Best Backpacking In New Mexico Spend a few days hiking to the top of towering “baldy” peaks, scrambling up canyons, marveling at ruins, and relaxing in hot springs, and you’ll see why Aldo Leopold loved this wilderness. Our first designated wilderness, the Gila offers an extensive network of trails ranging across 500,000 acres. For bird’s-eye views, take the 24-mile Mogollon Crest Trail, which follows ridgetops for most of the route and leads to the three tallest peaks in the Gila. Contact: Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest, (505) 536-2250; With more than 150 miles of streams, numerous alpine lakes, wildflower-filled meadows, and several glacier-sculpted peaks above 13,000 feet, this wilderness provides a perpetual Rocky Mountain high. For the ultimate alpine experience, hike the 50-mile Skyline Trail—the longest wilderness path in New Mexico—through the Sangre de Cristo range. Contact: Carson National Forest, (505) 758-6200; A favorite of Backpacker’s Boy Scout readers, Philmont is a “high-adventure base” owned by the Boy Scouts of America.

This 137,000-acre area hosts more than 19,000 Scouts each summer on weeklong backpacking trips, the rewards of which are high-mountain splendor, new backcountry skills, and the ever-important Philmont badge. Non-Scouts can get a taste of Philmont-style New Mexico high country by hiking trails in the surrounding Carson National Forest. Contact: Boy Scouts of America, (505) 376-2281; Adventure TravelBeginner SkillsDestinations StoriesNew Mexico 2-position design permits a low flame for controlled cooking or a direct flame for a quicker boil time Powered by Esbit® solid fuel tablets (6 included); each tablet burns for approximately 12 minutes, Non-toxic fuel is environmentally safe, has no ash residue and is nearly odorless Its small size and stable fuel source make this stove a great addition to your emergency preparedness kit Additional fuel tablets sold separately View all Esbit Backpacking Stoves Burn Time (Max Flame) (per cube) 12 minutes

4 x 3 x 0.75 inches In March of 2014, Troop 140 set off on a trip of a lifetime to Sea Base in Florida. Planning started a long time before that since we chose the Scuba Live Aboard Adventure. Twelve Scouts and adult leaders spent hours in a pool and in a lake learning how to scuba dive. What a great experience!! We arrived at Sea Base on a Saturday in March for our adventure of Scuba Live Aboard. After our introduction to Sea Base buildings, all the divers were taken to the pool to show their knowledge of scuba diving. Equipment was distributed and then we met our captains. Our group of 12 was divided equally onto two sailboats. We loaded food and personal gear and then we were off into the great unknown of the Atlantic Ocean. Dolphins were at our bow which, to us, meant that we would have a great week. We spent 7 days on the boat. We did have some rough weather causing us to miss several dives and go into port for a night. The dives were made around the Florida Keys and included a reef called Chicken and Hens.

We also got to see the Buddha statue that sat near a coral reef. Some thoughts from a few of the boys that went on the trip…. Of all of my experiences and adventures through Troop 140, the high adventure trip to Florida Sea Base stands out among the rest. The opportunity to scuba dive and live on a sailboat for a week is one that I am glad that I did not pass over. I was absolutely terrified before I signed up because I was always thinking what could go wrong while diving. rawrow backpack reviewBut I signed up anyway. wwe backpack stunnerWe arrived at Sea Base itself and every fear disappeared. udg creator laptop backpack blackI was able to bond with my crew members and make friends for life. backpack rarotonga

I was able to see things and do things that nobody else ever could. The trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity and every day I am glad that I took that opportunity. In my many years in Troop 140, I have gone on numerous campouts, earned 50+ merit badges, participated in a myriad of service projects and even backpacked Philmont twice. I have been all over the United State with Boy Scouts and yet one trip, to this day, stands out as the most unique and enjoyable Boy Scout trips I have ever been on. backpack buddies des moines iowaThat trip was Sea Base. les zazous backpackChoosing to go there my sophomore year of high school was possibly one of the best decisions I have ever made. When I first was deciding, I thought I wouldn’t enjoy the trip because it was scuba diving and the idea of being underwater scared me.

