Philmont 2025

By: Saanvika Gudala

Day 0 - Welcome Center

Our trip started with a plane ride early in the morning. The sun was rising, and many of us took pictures of the view from the windows. As a group, we decided to film TikTok videos at different locations during the trip. On this first day, we made videos at San Jose Airport, near the car rental area, and later at the Philmont base camp. After landing, we stopped at Olive Garden for lunch and ate quite a bit to get ready for the rest of the day. Then, we had a four-hour drive to Philmont Scout Ranch. The drive gave us some time to relax and talk while we passed through different landscapes.

When we arrived at base camp, we picked our tents and set them up. A Philmont guide met with us and went over important information about the trip. We also received crew passports, which explained what to expect during the hike. Since we arrived late in the afternoon, the camp’s lunch was already over. Instead, we went to a nearby supermarket and bought cheesecake and ice cream. After getting back to camp, we decided to go to bed early because breakfast the next morning was scheduled for very early. Overall, it was a long day of travel and preparation, but we were ready to start hiking the next day.

Day 1- Villa Philmonte

Today we woke up early and went to breakfast, but we got there a little too early. We ate some of the food before breakfast officially started and then ate again when it began. After breakfast, we met our ranger, Maya, and began the check-in process. This included registration, a medical recheck, and a gear shakedown to make sure our packs had everything we needed. Next, we picked up our food packets for the trek and got our dining fly, which we’ll use for cooking at campsites. While our crew leader and advisor attended a meeting, the rest of us had about an hour of free time. After that, we ate lunch. Later, we took a 50-minute tour of Villa Philmonte, the former home of Waite Phillips. The tour was interesting because we saw the whole house and many old artifacts. After the tour, we filmed another TikTok video doing the “lean and dab” on the grass near the villa. We also spent time organizing and dividing all the food and gear among the crew. Some scouts visited the Philmont merchandise stores to look at souvenirs. We ate dinner back at base camp and ended the night with the opening campfire. The campfire included singing and was a fun way to finish the day.

Day 2 - Conservation/Vaca Camp

We woke up around 6:30 AM and had breakfast before preparing for our conservation project. At about 8:00, we boarded the bus at base camp and headed to the project site. When Ranger Maya called us over, we responded with a loud “Hike on!” When we arrived, it was very hot, and staff members explained that we would be acting like beavers by building a dam on the river, adding onto an existing structure. Mrs. Chrys, Siyona, and Rannvi were assigned to wear water boots, eye protection, and helmets because they would be working directly in the river. People chopping juniper and those using shovels and mud tools also wore helmets and eye protection. Our staff helper, Isabel, was friendly and helpful throughout the project.

During the conservation work, Saanvika, Jisha, and Sai used digging tools to remove chunks of mud, which they handed to the river workers. Meanwhile, Mr. Jignesh and Pahal cut juniper branches to supply those building the dam. The team digging mud blocks made up a fun story about working for a multimillion-dollar mud company. The project lasted about three hours and was an overall good experience.

After returning to base camp, we had lunch and then went to an open field with Ranger Maya to learn how to hang bear bags. There was a bear line already set up between two trees, so we practiced throwing the rope over it and tying the alien knot to secure the bags. It started drizzling during this time, but we were prepared with rain jackets and pants.

Later, we packed up our gear because we were hiking four miles to Camp Vaca that afternoon. The rain got heavier, so we rushed to fill water bottles and put our backpacks under the welcome center’s roof. After weighing our packs, we loaded the bus and rode to the start of the hike. During the ride, the rangers shared stories about Philmont’s history and their experiences.

When we arrived, Maya showed us the map and taught us how to navigate. About 15 minutes into the hike, Siyona became the navigator. The rain stopped, and the weather improved as we walked. Finally, we reached Camp Vaca and saw the red roof for the first time. We ate some snacks from our dinner while Maya talked about the Bear-Muda Triangle and important campsite rules. We set up a dining fly and cooked dinner under it because of the rain. Everyone ate dehydrated meals with options for non-vegetarians, vegetarians, and those needing special diets. That night, we set up tents in the rain and went to bed early. It was a long day with many new experiences, especially dealing with the rain, but it went well overall.

Day 3 - Devil's Wash Basin

We woke up around 5:30 AM, but since it was our first morning, it took us about two hours to get out of our tents, brush our teeth, take down our tents, and pack all of our things. Finally, we broke camp and started our hike. After hiking for about an hour, we stopped to eat breakfast. Our navigator for the day was Rannvi. The total hike to Devil’s Wash Basin was 8.1 miles.

