Rancho Bernardo Boy Scout troop completes 12-day trek

Rancho Bernardo Boy Scout Troop 680 recently continued a scouting tradition by going on a 12-day backpacking trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Scout Lead Zachary Wong, adult adviser Kameron Wong and Terry Faley guided the boys.

More than 1 million Scouts, Venturers and leaders have experienced adventures at Philmont since the first camping season in 1939, Zachary Wong said. The journey included seeing a confirmed T-Rex Track, participating in atlatl (ancient spear throwing) and touring ancient petroglyphs at Indian Writings. They also stopped at the Metcalf Station to take part in a railroading program to build a 2-mile track to Ponil Park, tried out the Morse code program and hiking to Seally Canyon for a search and rescue program.

The troop also went to Whiteman Vega for a conservation project, hiked Dan Beard using their map-and-compass skills and participated in a challenging event to promote team work before hiking to Ponil. They shot pistols, rifles and shotguns (cowboy action shooting), completed the Western Lore program, saw a cantina show and participated in a chuckwagon dinner.

After packing a burro, they hiked to Elkhorn. With a thunderstorm was closing in while on top of a ridge they practiced their wilderness lightning procedures, Wong said. The next day they hiked to Miranda and returned the burro and took part in blackpowder shooting there. The trip also included a side hike up to the Baldy Mountain, stop at French Henry for blacksmithing, a tour of the Aztec Mine and visit to historic Baldy Town. The trek concluded with a hike from Miranda to Santa Claus and other to the Bear Canyon Turnaround before getting a bus ride back to camp headquarters.