June 25, 1997-Day 2:

We awake early as we have the privilege of providing the honor guard for morning colors. As with taps the night before, our crews proudly raise the symbol of our country. After breakfast, its off to "medical" to check our physicals, discuss various first aid situations that could arise on the trail, get our equipment issued, secure our valuables, go over our itinerary with the crew and then head to lunch. After lunch, we go through another detailed pack and gear inspection to insure that we've got only what we need as we don't want to carry any extra weight. At 3pm we board the bus that will take us to our starting point.

Butch, our bus driver, has lived in Cimarron most of his life. When he's not driving a bus load of Scouts for the ranch, he works as a hunting guide in the surrounding mountains. During the thirty minute trip to Ponil Turn-a-Round, we spot a herd of elk and listen to a bit of the area's history through the eyes of someone who's "been there and done that". Once off the bus, we check our compass and map to ensure that the trail we're about to take is the one we really want. Fortunately our first day of hiking is a short one. It's only a few miles from the turn-a-round to Ponil, and another mile up the old jeep trail to Sioux Camp. Across a small river and up a steep hill, we find our campsite. Thirteen miles to the West we can see Mount Baldly. At 12,440 feet, its the tallest peak on Philmont and one we'll be climbing in three days.

Before setting up camp, we must locate the latrine, sump and bear line. Once located, we set up the dining fly, our tents and then attend to dinner. Because Sioux Camp is a trail camp, there is no staff or activities there. Ponil, on the other hand, has horses, mules, calf roping, horseback riding, branding, a chuck wagon dinner and a cantina. Because its late, we won't be able to participate in any of the activities there, but, we do decide to walk the mile to enjoy the night life at the cantina. It's there that you can enjoy a tall cold glass of root beer, some great licorice, potatoe chips, candy, etc. while listening to joke telling contests or playing cards. While we are lucky enough to come upon three deer while walking back down the jeep trail, by the time we get to the cantina, the place is just about ready to close. However, the staff is very understanding and stays open long enough for us to go through nine or ten pitchers of root beer and listen to Chris win the joke telling contest. After filling our water bottles with purified water, we turn on our flashlights and hike back up to Sioux Camp for a good nights sleep.

Footnote
All food and "smellable" items must be put in large burlap bags and stored high above the ground over a bear line. These bear lines are heavy cable secured between two tall trees, usually about thirty feet apart, approximately 20-30 feet above the ground. This helps to insure that the bears can't get human food. If they do, they no longer want what nature offers and they can become extremely dangerous..