Headed to Philmont?

Throughout the summer, this blog has been getting a few hits, somewhat strange for a mostly-dormant site. Based on the search terms sending people here, I think most of the traffic consists of folks preparing for their trek by doing extensive research. If that's you, then hello! Since I was on staff for a few summers, I have lots of advice about what often works and what often doesn't, so I figured I'd write some of that down before I forget it. Note that everything I write about is personal experience, and other people might find completely different things, especially as Philmont grows and evolves. In short, your mileage may vary (ymmv)!

My first piece of advice? Get off the internet and get outside! ;) Prior training is so important, and can make a big difference in the amount of fun you have while actually hiking. The better shape your crew is in (The whole crew! Don't split up the fast ones and the slow ones! Stay together!), the easier the hikes will be (but they still won't be easy, don't get your hopes up!), the earlier you'll get to staff camps, the more program you'll get to do! Program is key - you can hike anywhere, but you can't visit a 19th century homestead anywhere. Unless it will make you get into camp after dark, try not to skip available programs - many of them are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

More later...hopefully! Questions, comments? Leave a comment or shoot me an email: ashpags06 AT gmail DOT com. Hike on! =)

Oops!

So I obviously did a really crummy job of keeping this blog going, but if you're interested in my pictures from Philmont, you can check them out on Flickr. Enjoy! =)

Photos

Here are some of those pictures I linked to yesterday. All of them come from this ebay site.

Clothes!

I've been tremendously busy today researching interps...sadly that doesn't contribute to homework getting done, but whatever. Here's some good stuff I've found:

General '20s clothing info:
http://www.vintagedance.com/dress-20s.htm
http://www.fashion-era.com/flapper_fashion_1920s.htm
(Has lots of links, many of which are very informative...)
http://www.fabrics.net/joan1000.asp
http://www.fcps.edu/westspringfieldhs/academic/english/1project/99gg/99gg2/clothe2.htm

Shoes:
http://www.centuryinshoes.com/decades/1920/1920.html
(There's more info if you click 'continue' at the bottom...these shoes are beautiful!)

Clothes and Shoes I'd Buy If I were Independently Wealthy:
http://www.tias.com/6361/PictPage/1922572918.html
http://www.anothertimevintageapparel.com/shop_vict1920skirt.htm
http://clothing.listings.ebay.com/Womens-Shoes_1920-38-20s-Depression_W0QQsacatZ74978QQsocmdZListingItemList
Specifically, these ones:

• http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Ladies-Kid-Leather-Wooden-Heal-Shoes-1920s_W0QQitemZ120100498776QQcategoryZ74978QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
• http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Brown-Leather-Criss-Cross-Strap-Pumps_W0QQitemZ270102421955QQcategoryZ74978QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
• http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Fuchsia-Silk-Faille-T-Straps_W0QQitemZ270102421967QQcategoryZ74978QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
• http://cgi.ebay.com/20s-ART-DECO-SIDE-BUCKLE-ANKLE-STRAP-Heels-Old-Stock_W0QQitemZ160099129141QQcategoryZ74978QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
• http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1920s-30s-Flapper-Shoes-Heels-7-7-5-Navy_W0QQitemZ260101172138QQcategoryZ74978QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
  

I'd also buy most of this photo collection:
http://stores.ebay.com/Antiques-International_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ0QQftidZ2QQtZkm

This last link is probably the most telling, since when women worked in the mines and forges, they dressed similarly to men for safety reasons. Unfortunately, this was rare, and so there are very few pictures of what they wore...which makes it tough to be accurate...In my mind, I can see them wearing cute tops with short-ish sleeves, but with pants, because skirts and long sleeves just got in the way too much.

I'd love input from an expert on women miners in New Mexico in the early '20s...anyone...Bueller?

Blacksmithing

There's a lot more info about blacksmithing on the web than on the history of mining in Colfax County...

Basic Introduction, from what looks to be a very useful site, including Tools

Metalworking Glossary

ABANA's Education page, to be further explored later

...and...

The Metalwork Merit Badge, also Here

Some Geology

Some geology of the Baldy unit, mostly over my head: Here

Info about Cimarron Canyon State Park, just south of the Baldy Country

A Somewhat Recent Geological Survey of the Area

Geochemical anomalies in the Philmont Ranch region, New Mexico

By F. L. Misaqi (Missaghi), 1968, 12 pp., 1 table, 6 figs., 1 plate. Stream sediment samples were tested for arsenic, lead, zinc, molybdenum, and copper. Anomalous metal contents were noted near Baldy Mountain, along North Fork of Cimarroncito Creek, Sawmill Canyon, Clarks Fork, Bear Creek, Agua Fria Creek, Apache Creek, Bonito Creek, and Moras Creek. More detailed geologic study of these areas may lead to discovery of new ore deposits.

Philmount Scout Ranch, situated in northwestern New Mexico, includes the Baldy mining district, the most important metal producer in Colfax County. In this area, intrusions of dacite porphyry penetrated the sedimentary rock and produced both gold-bearing quartz veins and contact metamorphic deposits in the calcareous sedimentary rocks. The ore of the Aztec mine, the most important mine of the district, came from veins in a sandstone of early Tertiary age or from veins that followed the contact between the sandstone and underlying shale.

Ute Creek, a major placer mining section in the Baldy Mountains area, runs adjacent to the western boundary of Philmount Scout Ranch. Mining operations in this part of the district were conducted to within a mile of the Aztec mill. The Baldy mining district has produced essentially gold. Mining activities in this area ceased after WW II. Metal production of the district prior to 1904 is estimated at 4.5 million dollars. From 1904 to 1948, and additional 3 million dollars' worth of metals was produced.

Stream sediment samples, taken at Philmont Scout Ranch and adjacent areas, were tested for arsenic, lead, zinc, molybdenum, and copper. Some locations in the south-central, southwestern, and southern parts of the investigated area were found anomalous in metal content of stream sediments. The economic significance of the anomalies is yet to be established.

Source

Research is more fun than applications!

I should be doing my grad apps or cleaning my room, but it's far more interesting to do some research for this summer. So this blog doesn't get lonesome over the next few months, I'm going to post a lot of my research on here. Also, then I can keep everything in one convenient place.

The Beginning

This will be my blog for my 5th summer on staff at Philmont Scout Ranch, one of my favorite places in the whole world. I will be Camp Director at French Henry, and look forward to a great staff, an amazing camp, and some funny campers. Stay tuned for adventures and anecdotes; I hope they are worth reading! :)