The hike was mostly nice and peaceful. For lunch, we stopped under a large water tank that had a shed nearby, so we decided to eat there. The best part of the meal was corn nuts and pepper jack cheese. After lunch, we continued hiking. Along the way, Jisha started singing songs and entertained the whole crew.

After hiking the long 8 miles, we finally arrived at Devil’s Wash Basin camp. There was a large lake surrounded by campsites, and the area was very beautiful. It took us a while to find our campsite because there was a lot of tall grass, but we eventually found it. We put our things down and took a short break before starting to set up camp. We set up our tents first because we didn’t want to do it if it started raining. Then, we set up the dining fly.

We started cooking and had dinner while talking and enjoying each other’s company. Maya gave us a paper with some questions about her, and we had to write down the answers. When she came back, we gave her the paper. Today was her last night camping with us.

After dinner, we went to the campfire area and talked about the wilderness pledge. We also received our cards. Then, we went around in a circle and shared why we wanted to come to Philmont. Everyone was pretty tired after the day, so we went into our tents and had a good night’s rest.

Day 4 - Sawmill

Today was Day 4 at Sawmill. We woke up at 5:00 AM and left the campsite around 7:20. After packing up, we started hiking down the trail. The trail was mostly downhill, so we were able to move quickly at first. We took a few breaks along the way to rest.

Eventually, we arrived at the U. Gulch Commissary. The commissary was really nice, and although we were only supposed to spend about 30 minutes there, we ended up staying for nearly an hour. We bought some snacks like chocolate milk, regular milk, and apples. After shopping, we separated all of our food and packed it for the next part of the hike.

The hike to Sawmill was about 6.6 miles and was pretty difficult because of the heat. We had to take a lot of breaks since some people were feeling tired or unwell. We ate breakfast and lunch while hiking since we didn’t have a full meal. Later on, we found some shade and sat down to have lunch properly. Maya had brought a decorated pound cake, and we finished it off that morning.

Today was also the day Maya left the group, which was a little sad. After arriving at Sawmill, we set up our gear and put up the bear bags to keep our food safe from animals. Then we had a porch talk to discuss the day and plans for tomorrow.

Next, we went to the rifle range. Each of us shot three rounds. Some people found it interesting and fun, while others didn’t enjoy it as much, but that was okay.

After the shooting, we walked back up the trail and got ready to make dinner. We also set up our tents for the night. One of the coolest parts of the day was when Mowgli showed how strong she is, she did a tough task that even the two dads and the rest of us couldn’t manage. She basically swung on something heavy all by herself like she was Tarzan or Superman.

Now, we’re all preparing dinner and getting ready to settle in for the night. It’s been a long and tiring day.

Day 5 - Cypher Mine

We woke up at Sawmill at 5:30 AM and got ready faster than usual. In about an hour and a half, we had our tents packed, pack lines done, sweep finished, bear bags lowered, and all our gear ready to go. For our crew, that’s pretty quick.

Today’s goal was to get to Cypher’s Mine. I, Saanvika, was the navigator for the day, which went fine at first. We started uphill for about ten minutes before realizing we had taken a wrong turn because I got mixed up with the map. That mistake added about three miles and three hours to our hike. We eventually turned back, found the right trail, and made it to camp around 2:15 PM.

At 3:15, we went to our first program: the forge. We got to heat metal, hammer it into shape, and bend it into hooks. It was loud and kind of messy but fun to try. Then at 4:00, we had the mining history program, where we learned about how the mine was started in the early 1900s, the owners, and the gold they found here. We even went inside the mine, which was damp and muddy, with old mine carts and tools still there. At one point, they turned the lights off for a dramatic story, but most of us just stood there quietly.

Afterwards, we set up the dining fly, had dinner, and hung our bear bags. Then we went to “Stomp,” a music and storytelling program in a cabin. The staff sang and told stories, while the group in front of us kept flipping their hair the whole time.

Tonight, all nine of us are sleeping under one big open wooden shelter with no wall, so we’re all packed in pretty close. People started making jokes about animals showing up, especially chipmunks, since one once tried to chew through our packs.

