28 March 2022 | prestonhollowpeople.com
Camps
FORGOING THE EASIER HIKE, SCOUTS ENJOY ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
ABOUT PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH The premier Boy Scouts of America (BSA) High Adventure™ base challenges campers with more than 214 square miles of rugged northern New Mexico wilderness. Backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades, and training and service programs offer young people many ways to experience this legendary country. Source: philmontscoutranch.org FROM LEFT: Boy Scout Troop 70 members Noah Lilly, Will Carroll, Charlie Humphrey, Carter Dubiel, George Horvat, Grayson Houghton, Drew Lamberson, Max DeGroote, Payton Brown, and Chris Ellis. NOT PICTURED: scoutmasters John Dubiel and Phil Lamberson.
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had the pleasure of taking part in June 2021 as 10 crew members and two advisors (scoutmasters) from University Park’s Boy Scout Troop 70 formed crew 622-U-02 at Philmont Scout Ranch, a premier N OA H W. L I L LY BSA high adventure destination in New Mexico. We chose a harder trek, and it rained every day. Hiking 8 to 10 miles daily for 11 days, the crew soldiered on despite the conditions, tallying more than 100 miles and summiting Baldy Mountain at an elevation of 12,441 feet.
(PHOTO: COURTESY NOAH W. LILLY)
Going to sleep and waking to rain and knowing you would be putting on cold, wet socks and cold, wet boots for an 8+ mile hike in the mud takes a lot. John Dubiel We also completed a service project in Carson National Forest, learning a lot about the prevention of forest fires while spending the day cutting underbrush to help
prepare for a controlled burn. I also learned a great deal about the history of Philmont and the souls that roamed the land throughout time. Along the way, we discovered remnants from old gold mines, happened on old cabins, and learned about settlers and how they lived. The day we summited Baldy Mountain was one of the hardest and best. The crew started from Camp Copper Park on the first sunny day we had seen, but the wind and clouds ascended as we hit the top of the ridgeline, making it almost unbearable. We considered heading back down but persevered through after hiding behind trees for about
15-20 minutes to let the wind die down. We made it to the top, and it was worth it. The views were breathtaking. Scoutmasters John Dubiel and Phil Lamberson were impressed and complemented our leadership and cooperation. “Everyone knew they had a job to do, and no one complained,” Dubiel said. “They helped each other whether requested or not. They just got the job done every day. Perhaps most impressive was the mental toughness they exhibited. Going to sleep and waking to rain and knowing you would be putting on cold, wet socks and cold, wet boots for an 8+ mile hike in the
mud takes a lot.” I can now boast that I was able to live for 11 days on only what my crew and I could carry. Each of us carried about 50 pounds in gear. We ate only dehydrated food and chlorinated and purified all our water. Parts of the trip were miserable, but I am very proud of how well we all worked together and that we did it. It was an accomplishment and trip of a lifetime. Highland Park High School junior Noah W. Lilly and other members of Scout Troop 70 began training for their June 2021 trip in February. They took several hikes, camped twice to practice living on only what they could carry, and hit the stairs at Cityplace Tower.
Camping Best Practices: What to Bring, Reuse, and How-to Toss
Camping under towering pine trees and reminiscing around a warm fire at night are two things that should be at the top of every nature lover’s to-do list. Keeping our environment healthy and A M Y A D C OX thriving while doing so is not only an ethical obligation but a great practice for keeping our campsites clean and green. Since 2019, the interest in camping across the nation has grown five-fold. Republic Services, a leader in the U.S. environmental services industry, understands the nature of this and wants to provide our communities with the proper tools for camping in an eco-friendly manner. For those of us who aren’t expert hunter-gatherers, it’s common to bring food from home to enjoy on a camping trip. If you’re using disposable plates and utensils, properly discarding them when
finished is a key sustainability habit. Republic Services offers the following pro-tips highlighting what’s recyclable: • Utensils – Some utensils are made from potato or corn and are compostable. Plastic utensils are not recyclable, so trash them after you’re finished. • Paper Plates – Once you use that plate for your hot dog that’s slathered in ketchup and mustard, toss it in the trash. It’s not recyclable. • Aluminum Cans – Did you know aluminum cans can be recycled over and over again? Be sure to keep the cycle going. • Glass Jars – Finished with that last crunchy dill pickle? If your city accepts glass, put the jar into the recycling cart. If not, toss it in the trash. • Plastic Bottles – Whether it’s a soda bottle or an empty ketchup bottle, it’s recyclable. Just ensure it’s empty, clean, and dry before you toss it into your recycling cart. Republic Services also have a few important reminders for helping reduce
toxins and maintaining a sustainable campfire. The following items and wood conditions are NOT to be burned while enjoying your time around the campfire: • Fresh Greenery • Materials with colored ink • Paint • Wrappers • Trash / Plastics • Pressure treated wood • Wet, rotten, or moldy wood • Driftwood, plywood, any wood with glue on it NOT burning the above items can help cut down on your carbon footprint while camping and eliminate the potential of dioxins, mercury, and BCP’s being released into the atmosphere. If possible, only use real locally sourced, organic, untreated, dry wood when building your campfires. Amy Adcox is the general manager for Republic Services.
(GRAPHIC: COURTESY REPUBLIC SERVICES)
