I'm A Ranger!

I cannot believe it is only Thursday evening, having arrived at Philmont right around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. At least that part went according to plan. I only had about 3.5 hours to drive, notwithstanding any stops to empty me or fill the Jeep, but I knew that once I left Texas and entered New Mexico, the time zone would shift to Mountain Time. This essentially gave me a free hour, which I'll begrudgingly have to give back when I drive home. This meant I could sleep a little later and still arrive early, in the end I was so excited that sleep is probably a generous term.

I arrived, and headed with enthusiasm to the Seasonal Staff Registration office. A decent amount of paperwork, but I had done it all prior to leaving and so it was just confirming that everything was in place. Since it was, I literally got a gold star on the paper that I had to take around for rechecks and turn into my Ranger Trainer. It's been a long time since I was motivated by a gold star, but I think we should bring this back. Put your shopping cart back, gold star. Stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, gold star. Vote for the right candidate, gold star, though I guess everyone would give themselves one then.

I did have a small issue with my medical recheck, enough that I briefly thought I might not be able to stay (or rather they would send me home), but there is a full time doctor on staff and we straightened it out and I got the green check mark to proceed. I really wanted another gold star.

The badge makes it official, and they can't take that from me!

I had some time to set up my tent. Not glamorous as you can see, but hope that I spend more time in the backcountry anyway. A very good friend complemented me on it "I like your place--minimal stuff!". Maybe he'll give me a gold star, though I only have so much room, so I had to be choosy. It was nice having sheets and a comforter and a pillow, it will be a home for a few weeks. I do share with a roommate, and it's been a long time since that, but he's a good guy and it's worked out so far (if one day is a measure). In the end, we'll likely be on different schedules and so the overlap once the season starts should be minimal.

Home away from home.

Very full day today, known as All Staff Day. With a few exceptions, every staff member is in camp today and there is training and orientation and food and revelry and department one-up-manship and more food and more revelry and campfire program tonight to kick off the season. We were told there are 1100 staff members in base camp all taking part. Much of it took place at the Philmont Training Center, which is an awesome facility across and down the street from the camp. It was the original summer home of Waite and Genvieve Phillips in 1927, right along the Sante Fe trail. There were instrumental in support Boy Scouts and donated much of this property and ultimately their home to the cause.

The Tooth of Time from Philmont Training Center

Tomorrow about noon, my Ranger Trainer and his crew (of which I am one of eight) will hit the trail for our own training. 5 days and 4 nights as if we were a crew. First we'll learn by being trained, then we'll learn by taking turns practice training, then more revelry and a friendly if supposedly intense competition at a camp where all 20 of the training crews will come together on the last day. Not sure I need the competition (unless there are gold stars), but I am looking forward to the backcountry and learning how to do this awesome job!

Look for a full download of the event when I come down from the mountain, have showered, and did my first load of laundry!