Day 11 - Clark's Fork to Tooth Ridge Camp

Day 11 – 7-15-99 – Thursday

Our last full day on the trail. We got to sleep in a bit this morning, as we had a reservation for a horseback ride at 8 AM. Everyone was packed and ready by 7:30. There were quite a few of us that didn’t go riding, but the guys that did want to go met at the corral, soon they were inside, getting instruction on how to mount and ride a horse. Philmont insists that all riders wear helmets. Only the wranglers get to wear the standard cowboy hat while on horseback. Everyone was saddled up and gone by 8:30, at which time the rest of us went back to the cabin, and spent time talking, or pitching horseshoes, or reading. We also got to brand during this time, and met a nice young lady from Louisiana that was spending her third summer at Philmont. During the winter she works for a veterinarian. She said that she isn’t sure what she is going to do, but seems very happy in the mean time.

The riders got back about 10:15, at which time we hit the steep and rocky trail to Shaffer’s Pass. Shortly after we started, I twisted my ankle. It didn’t seem too bad, but slowed me down a bit, which made me really slow! But after a mile or so, it felt much better. Then, Wham! I twisted the same ankle again, and heard and felt something go Snap! I limped along, and about 20 minutes later I caught up with Tom, who was waiting for me. We kept going up the hill, and all of a sudden, Wham! Snap! I did it again! But this time, the pain was less. In fact, by the time we got up to the pass, it felt pretty good! I don’t understand what happened, but I’m glad it wasn’t any worse.

We cooked our dinner for lunch on the pass, as we were going to be at Tooth Ridge Camp this evening, and there isn’t any water there. After lunch/dinner, we spent some time reflecting on our trek, and I got the guys to talk about what they had gotten out of the trip. Most said they had fun, some complained that there wasn’t enough time for program and the like, and a few said it was too tough on them. Time will tell how many of them got something deeper. Then we filled up all of our water containers at the spring, loaded up, and hit the trail to Tooth Ridge.

Tooth Ridge is one long pile of rocks. The views are incredible, but the trail is very rough, and requires your undivided attention. Along the way, we ran into two different groups of grouse, one with a male in “full bloom” His tail was fanned out like a peacock, and his neck pouches where all puffed up. Darryn said this showed that he was poisonous, due to the red skin showing through the feathers! Each group had 5 – 6 chicks, and did not seem to be the least bit afraid of us. In due time, we got to the Tooth, and then to Tooth Ridge Camp, about 2/3 mile farther down the ridge. We found a nice campsite, and soon had everything set up.

Everyone was beat, so most of us sat around, played some cards, and took it easy. We had several deer wandering around and through our camp site, One doe came to within five feet of Tom’s tent, and was eating mold or something from under a rock. Tom stood still and watched her for about ten minutes, and then slowly reached out his hand to her. She stepped right up to him, licked his fingers, and then slowly walked away. A really neat end of a great day! We ate our lunch for dinner that night, and most of us went to bed at dusk.