However, I soon learned that scuba diving is an activity that everyone should experience at least once. When I was in scuba training, we practiced in a pool. The experience of being completely immersed in water but able to breathe was an amazing feeling. If this felt this good, I couldn’t wait to get to Sea Base. I completed my training and we headed to the Florida Keys to begin our scuba adventure. Our trip included a week of sailing and sleeping on a sail boat around the coral reefs in the Atlantic off of the Keys. We would take stops every so often to dive. I was so excited. The trip exceeded the expectations that I had for it which were already high. During this trip, I was able to make friends with other scouts on our boat, scuba dive and relax in the Florida Keys (who wouldn’t want to do that??). On top of all of it, we had really good food which we cooked ourselves (spaghetti, crepes and brats). I would give Sea Base a 9.999999 of out 10 and would love to go there again. Everyone should want to experience this trip!

Sea Base was the best BSA trip I ever went on. It brought my scouting skills to the next level, and created life long memories with the other scouts on the trip. I would say it is one trip that every scout should go on. As you can see, the Scouts really enjoyed the trip. Sea Base has many other opportunities as well. You can learn to dive there, sail, and a whole host of other activities. When looking for a new high adventure experience, be sure to consider Florida Sea Base!!! Philmont Crew Member Slots Still Available For 2017 The 2016 Pathway to Adventure Council's 2016 Philmont Contingent has completed their High Adventure training and is packing to leave in just a few weeks for a July 4 arrival at Base camp. PTAC is still filling the 2017 Contingent's two crews. One crew of twelve is complete and the second crew has only three members so far, which is not enough. We need add at least five people, preferably nine. What is Philmont Scout Ranch and what do you do there?

Philmont is a BSA High Adventure Base located in Northern New Mexico– near the town of Cimarron. Scouts and adult advisors back-pack or “trek” around this high-adventure base for a 12-day backpacking expedition through the rugged Sangre de Christo Mountain range. Youth and adult advisors in crews of 8 to 12 typically hike 60 to 80 miles at elevations ranging from 6,500 feet above sea level (Basecamp) to 12,400 feet when at the top of Mt. Baldy – the highest mountain on the ranch. Philmont Scout Ranch was donated to the BSA back in 1938 by a very generous oil tycoon by the name of Waite Phillips. Waite also donated his beautiful summer home, hunting and fishing lodges and was instrumental in setting up some of the hiking trails that Scouts still hike to this day. Philmont is not only a 2-week hike, but has 35 staffed camps, 770 trail camp sites and loads of program to do along your trek route. Visit a real turn of the century gold mine, take a horse ride, race the burros and/or do serious rock climbing at Philmont.

Don’t forget to visit the WW2 plane wreckage on top of Trail peak, climb the famous landmark the “Tooth of Time” or maybe even tackle Mount Baldy at 12,400 Feet Above Sea Level.  Shoot 30-06, trap or Black Powder rifles, milk the cows at Crooked Creek camp and join in building a new trail for your 3-hour conservation project. Charlie Cyphers Stomp or the 7-Strings Campfire program at Crater Lake Camp are not to be missed! One can only imagine the “extensive” training necessary to carry a 45-pound backpack over rugged, but beautiful mountainous terrain for 2 weeks, with all your food, water, clothes, tent, sleeping bag and cookware on your back. Wildlife abounds at Philmont Scout Ranch including bears, mule-deer, mini-bears (you’ll find out what these are), rattlesnakes, etc.… so training is very important. Daily mountain thunderstorms, low humidity, high temperatures during the day, low temperatures at night, elevations up to two miles high where the air is thinner and 200 square miles of back country wilderness requires very careful planning, dedicated physical training, close crew bonding and the proper backpacking equipment.

If your troop, crew or team has never gone to Philmont, the annual PTAC Philmont Contingent would be ideal for you. Consider plugging your high adventure trip for 2017 into your unit’s summer of 2017 schedule. Designed for solo Scouts, partial crews, co-ed crews or even full crews of up to 12 participants who have never hiked Philmont, the PTAC Philmont Contingent Training volunteers take you through the trip planning process, budget, medical forms, equipment selection, physical training and crew formation process. Adult advisors who sign up for Philmont will be supporting & representing the youth of the crew, taking an active part in the different phases of the trip planning process. Monthly meetings start in September and end in June – just before you depart by Amtrak train for Philmont Scout Ranch. Departure date will be July 1st via Amtrak- returning July 15th, 2017 via airline. The cost of the 2017 Contingent trip is estimated to be $ 1,800 and includes the Philmont Ranch fee, all trip transportation, meals, lodging, Shakedown Week-end, Taste of Philmont, 10-mile Shakedown Hike, Philmont belt & buckle, two contingent shirts, Philmont Tooth of Time Crew photo, side-trips and more.