Back 2024 Trek 12-5 Forward


Challenging; Approximately 56 miles; Maps required: north


Trek History: New as 12-14 in 2020; 12-14 in 2021-23; 12-5 in 2024

This traverse of the North Country historical timeline starts off by exploring the site of the first confirmed T-Rex track in the world! Move on to Indian Writings the next day to learn about some of the oldest historical sites on the ranch, the many petroglyphs found in the canyon, as well as the pit house excavation site. Continue up the North Ponil Canyon to the site of Metcalf Station and try your hands as a railroader for the day before settling in to Horse Canyon trail camp. Hike down beautiful Horse Canyon to the original base camp and headquarters of Philmont at Ponil. Ride horses, enjoy a nice cold root beer at the Cantina and spend the rest of the day enjoying the western lore programs, a delicious chuckwagon dinner, and an exciting Cantina Show to top off the day. Pick up your burros then head over to Pueblano to spend time with the loggers of the Continental Tie & Lumber Co. to experience the thrill of spar pole climbing and enjoy a great campfire program. Get ready, as the next morning you will be heading up into the mountains and cooler nights at higher elevations. First, drop off your burros at Miranda and get a glimpse of what a Fur Trapper Rendezvous might have looked like and enjoy a friendly tomahawk throwing competition. Your next two nights are at a Black Horse Creek Camp, in the shadow of Baldy Mountain. You will have a layover day where you can summit Baldy Mountain, and then, if you are up for the challenge, hike down through Copper Park and French Henry to visit Lucien Maxwell’s Aztec Mine. Get some rest after a long day and make your way via Baldy Skyline, then down the trail to Head of Dean to test your crew's teamwork skills. You'll stop at New Dean for the night before making your way to your last night on the trail at Cimarroncita. Here you will learn marksmanship with a bow and arrow on their 3-D archery range, and try out the new Laser Shooting Range, too! You'll make the short hike the next morning to the Ute Park Trailhead to load up on the bus for the journey back to Base Camp.

Per the Guidebook to Itineraries: "Due to potential emergencies, such as catastrophic fires, Crews must not deviate from their assigned itinerary. Changes are only permitted for bona fide medical emergencies and must be approved in advance by the Logistics Department."

Unique Campsite: Black Horse Creek;
- No photo available for this campsite or this program at this location. Click icon for specific needs.

DayCampProgram FeaturesCampsite Features
1Camping Headquarters Opening Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  
2House Canyon Bus to Six Mile GateTrail Camp; 


Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;


Tyrannosaurus Rex Track  


Water @ North PonilTrail Camp;
3Indian Writings Petroglyphs Tour Showers;  


Archaeology  


Atl Atl Darts  
4Horse Canyon Railroading @ Metcalf StationTrail Camp; 


Blacksmithing @ Metcalf Station 
5Ponil Western Lore / Branding Commissary; Trading Post; Showers;  


Cantina  


Horse Rides  


Chuck Wagon Dinner  


Cantina Show  


Food Pickup  
6Pueblano Pick Up Burros @ Ponil (Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; at Ponil)


Tie making / Crosscut Saws  


Campfire  


spar pole climbing  
7Black Horse Creek Return Burros @ MirandaTrail Camp; 


Mountain Man Rendezvous @ Miranda 


Tomahawks @ Miranda 
8Black Horse Creek Food Pickup @ Baldy TownTrail Camp; (Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; at Baldy Town)


Mine Tour @ French Henry


Gold Mining & Panning @ French Henry 


Climb Baldy Mountain  
9Head of Dean Challenge Events  
10New Dean Conservation Project @ ElkhornTrail Camp; (Trail Camp; at Elkhorn)
11Cimarroncita 3D Archery  


Laser Shooting Range  


Wildlife Conservation  


Food Pickup  
12Camping Headquarters Closing Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  


Hike to Ute Park Trailhead
Warning: Itinerary details provided by PhilSearch are for planning purposes only.  Only the current year's "Treks" book and the addendums to it, if any, should be used for final trek selection.

Crews passing through staff camps are not scheduled for program. If time and space allow, some crews may be able to participate in some of the programs offered.

DayCampPotential Additional Program FeaturesCampsite Features
2Six Mile GateTyrannosaurus Rex Track
Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
4Metcalf StationMorse Code
6PonilCantinaCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
Western Lore / Branding
Cantina Show
Climb Hart Peak
Gymkhana
Cavalcade
Cowboy Action Shooting
Circle Ride
Wrangler Training
PueblanoContinental Tie & Lumber
7MirandaMuzzle Loading Rifles
Climb Baldy Mountain
8Baldy TownClimb Baldy MountainCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
Tour Historic Baldy Town
Mining History
Assaying
French HenryBlacksmithing
9Head of Deanpickup crew based challenge events
11CimarroncitaUte Park Pass Hike Prep
Hike through 2018 Ute Park Fire Zone
12Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
Ride into Cattle Headquarters
This list is not complete and is dependent on the route you take each day.