PhilFacts
| The Complete Guide to Philmont Home Page |
While not in your typical FAQ format, here you will find answers to
many of the questions folks have about Philmont Scout Ranch.Philmont Scout Ranch
Route 1, Box 35
Cimarron, NM 87714
(505) 376-2281
(505) 376-2636 (fax)
20,000+ Scouts, Venturers, and advisors attend Philmont backcountry programs each year.
Crew information:
Every crew member, including adults, must be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
Each crew must have a majority of youth participants. The maximum number of adults (age 21 or older) per crew is four. Crew sizes range from 7(minimum) to 12(maximum) members. In crews of all males or all females, one of the adult advisors must be 21 years of age or older. The second advisor may be aged 18-20. A crew member between the ages of 18-20 may be counted as either a youth or adult advisor.
Coed Venturing Crews are required to provide coed leadership while en route to and from Philmont and while hiking the trails of Philmont. Both of the required coed leaders must be at least 21 years of age.
All female Venturing Crews may have male advisors, but at least one advisor must be female aged 21 or older.
All male crews may have female advisors, but at least one advisor must be male aged 21 or older.
Male and female advisors must have separate sleeping facilities. Married couples serving as adult advisors may share the same quarters.
No youth may stay in the tent of an adult other than his or her parent or guardian.
All adults must have current Youth Protection Training. Philmont recommends it be within the last two years; however, they will accept the time frame established by the local council where the adults are registered.
At least one, preferably two (either an advisor or a youth participant), in each crew must be currently certified in American Red Cross Standard First Aid or the equivalent* and CPR from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or the equivalent*. You must present current certification cards upon check in to verify this requirement.
* Equivalent training can include instruction by ambulance or fire department personnel, community colleges or other organizations. You must have a letter indicating length of training, topics covered and participant roster.The most critical crew position is Crew Leader. The person elected or selected as Crew Leader should be a well-qualified youth with a strong leadership record. The Crew Leader is the key person for a successful Philmont expedition. This is not an honorary title. The Crew Leader has real work to do!
Unregistered guests or family members are not welcome or permitted at Philmont.
The Scout Oath and Law should serve as the guide in all interactions with other participants and staff. It is not acceptable to act in a manner which belittles, harasses or makes others uncomfortable.
Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited in all Philmont buildings, tents, vehicles and on Philmont trails. Smoking is allowed only in designated areas.
Possession or use of alcoholic beverages or abuse of prescribed or non-prescribed drugs (including marijuana) are expressly prohibited in the Philmont program.
Anyone violating Philmont policies will be sent home at the individual's or parents/guardians' expense.
Only the original (no copies) and current year Philmont Scout Ranch Health and Medical Record may be used. It must remain intact and not be torn apart. The insurance company name and policy number must be clearly written on the form. Parents' and physician's signatures must be on the form. Advisors should bring the original forms to be turned in at the Health Lodge upon arrival at Philmont. Medical forms are mailed to crew advisors in the fall.
A copy of the participant's medical insurance card must be attached to the medical form.
The immunization requirement is waived for persons with religious beliefs against immunization. You must write or call Philmont to obtain a copy of the waiver form.
Philmont staff physicians reserve the right to deny access to the trails to any adult or youth on the basis of the physical recheck at Philmont. All medical evaluation forms are checked by Philmont medical staff.
The use of Philmont and BSA logos is permitted on crew designed clothing and miscellaneous items (shirts, hats, patches, pins, etc.); however, these logos may not be used if any of the items are intended for resale to anyone other than a crew member.
When the Advisor's Kit arrives in mid-March the lead advisor should review this material immediately! The kit contains the Itinerary and Advisors Guide, Guidebook to Adventure, a Philmont map, supplemental insurance pamphlet, Tour Permit application, Talent Release form, and a sheet to prepare your crew roster.
All fees (reservation, advance, balance as indicated in the fee payment schedule) are NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE in the event of cancellation, either by individuals or entire crews. Be sure to collect your fees from each crew member before they are due.
New in 2004: Should your registration decrease by one crew or more, you will be eligible for a refund of the "Advance" or "Balance" fees if a replacement crew(s) is secured from the waiting list. The refund will be limited to the fees paid by the number of participants registered with the replacement crew.
All fees are mailed to:
Camping Registrar
Philmont Scout Ranch
Route 1, Box 35
Cimarron, NM 87714
Your fees due and payment schedule will be sent with your reservation confirmation, or soon thereafter.
Limited scholarships are available for young people needing financial assistance to attend Philmont. Contact your local council for more information.
Try to be at Philmont on your first SCHEDULED arrival day between 8-11:00am. Early afternoon is okay, but not as desirable. If you are delayed en route, please call the Logistics Office at (505) 376-2281.
Your expedition begins with lunch on your arrival day (Day 1) and ends with breakfast on your day of departure (Day 13). Trailbound crews and homebound crews have different meal schedules. The Philmont fee covers 36 meals and 12 nights lodging, staff, and program supplies.
