Philmont Trek 806-F 1999
Part of Troop
104's 1999 Philmont Trek
August 16, Day 10
Conservation Project and Aguila Camp
Up at 6 this morning to eat and pack up. We had an appointment this morning at 8 to do a conservation project. Our original schedule called for us to do trail work between Lover's Leap and Miner's Park. Since we also wanted to do the rock climbing program of Miner's, and that takes a long time, it would have been a very long tiring day. Fortunately, there was work we could do here in Abreu.
They had several projects for us. Eric and Peter dug a trench behind the new chicken coop and lined it with rocks. This was to provide a nice drainage channel and keep water running of the roof from splashing mud up onto the back wall. The rest of us worked on the fence for the new pig yard. We dug post holes and put in fence posts. (The ground was hard.) Matt W., Colin and I worked in wiring rails to the vertical fence posts, and then wired smaller latias (pieces of tree branches cut to the appropriate length) to the rails. It ended up looking pretty good, but it took most of our three hours to do about 5 feet of fence. (Our tools for twisting the wire together were pretty primitive.) The rest of the crew chopped down cedar (really juniper, I think) trees and split them for fence rails. I didn't get a chance to see that part of the operation, but apparently Andrew did a bang up job splitting rails.
After finishing our conservation time we visited the cantina for root beer, chess, checkers and cards again. Then we took showers (the open air shower with a view is really nice), ate lunch, and headed out to Aguila. We left at 2:10, beating the old Troop 104 record of late departure from Abreu by 10 minutes.
The trail to Aguila (8294 ft.) is not very long, but it's steep. We climbed 1100 ft over just about 4 miles in a couple of hours. It started to shower just as we left Abreu, but it didn't last long. It was a hot hike, and we were pretty sweaty by the time we arrived.
We passed a crew that was headed to Abreu from Crater Lake today. They were in the middle of a 6-day trek. They looked pretty unhappy, and I'm not sure why. It was drizzly, but the rain really wasn't a problem. Come to think of it, though, rain was rather daunting to us when we first started. By this time we've learned to live through a little rain. Maybe this is the first time they've had to deal with it.
We have Aguila Camp all to ourselves today. The ground is very rocky, and setting up tents was difficult. The view is great, though. Our camp is right on the shoulder of Fowler Mesa overlooking the valley south of Urraca Mesa.
The water in camp comes from a small spring on the edge of a meadow. I went over to pick up water for dinner. There was a veritable herd of deer there, at least five does and four fawns. They seemed quite unconcerned that I was there. The fawns even seemed to be curious and came over to see what I was doing as I pumped water through the filter. The noise of the pump startled them, though, and they left.
After dinner most of the crew went to a clearer spot north of camp to watch the view of the sunset. Looking to the east, we didn't actually see the sun set, but it was still a great view. It is neat that the guys can be so moved by a sight like this. Even Colin is now saying that he definitely wants to come back, maybe as a youth advisor when his brother is old enough.
Back at camp we did "Eagles Soaring High" and sang some hymns including the Philmont Hymn. Don talked about the concept of "thin places", where the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds is very thin. Philmont is such a place for him, and I have to agree.
In the evening, when I explored away from the camp, I was struck by the complete silence here. There is no stream thru camp, and not a breath of breeze to rustle the leaves. Once I got out of range Andrew's voice, it was absolutely serene. There was the occasional chirp of one of the blue and russet wren-like birds, but other than that, quiet.
We turned in early, wanting to be up for sunrise. (This crew has really gotten into sunrises.) It will be our last full day on the trail. I have been purposely not counting the days, but suddenly it has hit me that our trek is almost over. I'm looking forward to talking to my family again, but I'm not ready to be done with the trek. This is such a magical place, and this crew is doing a great job of working together.
After we were in our tent we were serenaded by a nearby pack of coyotes. They can be quite vocal.
From the Crew Journal
Long 3 hours of work, digging holes for fence... short hike up to wherever we are... root beer, chess and checkers! (MD)
I was the only one who did any work. Without me there would have been no fence. I cut down the trees and split them. (AS)
Me and Eric dug a ditch and lined it with rocks. For some reason it took 3 hours.
Cooked ourselves a nice breakfast of oats this morn' in preparation for the service project. The nice Hoosier told Peter and Eric to get medieval and dig a ditch while the rest of the crew worked on building a fence. After an exhausting 3 hours we got the "Cantina Wench" (affectionate term) to get us some root beer. She kicked us out of her "establishment", so we ate lunch and took showers in a semi-fun laden shower. We had just picked up our stuff when it began to rain. Luckily the rain didn't last too long on our hike to Aguilla. The tramp was a scenic one, we got views of the Tooth and Uracca Mesa. Camp is situated on the side of a mesa, so the views are nice. Tomorrow sunrise is supposed to be excellent.
Sitting here on the edge of our camp (Aguilla) looking out 50 miles down the valley - humbling and seems such a privilege to be here! I doubt I will see this view again, but the memories of it will be with me forever.
I was struck last night by the serenity of this place. Once I got out of range of the Scouts' voices, it was absolutely quiet. No bubbling brook. Not a breath of breeze to rustle the leaves. No sounds from civilization. Just the occasional chirp of one of the little wren-like birds. (DW)
