Soon, Crew 628-M-03 from Troop 581 will travel to BSA’s Philmont Scout Ranch. Located in Cimmaron, NM, Philmont is BSA’s premier High Adventure base. This Memorial Day Weekend, the crew traveled to the Shenandoah National Forest for a final warmup backpacking trip and spent four days and three nights hiking the trails that included a trip to the top of Old Rag (with backpacks). These warmup hikes are critical to ensure packs are fitted properly, hiking boots are broken in and the gear is working properly. Philmont involves two weeks of backpacking in the backcountry of New Mexico and Scouts can cover over a hundred miles, so it is important to get this right ahead of time. This warmup hike was a wet one with rain following the crew for most of the weekend. But the Scouts and adults under the tutelage of Troop 581’s High Adventure Coordinator Mr. Pete Stark really gelled as a crew and are now ready for a great adventure!
