Philmont Scout Ranch in the New Mexico Wilderness By Wilson Neely

Introduction• Wilson Neely made two memorable treks to Philmont

Scout Ranch as a teenager. The ranch occupies more than 200 square miles of wilderness in New Mexico. It opened in 1938 under the name Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp and has welcomed more than a million visitors over the course of its history.

The ranch is the biggest national High Adventure Base of the Boy Scouts of America. It contains 55 trail camps and 34 staffed camps and offers access to varied terrain in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, with elevations starting at 6,500 feet and rising up to 12,441 feet.

New Mexico Wilderness• Notable landmarks include Mount Waite Phillips,

Cimarroncito Reservoir, Urraca Mesa, and the Tooth of Time, a sheer rock face jutting up from the valley floor.

Visitors to the ranch can also experience a taste of the Old West. Rides on horses and burros are available, as are interpretive history sessions, gold panning, and chuck wagon dinners. Scouts looking for a more modern adventure can also take part in mountain biking or rifle shooting. For additional information, visit the ranch online at www.philmontscoutranch.org.