The seventh in a series of posts to get you revved-up signed-up and informed about the PSA Trek.
It’s time to start planning your itinerary. Whatever itinerary you come up with, you gotta’ know the basics of itinerary planning at Philmont. Here they are. Get out your maps, start trail-talking with Phriends and soon you will have both a crew (seven person minimum) and an itinerary. And remember, planning is half the Phun!
Philmont requires that the first three nights at Philmont be slept in the Philmont area under 9,000 feet elevation. You can hike as high as you want. The reason for this rule is altitude sickness prevention.
Your itinerary must comply with this requirement. The good news is that Philmont allows Trekkers Phlexibility in complying with the requirement. Your first night in base camp on Saturday, July 24, counts for 1 night below 9,000 feet. If you spend Friday night, July 23, in the Philmont area, that also counts toward meeting the requirement. Friday night, plus the base camp night, satisfies 2 of the first 3 nights.
Since the starting camp on almost any itinerary will be below 9,000 feet, spending Friday night, July 23, in the Philmont area plus the first night in base camp will satisfy the requirement for almost any itinerary planning purpose. We strongly urge you and every member of your crew to spend Friday night in the Philmont area. If you do not spend Friday night in the Philmont area, you will be required to be part of a crew which spends the first two nights on the trail below 9,000 feet.
Your itinerary planning must take into account the established bus drop-off/pick-up points. Those points are Zastrow, Turkey Creek, Cito Turnaround, Rayado, Six Mile Gate, Ponil Turnaround, Lovers Leap and Bear Canyon.
In addition to the above, personal vehicles may be used to get you to or from the Maxwell Turnaround on the Baldy Road and the “parking lot” south of Whiteman Vega Camp in the Valle Vidal on Cerrososo Road east of McCrystal campground.
Trekkers are encouraged to return to base camp late morning on Friday, July 30. This will allow you to attend the annual PSA meeting on Friday afternoon. If Logistics cannot schedule bus transportation for a late morning return to base camp, Philmont will allow personal vehicles to be parked at the bus drop-off off/pick-up points for return transportation.
If personal vehicles are used for any of the drop-off/pick up points, Philmont will issue a “parking pass” which must be displayed on your dashboard to alert Philmont personnel and the Forest Service that you are parking there legitimately.
Napoleon said that an army travels on its stomach. The same is true for your crew. Your itinerary should provide for convenient food pick-ups. You can pick up food at Ring Place, Rich Cabins, Baldy Town, Ponil, Ute Gulch, Phillips Junction, and Apache Springs.
Consider this: a Valle itinerary beginning at Ponil could have three food pick ups: Ponil, Rich Cabins and Ring Place. Trail food in your pack would never be a significant burden!
Your itinerary planning should include consideration of drop-off and pick up points, food pick-up, and compliance with the 9,000 foot rule. The rest is up to you. Hike as far as you want, or as little as you want. You will get a Philmont Arrowhead Award whether you hike a little or hike a lot. Get your Philmont maps out, start planning itineraries, share those itineraries with Phriends, and join in the Phun of planning! Your Trek experience starts now.