EDMOND — For six Edmond Boy Scouts, the memories of the camping trip of a lifetime will stay with them long after they return home and unpack their gear.

The crew of six teenage Scouts and their four leaders from Edmond Troop 78 went on a life-changing summer trek through the high country of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M.

The crew leader for the trek was Jordan Weltzheimer (Eagle Scout), wilderness guru was Thomas New (Life Scout), chaplain’s aide was Jonah Weltzheimer (Life Scout), and the other Scouts on the trek included Nate Moseley (Eagle Scout), Drew Harris (Life Scout) and Jacob Houck (Star Scout).

Jordan is a junior at Edmond Memorial High School, Jonah and Jacob are freshmen at Memorial, Thomas and Nate are freshmen at Edmond Santa Fe High School and Drew is a home-schooled sophomore.

“The most challenging part of the trip was the hike up Mount Baldy,” Jordan said. “If there was another chance to take a similar trek, I would like to do it.”

Jordan added being in Scouts is important to him because of the life skills he has learned.

Adult advisers Richard Harris, Vaughn Moseley, Dallas New and Ronald Weltzheimer went along with the Scouts.

Oklahoma oilman Waite Phillips believed in sharing his wealth with people outside his family, and in 1922 he started purchasing land that one day would become the high country camp known as Philmont Scout Ranch, the Boy Scouts of America’s largest national High Adventure Base.

Today it covers 137,000 acres — about 214 square miles — of rugged mountain wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) range of the Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico.

Its 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps provide an unforgettable adventure in the high country along hundreds of miles of rugged, rocky trails and vast wilderness, said Scout Master Ronald Weltzheimer.

During their trek, Boy Scout Troop Crew No. 708-J-02 hiked 73 miles over 10 days on trails that climb from 6,500 feet to as high as 12,441 feet with campsites varying from a minimum of 7,120 feet to a maximum of 8,920 feet. On day 8, the crew climbed Baldy Mountain, the highest peak at Philmont, 12,441 feet above sea level.

The group of Scouts and their advisors carried everything they needed to survive during the trek in backpacks weighing 40-55 pounds while hiking from camp to camp.

“The amount each Scout carried was determined by who was the most energetic as well as the strongest,” Ronald Weltzheimer said.

The Scouts were on the trail 10 days for the 12-day trek and prepared their own meals and set up camp each night. The young men were in charge of the hike.

“They may meet only one other group of Scouts on the trail in an entire day of hiking,” according to Backpacker Magazine. “Even in the most crowded destinations, each Scout group camps in isolation, out of sight and sound of all other groups.”

Vaughn Moseley said, “It was fun watching the Scouts go through the stages of team development when under the stress and strain of hiking.”

Although both Vaughn and Ronald said they were most concerned about their endurance, Ronald added, “The endurance didn’t bother me as much as my feet.”

Backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades and training and service programs offer young people many ways to experience this legendary country.

“The trek included a conservation project where the Scouts learned and participated in the upkeep of Philmont’s ecosystem and helped build trails,” Ronald said. “Along the trek, Scouts endured tough challenges including backpacking in bear and mountain lion territory, steep climbs and inclement weather.”  

Wildlife is abundant at Philmont Scout Ranch including deer, elk, coyote, antelope, mountain lion, buffalo, beaver, wild turkey, bear and many others. Philmont’s hills and canyons teem with birds, and its streams abound with fish.

“I think hiking teaches them the importance of physical fitness and leadership skills in an indirect way,” Vaughn said. “Baden Powell (the founder of Boy Scouts) said, ‘It is a game with a purpose. Camping is where they learn citizenship, character development and self-confidence, which has been the success of the program.’”

Vaughn said he started working with Boy Scouts in 1988 when his son came home and said, “Can we go to a Cub Scout meeting?”

“It is fun seeing them come as young boys and leave as men with leadership skills,” Vaughn said.

The crew toured pioneer Kit Carson’s home at Rayado along the Santa Fe Trail, then hiked, camped and slept next to the waters of the Rayado River, Ronald said.

“The hike included a tour of Waite Phillips’ Hunting Lodge, participation in initiative games and challenge events that brought the crew together as a team,” Ronald said.

A two-day stay at Miranda gave the crew an opportunity to shoot booming .50 caliber black powder rifles, side hike Baldy Mountain, explore Lucien Maxwell’s Aztec Mine and visit historic Baldy Town. The crew used burros to carry a portion of the gear during days 9 and 10 while visiting the Continental Tie and Lumber Company at Pueblano where they climbed spar poles.  

The final day in the wilderness at Ponil included shooting pistols during Cowboy Action Shooting, boot branding, roping, a chuck wagon dinner, cantina show, horse rides and a cowboy breakfast.

More than 950,000 Scouts and leaders have experienced the adventure of Philmont since the first camping season in 1939. Throughout its existence, conscientious attention to low-impact camping techniques has helped maintain the Ranch’s wilderness.

Troop 78 meets at the First Presbyterian Church of Edmond at 1001 S. Rankin St. at 7 p.m. each Monday.



pmiller@edmondsun.com | 341-2121