12/17 Mission Peak Navigation Hike

On December 17th, scouts embarked on a navigation hike at Mission Peak. It was a sunny day and the perfect weather for a hike. Mission Peak is famous for its difficult trails, winding its way through several steep hills. Despite this, scouts pushed through, showing great determination to finish the hike. It was a great opportunity for many younger scouts to learn navigation, a vital skill for surviving in the wild, and it was also a chance for Philmont scouts to train, carrying 30-pound backpacks. When we finished a couple of hours later, we had the treat of enjoying the beautiful sunset and views at the summit!

We began our hike at 2 pm, first gathering together at Mission High School, and then driving to the trailhead. Here’s when we experienced a bit of a problem with communication. Some scouts had gone directly to the trail, so we lost headcount. However, this issue was quickly resolved, and we were able to start our hike with no further mishaps. The beginning of the trail was probably the hardest part of the entire hike. A few steps in, and we were already climbing a steep hill! What I was really surprised about was that many of the younger scouts were able to keep up with the pace and even hike at a faster speed, despite it being their first time climbing the peak. Sometimes it was pretty hard to catch up with them! A couple of hours in, we were able to see the sky turn from blue to a beautiful pink and purple hue. The view from the top was motivating and made us feel proud of how far we had come!

Our original plan was to walk a certain distance and turn back, not go all the way to the peak. We finished this distance right at the foot of the trail to the peak. Many of us were so exhausted, we ran to the bench and were ready to take a nap. But we were so close - why come all this way if we didn’t reach the top? We took a vote on whether to climb up or not, and everyone voted in favor. The ascent was challenging, especially when it came to the area with loose rocks and rubble. It was easy to fall when hiking up this part! But, helping each other, we carefully took our steps and finally reached the top. It was totally worth it! The views were breathtaking and we were able to see our entire city. Especially in the evening, with all the city lights turned on, it was a view I’ll sure remember! We had a quick snack break, took a lot of pictures, and headed back down. Going downhill was way easier, and we were able to see more of the views. This was an amazing hike!

Although at many points, scouts felt like turning back and getting to go home, we continued forward with the support and encouragement of each other. Without our positive outlooks, we may not have even considered climbing all the way up to the peak. This hike was one of my favorites and I am so proud of all the scouts for making it all the way through!

Thanks for reading! - Advika and Shreya