There is a magic spell at Philmont. Long ago the
Indians felt it. Later Kit Carson, Lucien Maxwell, and
other mountain men were captivated by Philmont
Country. A century later, the late Mr. Waite Phillips
found himself under its spell. Nearly half a century
ago, his son, Elliot, and his cousins found it almost a
necessity to return to Philmont during their high
school and college summer vacations.
Philmont is large, comprising 137,493 acres or about
215 square miles of rugged mountain wilderness in the
Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains.
Thirty- three staffed camps and fifty-five trail camps
are operated by the ranch (four camps are in the
national forest). Philmont has high mountains which
dominate rough terrain with an elevation ranging from
6500 to 12,441 feet.
Philmont has a unique history of ancient Indians who
chiseled writings into canyon walls....Spanish
conquistadors who explored the Southwest long
before the first colonists arrived on the Atlantic
coast...the rugged breed of mountain men like Kit
Carson who blazed trails across this land...the great
land barons like Lucien Maxwell who built ranches
along the Santa Fe Trail, and miners, loggers, and
cowboys. All these people left their mark on Philmont.
Philmont is abundant in wildlife ~ deer, elk, coyote,
antelope, mountain lion, buffalo, beaver, wild turkey,
bear and others. Its hills and canyons teem with birds
and its streams abound with fish. Its cool mountains
harbor a wilderness of botany ~ trees, shrubs,
flowers, and grasses.
Philmont is rich in natural beauty, including the
soaring Tooth of Time (a major landmark on the Santa
Fe Trail). Sunrise from lofty Mount Phillips, the blue
water of Cimarroncito reservoir, the panoramic sweep
of the plains from Urraca Mesa, and sunlight filtering
through aspen along the rippling Rayado river.
Philmont provides an unforgettable adventure in
sky-high backpacking country along hundreds of miles
of rugged, rocky trails. Program features combine the
best of the old West ~ horseback riding, burro
packing, gold panning, black powder rifle shooting,
chuck wagon dinners, and interpretive history, with
exciting challenges for today ~ rock climbing, burro
racing, mountain biking and 30.06 rifle shooting ~ in
an unbeatable recipe for fast-moving fun and outdoors.
Since the first camping season in 1939, more than
750,000 campers and advisors have enjoyed trekking
the back country trails of Philmont. In 1939 there were
196 participants in 2004 there were 22,029
participants.
(excerpt from The Philmont Guidebook to Adventure)
Elevations:
Baldy Mountain ~ 12,441 ft.
Mt. Phillips ~ 11,721 ft.
Comanche Peak ~ 11,299 ft.
Big Red ~ 11,024 ft.
Black Mountain ~ 10,875 ft.
Trail Peak ~ 10,250 ft.
Tooth of Time ~ 9,003 ft.
Base Camp ~ 6,500 ft.
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