The criteria our crews used to select our original trek were to hike over either Mt Phillips or Mt Baldy, hike Tooth of Time, and to hike back into base camp. All our original choices had these three components. We explained this at Logistics and were told that no camp changes were being made because of the fire conditions. However, they did tell us they would see if any other treks not being used on our day of departure had these features.
Luckily for us Trek 23FM had all three components and was available. (Of course we all know that there are no bad treks at Philmont). Day 1- Rayado River
We hiked from Zastrow turnaround to Rayado River camp to do ranger training. Our crews had free time to go to Abreu and enjoy the cantina and root beer. Crews also enjoyed milking the goats and putting the chickens up at night. The staff treated the advisers to a great coffee and a Father's Day cake (Sunday- June 16th). Our ranger - Brad (student at University of Colorado) did a great job. We were his second crew, but Brad had excellent skills and was very familiar with several of the Philmont information backpacking web sites that we had utilized for our preparation. Day #2- Urraca
Woke up at 5 am and were on the trail by 6:30 am. The trail from Abrea up to Urraca Mesa was to the hottest hike of our trek. No shade and a significant climb. We were at the top by 10 am. We felt sorry for the crews who started later in the day and had to endure the full heat of the day.Staff greeted us at the cabin with Gatorade. After resting we then did the Cope course. The boys enjoyed these activities and it helped to build our team. After the Cope course we set up our camp. At the staff cabin the hummingbird
feeder attracted several birds that were enjoyed by the advisers. The camp was very dry with the meadow being brown. That night the staff provided music and entertainment at the campfire. 
Next morning we were up at 4:30 am to catch the sunrise and to do the outdoor pledge with our ranger on Inspiration Point near the camp. After sunrise we returned to camp for breakfast and to say goodbye to our ranger.Day #3- Crater Lake
Leaving Urraca, we hiked towards Lover's Leap camp to Stonewall pass. On this trail we had our best view of the Tooth of Time on our trek. Arriving at Stonewall pass we took the trail to Bear Caves trail camp and hiked a while along the stone wall. We had lunch beside the meadow at Bear Caves campsite #4.
After lunch we hiked on to Crater Lake camp. Here we did the spar pole climbing and did the tough man contest that night. Our crew won the contest by running on the staff's cabin lawn (a big no-no).
When the last crew came in from the Bear Caves trail they told us that they had seen a bear 150 yards from our camp. This was the only bear report that we had the whole trek. Again we had a great staff campfire with music, stories and fellowship - the best campfire program during our trek. The campfire area has a great view of the Tooth of Time. The next morning I got up early and watched sunrise here coming up by the Tooth of Time. Great photo opportunity.
Day #4- Fish Camp
We had a great hike to Fish Camp via Fowler Pass, Bonito Valley and Webster Pass. The trail from Webster Pass to Fish Camp is a steep trail down for a long way. On the way down I fell and broke one of my trekking poles. My oldest son came to my rescue by giving me his trekking poles (after I agreed to purchase him his own backing stove after we got off the trail).
We arrived at Fish Camp, ate lunch at the cabin and then did a cabin tour. Our crew enjoyed the fly tying class, but decided not to try our hand at fishing. After setting up camp we did our conservation project here by working in the stream to build a dam. It felt great to get our feet wet.
We were able to wash clothes and dry them on the rocks at Fish Camp.
Day #5- Bear CanyonThe next morning we were on the trail by 6:30 hiking up Aqua Fria creek to Aqua Fria camp. We took a right and then hiked up Bear Canyon. We saw a large mule deer skeleton in the canyon. Several members of our crew climbed down to it for a close up view. Our first thought was that it was a horse skeleton due to its size.
Farther up the trail we came to a small lake with the valley on the other side. Great views and photo opportunity. We hiked on up to Bear Canyon camp. After setting up camp we then hiked to Apache 
Springs Camp for our commissary pick-up and to do archery, 3D archery and Indian Life. Great programs and staff were excellent (a great change from 2000 where this staff was the worst staff that we had). They also provided delicious apples to the crew. 
We decided to strip our meals to reduce weight and eliminate extra food. Our crews were eating only 3/4 of the food that we were issued. This year Philmont increased calorie content and volume in the meals.
A thunderstorm developed while we were at Apache Springs. We hiked back to Bear Canyon in a light rain.
Day #6 Wild Horse
Started on the trail around 6:30 am. We hiked to Porcupine Trail camp via Buck Creek Camp. After arriving at Porcupine trail camp we hiked up Rayado Creek to Crooked Creek camp. We cooked a dinner for our lunch at Crooked Creek camp since Wild Horse was listed as a dry camp. 