Later, we made up something called The Chambdi Family, a fake family with random characters played by everyone in the crew. Rannvi is Chambdi, I’m Bambdi, Sai is Lambdi, Siyona is Dumbdi, Jisha is Jhembudu, and the rest have other roles. The “story” changes every time we talk about it, and it’s basically just us making each other laugh.

We ended the night pretending to film a “Chambri Family Sleepover Bonus Episode” and all said “Bye” at the same time. It was a long day with some mistakes, but it was still one we’ll probably remember.

Day 6 - Clarke's Fork

The day began at Sawmill with a wake-up call at 5:30 AM. By now, our crew had become pretty efficient at packing up, and we managed to be on the trail in just over an hour. Today’s destination was Clark’s Fork, our final program camp before returning to base, and the plan was to get there with plenty of time for the afternoon’s activities.

Siyona signed us out at the staff cabin, and before leaving, we couldn’t resist making a quick “lean and dab” video near camp. It was goofy, completely unnecessary, and the perfect way to start the day with some laughs. From there, Pahal took charge as navigator for the 7–8 mile trek. The route was mostly downhill, about 1,000 feet of elevation loss and only 190 feet of gain, making it one of our easiest days on the trail. We wound past sparkling streams and wide meadows, with the cool morning air making the miles go by quickly.

Midway through, we stopped for a forestry program where the staff taught us about the local tree species and how they’ve adapted to Philmont’s high-altitude environment. Not long after, we passed Hunting Lodge, a scenic stop that broke up the hike before our final push to Clark’s Fork. We arrived between 12:15 and 12:30, checked in with the staff, and got an overview of the day’s schedule.

Lunch was eaten at the benches by the riding arena, because at 1:00 PM we had horseback riding on the agenda. I was paired with a horse named Grido, while Rannvi’s was memorably named Slim Shady. The ride lasted around 30 minutes, taking us along a private trail with a mix of open meadows and wooded slopes. We practiced steering, rode up and down gentle hills, and all quietly agreed that uphill travel is much more pleasant when the horse is doing the climbing.

After the ride, we set up camp, raised our bear bags, and prepared for the evening’s Chuckwagon Dinner. Siyona and Jisha had headed over early to help the staff cook, and by 5:00 PM we were all gathered for a hearty spread, chili (both beef and vegetarian), warm cornbread, and peach cobbler for dessert. The food was as good as anything we’d had all trek, and the cowboy-style setting made it even better.

As the sun dipped behind the mountains, the staff invited us to their evening campfire program at 8:00 PM. They sang beautifully, shared stories, and brought the whole group together for one last evening of Philmont magic before our return to base. Tomorrow, we’d be hiking back to where the journey began.

Day 7 - Tooth of Time

We woke up early today, with our alarm set for 4:00 AM, so we could start hiking before the sun came up. By 5:50, we had packed up our campsite, brushed our teeth, and were ready to head out into the cool morning air. The first part of the hike was pretty easy, with a gentle slope that helped us warm up slowly. However, the trail got steeper as we approached Schaffer’s Peak.

The climb up Schaffer’s Peak was fairly challenging. When we reached the summit, we stopped briefly to look at the view. Then we continued toward the Tooth of Time, which was the hardest part of the hike. This section required careful climbing over jagged rocks, using both hands and feet at times. It felt more like rock climbing than hiking. From the top, we could see a wide range of mountains stretching out toward the horizon. We took several photos and also did our lean and dab video.

After spending some time at the summit, we carefully descended and found a good spot to eat lunch. Once we were refueled, we started the long trek back to base camp. This part of the trail is nicknamed the “Trail of Tears.” At certain points, you could see base camp and think you were almost there, but the trail kept twisting around mountains, making the journey feel much longer. The trail wasn’t difficult, but it was long and repetitive. By this point, our feet were sore, and some of us had blisters. Each step felt heavier than the last.

After many switchbacks and what seemed like a never-ending walk, we finally saw the welcome sign for returning hikers. Seeing it gave us a boost to finish the short walk to base camp. The first thing we did was head straight to the showers. After a week of hiking, the warm water felt refreshing. Clean and feeling better, we set up our tents in the "Homebound" area of the camp.

That evening, there was a closing campfire scheduled for 8:00 PM for all crews who were heading home. After putting away our gear and preparing our uniforms, we had some free time to relax and talk with others before the ceremony started. We thought about the day, the early start, the difficult climbs, the long, and the final return to base camp. Overall, it was a long and tiring last hike, but it was a fitting way to end our adventure.