TRAILBOUND CREWS HOMEBOUND CREWS Breakfast - 6:30am Breakfast - 7:00am Lunch - 11:30am Lunch - 12:15am Supper - 5:00pm Supper - 5:45pm Continental breakfast offerred departure day at 5:45am. Early arrival at and late departure from Philmont is strongly discouraged. Early arrivals will be issued trail tents for lodging unless platform tent space is available. The charge for additional meals is $4.00/meal and extra lodging is $5.00 per person/night if you use your own tents or $8.00 if you use Philmont tents. YOU MUST WRITE PHILMONT REQUESTING APPROVAL IN ADVANCE IF YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY REQUIRES A LAYOVER. All approved layovers are limited to one night.
Crew lockers (2'x2'x3') are available for items not needed on the trail (e.g., travel clothing). Crews are limited to two lockers and may be issued only one if space is limited. Additional gear will be stored in the backcountry warehouse. Groups arriving by private vehicle will be required to store items in their vehicles. Safekeeping storage is available for valuables such as tickets, travelers checks, credit cards, jewelry, etc. Items are sealed and placed in the vault.
The arrival plans and crew information card must be mailed at least 30 days prior to your arrival at Philmont. Refer to the Council & Unit Planning Guide for detailed information about traveling to Philmont.
Philmont provides round trip bus transportation from the bus and train stations in Raton, New Mexico, at a cost of $25.00 per person. The cost of round trip bus transportation from Cimarron is $6.00 per person. Philmont buses are scheduled upon receipt of the "Arrival Plans" card mailed to crews in mid-March with the Itinerary Guide.
If a family emergency (death or serious illness) or a medical condition of the participant, which occurs during the trek, requires the participant to return home, Philmont will assist in making transportation arrangements. All costs will be borne by the participant.
For more travel, lodging and sightseeing information on your way to Philmont click here!
A Local Tour Permit is needed for tours of less than 500 miles. A National Tour Permit is needed for tours of 500 or more miles. Your permit must be in your possession at all times. All reservations by a tour group for overnight group camping on council properties and military bases will be subject to the presentation of a tour permit on arrival.
When deciding on a stove, please note that only Power Max fuel and white gas are sold at Philmont commissaries. Don't forget to ship your stoves two weeks beforehand via ground transportation. Clearly mark your name and crew number on the outside. Philmont will hold it pending your arrival.
What happens if a crew adult advisor has to come off the trail and there is no longer an adult leader aged 21+ or there are now less than two adult leaders?
The official policy is for Philmont to supply a "Rent-a-Ranger". The cost will be charged to the crew (about $40-50 per day). This arrangement is subject to Ranger availability.
Unofficially, each situation is evaluated on its own merits. Is the crew still in base camp, halfway finished, almost back? Is the crew having problems? Is this an older, experienced backpacking crew?
Depending on the answers your crew may be allowed to go on with one adult leader, as long as the sister crew has been informed of the situation and agrees to stay in contact (but not actually hike or camp together). If your sister crew has an extra adult leader, they may be willing to let you borrow someone.
If your advisor has a temporary problem and is able to get back on the trail later, Philmont will make every effort to re-connect with you. This is one reason why you should closely follow your itinerary.
However, it is not as simple as catching a bus to your crew's next scheduled camp. Your advisor will wait at Logistics for a truck that is headed the right way and has room. They will be permitted to rejoin your crew only at a staffed camp where your crew is camping, not just passing through, and they will not wait along the trail for your crew to arrive.
Base camp is very boring as there are no structured programs or activities for persons who have returned early from a trek. Additionally, if it is early in the trek you may be asked to travel home at your expense.
It is very rare for a crew to come off the trail due to a lack of adult leadership. Everything possible will be done to keep you hiking.
Special food needs for allergic or religious reasons:
If an individual is allergic to some food products or requires a special diet, suitable trail food must be purchased at home and brought by that individual to Philmont.Package each day's meals separately and write the person's name and expedition number on each package. Arrangements will be made to transport it to the appropriate backcountry commissaries for your crew. There is no fee reduction for individuals who bring their own food. Food substitutions should be for medical or religious reasons only!
Appropriate substitutions can be arranged for food served in the dining hall by speaking with the dining hall manager prior to arrival at Philmont.
A Kosher Trail Menu is available and is similar to the standard Philmont Trail Menu. If you must have heksher on all food products, you should consider bringing all food from home. Philmont also has kosher vessels (brand new and not used) available. More information is available in the "Council & Unit Planning Guide". If you have questions or concerns, please direct them in writing to the Philmont Jewish Chaplain.
Philmont has two promotional videotapes: "Philmont - The Right Stuff" and "Introduction to the National High Adventure Bases". Check with your local council service center about borrowing a copy or contact Philmont's Mail Order Department to order your own copy. See address and telephone numbers at top of this page.
For a current catalog of Philmont merchandise contact the Tooth of Time Traders at (505) 376-2281 or see address at top of this page.
While at Philmont please take only photographs, and leave only footprints.
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