Lucky Number 7 of Hart (Peak)

Another trek in the book and another peak to cross off my summer list!

Another pretty solid crew, this one from Lansing MI. Three of the advisors had been on trek before, but none of the scouts. This is my favorite arrangement, if the advisors remember their role is health and safety and not drift into my role as Ranger! Once advisor was on trek as a scout, aged-out, and has joined as an advisor. Same rules apply. There are also some "secrets" that we pull out as Rangers, and there's always the hope that they keep them, which I can happily report they all did! Yay for me, now I look like a great Ranger!

Four adults and seven scouts for an uneven number, which is actually good for me. Since the meal bags are designed to feed two people, in theory I wouldn't need to carry any food. When there is an even number of crew members (like 12), then there is a whole extra bag just for me. I always carry this, but often take out the extra food to lighten the load a bit. However, once the crew got all of their gear, I felt like it was the right thing to carry the few days of food when I'm with them. It gives them a chance to get used to the weight before they get resupplied and have to carry it after I'm gone. This time I couldn't jettison the extras, but overall not a bad load for me, just a bit heavier than normal.

We headed for the north country, my first trek in this area, so I was excited to see something different. It did mean I had to do some homework, but that's part of the fun! We we spending the night at House Canyon, which was the replacement for the Anasazi Camp, which was relocated due to flooding issues over the years. Our initial trek was straightforward and low miles, and brought us past the infamous T-Rex track, which is always a highlight.

Big footprint, but they think it's of a juvenile T-Rex!

The T-Rex track was the first, and for the longest time the only, confirmed fossil track of the T-Rex. Of the hind foot of course, a track of those puny front legs would be lost for all time (unless he was doing pushups, which we know they don't like to do). The conditions that brought this about are study in small probabilities. The dinosaur had to step in just the right mud to make the print, which had to survive long enough to get filled with just the right sediment, which had to survive as layers upon layers of other "perfect" sediment covered it and provided the heat and pressure over time to convert it to rock. In this case, the next improbability (which became true!) was for the rock in which the fossil was embedded had to be "knocked off" the ridgeline, tumble down and be revealed. The "track" is actually a positive mold of the original impression. Oh, and someone had to be in the right place at the right time to see it and recognize it for what it was. Lots of small probabilities lining up to make history. There was another one found near Raton (just 30 miles or so north of Philmont), but we still stay it's the only one. Marketing is important.

Do you see it? Long bill heading down picture, my foot as pointer.

When Sean was a Ranger in 2023 (and my inspiration for this journey!), he heard about another possible fossil of a Pterosaur and was guided to it by the then Camping Director (#2 in the Philmont hierarchy). I had to see this myself, and used the opportunity to share with the crew as a sort of secret. Thanx to his photo from his days on the lone rock, we were able to scramble up and see it. It does take some imagination, especially as it clearly has eroded a bit in the two years. It was fun to climb up and see it and the crew got a kick out of doing it. The archaeologist we spoke with did acknowledge it, but said the fossil is unconfirmed. Regardless, it was fun to find! Plus, I got down from the rock in a spectacular gymnastic move (deliberately and unharmed!) and that got me some props from the crew. This Ranger knows no age limits!

Red sky at night, hikers' delight?

The hike to the camp was tough, short but a steep hike. The view was worth it though, having our tents face Mt Baldy way off in the distance, where the crew would be in a few days.

Mt. Baldy in distance to the west, illuminated by early morning sun.

Next day was to Indian Writings camp (once inappropriately named "Scribblings Camp") where there are some petrogylphs and some ancient buildings and structures that are being properly excavated by a team of full time and seasonal archeaologists. Very cool. We didn't have the best weather, but scouts were in great spirits.

Can you see Kokopelli, my personal favorite?

This camp also has the only Atl Atl range in all of Boy Scout-dom. This is an ancient tool (weapon) where a large arrow (called a dart) is placed on another piece of wood (this is the Atl Atl I believe) and is launched towards a target by flinging ones arm down. Very difficult, especially with the supply of darts with large enough curves that I swear they could go around corners. It was a target rich environment, but few were hit. Except the T-Rex, which one scout hit three times out of four (earning TWO pudding cups) and two other scouts hit once (just a single cup for them). Yours truly went hungry. Nothing hit, no cups awarded. But I did have fun.

The following day the crew decided to head over Hart Peak as an option (they could have headed to Metcalf Station camp for railroad activities). This was nice, since this was my goal, and so we headed out together. It did take way longer with the crew than if I had gone alone, but it was nice to have some extra time with them, they were a good crew. Once we reached near the peak, I did have to leave them, hit the peak for a quick selfie and boogie down the other side to catch the bus. Missing that bus might have meant staying overnight if I couldn't get another ride as the hike from that trailhead to basecamp was another 18 miles, and I wasn't up for that.

Mt Baldy always showing up in photos in the distance!

So another crew in the books, and another patch in the collection. I pick up another crew tomorrow (7/18) and have been assigned another crew right after that one (7/22). It will be hectic, but I love it! I still have to figure out how to get over the last peak (Cimarroncito), and that will be a tough task, both coordinating and actually doing it. Wish me luck!