We also enjoyed a great tour of the cabin and had photos with the famous rifle. A longstanding feud exists between Crooked Creek and Clear Creek camps. Each camp attempts to steal this rifle from the other during the summer. The staff here advised us that our closest water source was at Rayado Creek, but we found that the spring was flowing in the meadow in front of the cabin. The staff was unaware of this.
After lunch we loaded up with extra water and set off to Wild Horse Trail camp. A good uphill hike. Wild Horse is a nice trail camp. We had been told it was dry, but when we arrived we found the spring to be flowing at the camp.
Day #7 Commanche Peak
Around 3 am we were awakened by a severe thunderstorm. We were not concerned because we expected it to be gone by our 5 am wake up time. At 5 am it was still right on top of us. We stayed in our tents till 5:45 am. By that time it seemed to be over. We got up and broke camp. About the time we were ready to leave the storm resumed with lightning strikes within a mile of us every few seconds and hail. The temperature dropped precipitously. Members of our crew spread out near the shortest trees in the grouping and balled up near the ground.
This was an experience with lighting and thunder all around us. Our youth leadership gave excellent leadership during this time by instructing all the members of the crew the correct way to reduce risk. When the storm moved farther on we were like a pack of very cold drowned rats. Since everybody was wet we decided to start hiking to get body heat up. Our first obstacle was a meadow trail that we had to hike the edge to prevent us from being the high points in the meadow. Luckily for us the rain stopped after 15 minutes on the trail and the storm moved on.
We had a great hike to Clear Creek with a lot of spruce trees along the trail. By the time we got to Clear Creek the sun was out and we were dry. Several of the members of the crew pulled out wet gear to allow it to dry in the sun.
At Clear Creek we did the cabin tour and hatchet throwing. Ask the staff about the bottle of hair in the cabin. This year's staff did not know the story about the bottle of hair. (Several years ago a staff member got a hair cutting from every female staff member who passed through this camp and he kept the hair in this bottle)
Around 10 am we started our ascent of Mt Phillips. I have now been over Mt Phillips from both directions. Let me assure you that the ascent from this direction is definite harder and steeper. This is not a climb that you want to do in the afternoon. The earlier and cooler the better it is.
At the top of Mt Phillips we did the photo opportunity thing with our crew and individuals and ate lunch. My oldest son carried a can of vienna sausage for me for Father's Day (WHAT A TREAT - IT TASTED BETTER THAN STEAK). Of course I shared it with my co-advisers! After lunch we hiked on down to Commanche Peak camp. In my opinion the best view camp at Philmont. After dinner we had rain which kept us from viewing sunset. We held a sunrise service the next morning at the other lookout point. Day #8- Upper Sawmill
What a great hike towards Sawmill! The hike down from Commanche Peak to Thunder Ridge trail camp is excellent. We enjoyed breakfast at Thunder Ridge camp and utilized the red roof inn - a truly fine facility!
After breakfast we took the first trail to Sawmill. This is a great trail down with a lot of great views. About 2/3 of the way this trail dumps you onto a 4wd road. There is a new trail being built that will take you all the way to Sawmill without going on the road. The 4wd road is steep and rocky. Hopefully by next summer the new trail will be finished all the way to Sawmill.
Arrived at Sawmill. The way to the staff cabin is not well marked and it took us 15-20 minutes to find it. Another great view from the cabin and a great couch on the porch for the advisers to sit on. Here our crew did reloading and 30.06 rifle shooting. Excellent program. Unfortunately you have to hike almost a mile to get to the shooting range. Conservation crews were clearing trees from around the cabin (fire precautions). We met one member of the conservation crew from the Northeast Georgia Council while there.
We ate our lunch here before we filled up with water to go to Upper Sawmill (dry camp). Apparently Upper Sawmill is a new camp with four campsites and three sumps. There was no sign in the camp identifying it as Upper Sawmill.
Day #9- Hunting Lodge
About 3/10 mile down from Upper Sawmill we came across a stream with water. Another time we hauled water that we did not need to. But, I would rather have it and be sure. Passed Lower Sawmill on the trail. It doesn't seem to make sense that the order of the camps were Sawmill, Upper Sawmill and then Lower Sawmill. You would expect to find Upper Sawmill above Sawmill camp. Another great hike down the canyon. 
