Philmont Trek Campsites Q&A

Philmont Trek Campsites Q&A

How do you find info on where you camp in the backcountry, how to get from camp to camp, etc.?

Purpose of the discussion

If you are going to Philmont in 2021, then this Q&A will help you understand how to get all of the info about the campsites on your trek itinerary, site selection, backcountry program options, site setup, etc. The information is applicable for 7, 9, and 12-day backpacking treks. Most of the info from the video below is also in the written outline below… but not all of it.

What is Philmont?

A series of backcountry experiences and programs, separated by miles of hiking in the NM mountains.

What you need to know about Philmont Campsites

Types of camps

• Staffed – sites that have Philmont staff on-site. These camps often have program and activities. Marked with a Cabin on the sectional.
• Trail – sites with NO Philmont staff on-site. These camps may be remote or may be close to a staffed camp with program and activities. Marked with a TeePee or tent on the sectional.
• Dry – sites with no water sources really close by. You need to bring your water with you for that night and the next day.
• Layover – any camp where you are scheduled to spend multiple nights. This is common in the North country with sites around Baldy, as a Baldy summit is best attempted without a pack.
• LNT / off-property / low-impact – Neighboring properties like the Valle Vidal on the North side of Philmont have no campsites. So… no bear bag lines, no red roof inns, often… no trails!
• Ranger Camp – The first night on the trail your Ranger will take you to a Trail camp to get you up to speed on all of the ways of the backcountry.

How to find each camp on the sectional

The Philmont Treks 2021 Intinerary Guidebook shows you where each camp is. You can also find a map of your trek on the PhilTrek website. PhilTrek even lets you search for trail sections so you can zoom in and see more details of the preferred trails between each campsite on your itinerary.

But the Lead Advisor and Crew Leader will meet with the Philmont Logistics staff at Base Camp during the check-in process to help you find each camp and mark them on your maps.

Charting your route from camp to camp (you DO have options)

PhilTrek even lets you search for trail sections so you can zoom in and see more details of the preferred trails between each campsite on your itinerary. But you can look at your sectional map and find other trails between some camps. Please try to avoid hiking on backcountry roads. Your Ranger will tell you this as well. Listen to them! Roads are steeper, have less tree canopy (shade), and sometimes have truck traffic. Hiking on roads can be miserable. Even if they appear shorter… just stick to the trails, if at all possible.
Look at the topo features on the map to help you understand how steep or challenging different options might be.

Finding and getting critical info from the camp map along the trail on the way in

On the way into each camp on the trail you will find a laminated map like this…

You can see each fire ring, cabin, latrine, red roof inn, bear cables, fire rings, water source, etc. on the map.
If you are at an unstaffed camp, then try to pick the closest site to the center of the camp if you are early. Leave the sites on the fringes of the camp for crews that might roll in late or be up and hiking early. That way they don’t wake the whole campsite up.

Picking your site at each camp – considerations, process

At Staffed camps, the Staff will assign your site.
At trail camps, you will pick your own site.
Set it up and arrange everything with a quick, easy departure the next morning in mind. Things like dealing with water (filtering, treating)

Bearmuda triangle, bear bags, water sources, etc.

How to ID which camps have stuff… program, potable water, neat stuff near-by, etc. Things you need to know before you get to the camp.

Checking in at a staffed camp

When you arrive at a staffed camp the first thing you do is find the Staff Cabin and check-in. The Staff will have you create your Pack Line, show you where the red roof inns are, and invite you up for your “Porch Talk” (campsite and program briefing).

making a pack line

You can also get your Philmont Passport stamped at most staffed camps.
The Staff can also tell you if/when they do Crew Advisor’s coffee.

Signing up for program

Backcountry programs and NOT booked in advance. When you get to the site your crew leader can check with the Staff to see what program is available. The later you arrive, the more likely it is that the schedule will be full. Get there as early as you can if doing the program or activities at site are important to you.

This is especially important for anyplace that has a Chuckwagon meal. They have a hard cut-off time after which you can no longer sign up. If you get there 5 minutes too late, then you will miss the Chuckwagon meal and have to cook your own dinner.

Campfire programs

Many of the backcountry staffed camps have great “campfire” type programs in the evening. Sometimes it is music, most tell stories of some of the prior inhabitants of the land BEFORE it was Philmont Scout Ranch.

Conservation projects

A requirement to earn the Philmont Arrowhead Patch is to participate in at least 4 hours of Conservation Projects in the backcountry. Each trek has a “cons project” location and time assigned.

Other questions

• Can you charge things in the backcountry?
  Nope. There is no power in the backcountry AT ALL. Or at least… none that is available to people on treks. If you need to charge anything, then I strongly recommend taking battery packs like the Anker PowerCore Essential 20000 PD
• How early is “Early” for getting up on the trail at Philmont? Depends on what is on your agenda for the day. But if you want to get all of your side-hides in, check out any camps or programs along the way, and get to your destination camp in time for program. Most crews that are trying to summit Baldy or see sunrise on the Tooth of Time might get up at 3:30 or 4 am to be on the trail before sunrise. Baldy is generally only ascended in the mornings, as afternoon storms come through most every day and it is not safe to be on Baldy in a storm.
• How does camp site selection work for Sister Crews? At trail camps the crews each pick where they want to camp. They can try to get sites as close as possible… or not. At Staffed camps the staff generally will try to keep Sister crews together if they know. If you want to camp beside your Sister crew, let the staff know. If you want to NOT camp with them… let the staff know that also. 🙂
• Can you do activities / program at camps that aren’t on your itinerary? Program is based on availability. Backcountry staff generally does everything they can to accommodate requests. If you are there early and it is available, then they will likely let you.

More Philmont Trek info

Check out the Philmont section here at Gear Report.

Watch the Live Streamed Philmont 2021 Campsites Q&A video

Panel Introductions

Sal Porto

Asst. scoutmaster with Troop 212 in Lutz Fl and has served in this role for the past 15 years. He is a Master Educator with LNT and teaches LNT for the Greater Tampa Bay Area council. He has been on 5 treks to Philmont since 2013. Sal is a Philmont Ambassador and also the lead advisor on his council’s Philmont contingents. He also owns and operates Suncoast Wilderness First Aid and is a WFA/CPR/AED instructor. Sal is also a Backpacking, Hiking, and First aid merit badge counselor. He is retired after 30 years with the USPS.

Scott O’Mary

Scoutmaster at Troop 259B in Plano, Texas and has served in this role for the past 5 years. At Troop 259, he has created a 3-year program allowing scouts to attend all 4 BSA high adventure camps. In addition, Scott has served as crew advisor for 4 BSA high adventure treks – Philmont (Summer & Winter), Northern Tier and Bechtel Summit — and is an advisor to a Florida Sea Base trek in 2022. Scott is a Backpacking and Hiking merit badge counselor. His day job is with FedEx Services.

Jeff Cress

Jeff Cress is an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 19 and the Skipper of Sea Scout Ship 4019 in Burlington, NC. He has trekked in the Philmont backcountry as a youth and adult Crew Advisor. Jeff is the Publisher at Gear-Report.com and has produced a variety of articles and videos covering gear and best-practices at Philmont Scout Ranch.

via Gear Report at https://gear-report.com