Day 12

Day 12 - Tooth Ridge Camp to Base Camp

Day 12 – 7-16-99 – Friday

Up at 4 AM again. This time, we didn’t pack up the gear. We grabbed our flashlights, some water, warm clothes, and our cameras. At 4:30 we headed up the trail towards the Tooth. We got to the side trail about 5 AM, and started working our way up. After the trail petered out, I had everyone sit, and wait for the dawn to get a little brighter. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, and the flashlights didn’t give enough depth perception to safely climb. At 5:30, we continued our climb, and were on top about ten minutes later. Our sister crew had made it up just before us, and soon more and more Scouts and advisors got to the top. One crew was even wearing their backpacks! The clouds had moved in, so the sunrise wasn’t as good as it could have been, but it was great just being up there. We all snapped some photos, and CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED CENSORED We took some group photos, and then started down. Our trek was quickly drawing to a close.

We got back to the campsite at 7 AM, and were packed up and ready to go by 8. Keith had told us that he had found a spring running not too far from our camp site, so several of the guys went and topped off their water. Then the guys got together, and chose the person they felt deserved the honor of leading the crew into base camp. Chris was chosen, and proudly carried the crew flag on his pack.

This section of the ridge is known as “Heart Break Ridge”, as the trail switched from one side of the ridge to the other, and it seems like you will never get to the bottom. But we finally reached the bottom, and at 10 AM came up to the gate with the sign saying, “Welcome back! You made it!”. Our sister crew was right behind us, so they snapped photos for us, and then we did the same for them. Tom, Dan, Denise, and I went through the gate first, and shook the boy’s hands as they passed. Then we headed towards the welcome center, first passing the staff tent area. There was Rob! He was checking out, but stopped for a bit to talk to us. Everyone was happy to see him, and we spent a few minutes giving him some highlights of the trek. Then we headed on to check in, and get our tent assignments.

Lunch was at 12 noon, so we had time to get our gear from the trucks, and a few of us hit the showers. Wow! HOT water! No cold! But it felt great to change into clean clothes, put on comfortable shoes, and rinse all of that grime and smell from our bodies! We met at the dinning hall to eat, and while we were sitting there, in walked Beth, Ken and Gale Flack, and Monty Billings! We all had a great reunion! After lunch, we finished checking in our gear, and most of us went into Cimarron for ice cream. While in town, it started to rain, and it really came down! As we drove back to the ranch, we saw several lightning strikes on Tooth Ridge. Our other crew was due in any time, and we all prayed that they were OK, given the dangerous conditions on the ridge. Beth dropped me off, and I got soaked just going to the tent. After I put my boots back on, and donned my rain gear, I headed back to the welcome shelter. There was the other crew, soaking wet! I went to say Hi to Mike and Pete, but before I could get much out, Gary made it quite clear that they didn’t have time for that. They had to check everything in, and only had two hours to do it. Oh, well.

We had made plans to eat dinner in town that evening, at Simple Simons Pizza. Gary said that the other crew could not go. Oh, well. But our crew went, and had a great time pigging out!

The closing campfire was scheduled at 8 PM, but due to the heavy rains, it was held in the covered area behind the service building. The “Sump Frisbees” played for us, and soon it was time to receive the arrowhead patch. Darryn went up as crew leader, and I went up as head advisor. I received the crew flag from Darryn, and I will proudly add it to the flag I received in 1996. All too soon, the program was over.

I walked Beth back to her car, as she was staying in town for the night. Then I headed back to the tent, and tried to sleep. The combination of the sagging cot springs, the noise in camp, and the clammy weather made it difficult at best. I guess I finally dozed off around 1 AM.

For some reason, I just didn’t feel the “magic” this evening that I’d felt in ’96. Maybe it was the sour greeting I’d gotten from Gary. May it was because of the weather. Maybe it would hit me later. But the trek was over. We all made it, without any major injuries. With side hikes, we did about 95 miles. The trek was a fantastic accomplishment, one that every member of the crew could be proud of. Memories that will last for a lifetime. Many, many lessons learned. I’m sure that several of our crew will be back for a trek in 2001. I’m not too sure about myself. Time will tell. But I know I’ll be missing Philmont.