Arrived at Grouse Canyon. We hiked over to Ute Springs Commissary for our next commissary pick-up. Notice the electric fence that is on the commissary to keep the bears away. The crew got a great treat with two apples each being issued to our crew. Our second fresh fruit on the trail. We then hiked on to Cito, where we got our first bath on the trail. I did not know that a hot water shower could be so great. I must admit that our crew had a STRONG ODOR after 9 days on the trail without a shower.
Before our showers we did rock climbing and rappelling. We also enjoyed a trail lunch here in the shade of trees. After lunch we hiked on down to Hunting Lodge. We set up our camp and enjoyed dinner. At 7 pm the advisers went to the cabin for our Advisers Coffee. When we arrived, we found the lead staff member in the meadow looking at a map and saw a helicopter fly over us going up the canyon towards Clark's Fork. We knew that there was either a fire or a medical emergency. The staff informed us that we had a fire 1 1/2 miles up the canyon and to get our crews ready to leave with emergency gear. Each crew left an adviser at the cabin for the latest update. We alerted our Crew Leader who gave directions on breaking camp and keeping our crew together.
Within 15 minutes we were told to pack all of our gear and be prepared to move to the evacuation point. By 7:30 all four crews had reported to the staff cabin with all their gear. We waited for instructions. We were then told that we were moving to Cito turnaround (3.5 miles away). One staff member took the lead and the other staff member took the rear position. Our four crews started on a forced hike of a fast pace towards Cathedral Rock. At Cathedral Rock the fire helicopter had landed and we got to see it close up. The last crew in our group had trouble keeping up due to several advisers having knee problems. We finally moved this crew to the front to keep our group together.
We hiked along the 4wd road. In front of us we saw the bulldozer going up the trail towards Clark Fork with another truck behind it. It was getting dark during this period. We then took the trail by Cathedral Rock trail camp. We could hear a Philmont Staff member calling out a crew number trying to find the crew in this camp. THIS WAS A STRONG REINFORCEMENT TO CAMP WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO CAMP AT AND NOT AT THE CAMP WHERE YOU WANT TO.
We finally arrived at the turnaround at 9:30 pm. We were the first group there. Philmont staff told us to rest and be prepared to move again. They were expecting 400 people to come out of the backcountry to this turnaround. Within 20 minutes we were moved to Webster Lake camp. We were asked to set our tents up as close together as possible. We were also instructed to put all bear bag items in our bags and lay them on the ground at least 50 ft away from our camp.
Crews continued to arrive until after 1:30 am. The next morning there were tents everywhere and some crews were meadow crashing since they had left tents in their campsites.
We were told we would receive instructions at 8 am. The word came down for lead advisers to go to the turnaround for instructions. As we walked to the turnaround you could watch the helicopter fly over with the water bucket. We received instructions that they would bus us to Badger Camp (Cope Course) and we would hike to the Tooth Ridge via the Meadow Trail. (Our schedule before the fire had us hiking through Clark's Fork and over Shaefers pass onto the Tooth Ridge.)
During the night we were told that the fire was between Ponderosa Park Camp and Shaefers pass. In the morning we were further informed that the fire had been started by a lightning strike two days earlier that had smoldered for two days before it had flared up.
Day #10 - Tooth Ridge Camp
We were bussed to the other side of Tooth Ridge. We then started looking for the Meadow trail. This trail has not been used in years and there are no signs. Eventually a staff member came by in a vehicle and helped us to find the trail. This trail is steep and overgrown. We got our bushwacking experience on this trail. Great views up the ridge. When we got to the top we found the trail sign had been taken down and the trail blocked to prevent people from going down this trail. The trailhead on the top is only about 1/4 mile from Tooth Ridge camp.
We were the first crew at camp. We set up camp and had lunch. Afterwards we hiked to the top of the Tooth of Time and did our photo opportunities.
A storm was coming so we got on down back to the camp. A member of our sister crew found a rattlesnake about half way up on the Tooth. Had a great supper and enjoyed our last night on the trail. Nice views from the tooth Ridge camp and you can hear the sounds of the closing campfire in base camp. It was a great time to talk about the trail and the great trek we had.
Day 11- return to base camp
Got up early for sunrise on top of the rocks in Tooth Ridge Camp. Had breakfast while we waited on the sun. After sunrise we got on the trail. Coming down the trail we saw a skunk. Arrived at base camp at 8 am for hot showers and to catch the 11 o'clock bus into town for Heck's burger, Burrito Banquet, and Simple Simon's pizza. What a great trek!!!!
Let me add that I was very impressed with how Philmont Staff handled the fire incident. I have to also commend our youth leaders for how they handled the thunderstorm and fire evacuation incidents that our crew experienced. Mike F.
Edited by Ross K.