Return to Philmont: Introduction to Backpacking

March 2024 saw us hit the trail with an “introduction to backpacking” trek to New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest as part of our upcoming return to Philmont. It’s our traditional starter trek, which is meant to introduce new scouts and leaders to backpacking. It also gives more experienced scouters an opportunity to get out their … Read more

Returning to Philmont

A distant mountain range with blue skies competing with massive clouds.

It’s official: my son and I are returning to Philmont. We first went in July 2021, during a lull in one of the pandemic’s many viral waves. We were out west for 14 days; two days acclimating to the climate in Colorado Springs and then 12 days on the trail in the mountainous desert of New … Read more

Back on the Trail (2023 Edition)

A pair of rail road ties heads toward blackened trees. Golden grass fills the lower portion of the photo, while the top is dominated by the light green of new growth

After a year away from backpacking, I hit the trail again with a two-day hike in Wharton State Forest in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Wharton’s become the go-to destination for introductory backpacking hikes in NeutronLad’s troop – it’s flat and well-screened by the ubiquitous pines. Throw in some cedar ponds, a meandering brook, … Read more

Trail to Philmont – June 2021

The last month before Philmont. Whoa. Eighteen months of prep comes down to this … the final run-up to Philmont. Whoa. It’s hard to believe – even now – that it’s actually happening. Part of me kept expecting reality to snatch away the football at the last minute, but here we are, almost at the … Read more

The Trail to Philmont – September 2020

After one false start and two 5-mile primer day hikes, our Philmont crew finally went on an extended backpacking trip. We did a two-day hike in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey. Friday night we stayed at campsites next to the Millbroad Road Trailhead. On Saturday, we hiked from the Millbrook … Read more

The Trail to Philmont, July/August 2020

After six months on the trail to Philmont … we finally got on the trail. In August, we went hiking twice: first a 5-mile day hike on the Monocacy Creek Trail in Bethlehem, Pa., then a more rigorous 5-mile day hike on the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail and Appalachian Trail (AT) in Delaware Water Gap National … Read more