A crew of 10 Kenmore teenage scouts and their two adult leaders, from Boy Scout Troop 582, recently went on a life-changing summer trek through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM.

Philmont covers 214 square miles of vast wilderness with trails that climb from 6,500 feet to as high as 12,441 feet. During their trek Boy Scout Troop 582 hiked more than 85 miles in 11 days. Their trek also included standing on the summit of five different mountains, the highest of which was Mt. Phillips — 11,700 feet above sea level.

The group of scouts and their advisers carried everything they needed to survive during their trek on their backs from camp to camp. They participated in back-country programs along the way including rock climbing, challenge courses, spar-pole climbing, homesteading and black-powder rifle shooting. The trek included working three hours on a conservation project where the scouts learned and participated in the upkeep of Philmont’s ecosystem. Along the trek, scouts endured tough challenges including backpacking in bear and mountain lion territory, steep climbs and often-inclement weather, such as a hail storm that turned the ground white.

“They may meet only one other group of scouts on the trail in an entire day of hiking,” according to Backpacker Magazine. “Even in the most crowded destinations, each scout group camps in isolation, out of sight and sound of all other groups.”

The crew made what amounts to a scouting pilgrimage with its trip to Philmont Scout Ranch, which is the Boy Scouts of America’s premier high-adventure camp and the largest youth camp in the world serving nearly one million participants since 1938.

Scouts:

David Ruggerone – Chaplains aide

Sam McCravey

Daniel Flanagan – Crew leader

Derrick Baker

Anthony Moretti

Stefan Rajchel

Tyler Matthews

Trevor Keegan

Justin Siese

Dean Patrick

Adults:

Greg Ruggerone

Lee McCravey