls, and generally do things that I never could before. The only thing missing was a more direct interaction with the crews. But somehow I got through that slight disappointment and had a good summer.

   Taking stock, I worked four summers there. I repaired about 800 tents, backpacks, and various pieces of gear. I took out 23 crews and two mountain treks. I was involved in two different SARs, both after I left the ranger department. Survived a very close bear indecent (don't even think about asking about it... I was my first year on staff and I didn't have a clue), draughts, monsoon season, and the tornado of 1996. Not bad from some kid from Baltimore.

[update as of 01/18/04]

    The first time I went back to Philmont since 1996, was for the millennium. I had a great time re-connecting with fellow ex-Staffers and still current ones. Here is a brief tidbit:

    I can remember New Years in Cimarron. I was sitting around a hotel room with a bunch of the 2000 Ranger leadership. They were talking about who had gone where and what they had been up to. Things went from people going back to school, people getting Masters, going to NOLS and teaching there, the Peace Corps, people becoming suites and on and on it went. The conversation seemed natural to me. I also realized out of the 10-15 people in that room that I was the oldest there! At 25, I was the grandfather of the room and man that hit home. It also gave me pause, again Scouting provided leaders were ever it goes.

    I went back to Philmont for a trek for the first time since 1996 for a trek in 2000. I have listed several postings about going back:

During the summer of 2000, I went back to Philmont with my Troop to be an advisor with the crew. I did have the time of my life. This was a much different prospective than my first visit in 1991 as a camper. This was also a very different view than being staff for 4 summers. I tried to see what it is like to revisit just a couple years after working there. As I have said before, "it is like working with the magician. You know how the rabbit is shoved in the sleeve before the show. When you come back to see the show, you don't look for the rabbit, you see how the trick is done."

• Initial response to going back pt 1
• What I expect so far pt 2
• My history with Philmont- Why going back means something special for me. (Also see: A Brief history of what I have done at Philmont) pt 3
• What can you do at Philmont? pt 4
• What intrigues me about Philmont? pt 5

    In 2002 I joined the Philmont Staff Association, and this was probably the best move I could have made. I was able to communicate with several years, prospective, and experience of Philmont Staff. I joined in on several PSA reunions and had a great time doing it. I am currently the PSA NorthEast Webmaster, and stay active in helping with various PSA efforts where and when I can. Most recently I attended the 2003 PSA reunion and trek at Philmont. Check it out!

PSA 2003 Trek and Trip Pictures!