Hiking Boots and Philmont

[gamarada717]

Well, this summer I'm going to Philmont with the troop, hope to have a blast. I haven't had the greatest hiking boot experience in the past few years, I've only had one good pair, which were Timberland, and I didn't really like those either. I figure they need to be above my ankle, and I've heard that less bendable soles give you a more comfortable trip, but the guy who told me has tricked me before. Anyone that has gone to Philmont or does some hiking, I would like some info. Oh yeah, I'll be wearing these to school during winter to break em in prolly, so I don't want anythign stupid looking.....I've seen some pretty bad ones before. Thanks.

[personman]

I went to philmont this past summer. We went on trek itenerary (sp) 32 which is the second to hardest trek out there Im 14 and I had a 30-40 pound pack. I was fine for the whole trip except the last two or so miles to base camp from the tooth of time. I think I was dehydrated then, and I twisted my ankel I think and that made it hell. People kept trying to take stuff off my pack and I was like get the hell away from me I just want to get back and they were all like no adam let us take your backpack and im like get out of the way.. It was very frusterating and they wouldnt leave me alone just beacuse I was limping. The trek I took really wasnt all that bad. There were some really beautiful views out there. I think my favorate was from the top of Mt. Baldy. You get a panoramic view of most of the philmont territory.. it was hell getting up there though.. first you have to go up about 1000000 switch backs, and at the end it starts getting really steep switchbacks, then it goes strait pretty steep until you hit a nice flat spot, with a beautiful view of some mountians outside of the philmont territory, and we set our packs down there (it was very windy) that was at the base spot of the bald.. the more you go up, the more windy it is and you gotta keep low or you'll get blown off the mountian (literally)

Anyway you diddnt really ask about philmont. Make sure you use liners and wool socks with your boots, and bring maybe 3-4 pairs of each to philmont. I know my socks started smelling like vinagar (lol I hung them on the out side of my backpack to piss whoever was behind me off ) so its nice to have a few pairs..
I reccommend getting some with ankle support, especially if you're going to be in the rocky areas. The trip up to the tooth of time is basically boldering (ah man that was fun I was the second to get to the top, I felt like spider man or something jumping from rock to rock (see if you can beat my time if your hiking the tooth, from the place everyone sets down their packs to the top I got there in 2 mins and 40 seconds)) and that would be hard on the ankles because they are mostly rounded. Then again, there was a path, and I diddnt take that, I just went strait up (fun )
I dont know much about boots but my boots were purchased from REI for cheap and I duddnt break them in much before I went but they are called Monarchs by REI brand.
Also gators are nice to have..
We went ~90 miles on our trek, and I never got a blister
Also, if your going to a camp with a cantina, I woudltnt drink more than 1 or 2 cups of rootbeer, because the large amount of sugar after you have had almost none will make you uh... yeah lets just say you will be spending the night in the red roof inn

[fire1811]

i went there and i was wearing a pair of military jungle boots. there comfortable to me.

i think the most important thing is that you have a pair of broke in boots. dont want to wear new ones there.

also be sure to bring plenty of moleskin just incase you do get a blister, this stuff is a life saver.

good luck

[Can_Opener]

I went to Philmont as well this summer, Trek# 731d2, and I think we did itenerary #22. Anyways, the south country was where our trek was, and the place was beautiful. If your trek involves going and camping at Mt. Phillips camp be sure to bring a fleece jacket or something; nothing beats the irony of wearing your raingear, 2 shirts, and pants, in your sleeping bag and still shivering all night long, in the middle of New Mexico at that. Boots are where its at though, be sure that your boots don't move at all, meaning they'll be really hard to put on until you break them in, otherwise you'll have the same problem I did.

I spent about 4 months breaking in a pair of boots, only to have them rub off my heel and have my feet bleeding because there was like 1.5 mm gap behind my heel. If you want to be extra careful about your boots, go to REI because the people there have a good idea about how to fit boots and stuff, and also bring like 5-6 packs of moleskin. If you start feeling a hotspot in your heel, just start shoving whole pads behind your heel, which is what I ended up doing.

If you can afford it, get goretex ones, the stuff really works, and it can get kinda dewy in the mornings sometimes. There isn't really one boot that is the greatest, you'll have to go to various sporting good and shoe stores and try them on to find the ones you like best. Although a lot of people do like Merrills, but they are pretty expensive boots.

For being in a drought it doesn't seem like it once your there, be sure to get breathable raingear too, because if you start hiking with it on, you will start sweating like mad. No cheap stuff either, as it has to be durable as well.

If you can give us more info on what kinda places your trek is going, I might be able to give you more advice too.

[Army]

Don't go cheap to Philmont. I went in 1974 &'76, and the technology of materials used in boots was in it's infancy.

Spend as much as you can on high quality boots and socks. I know you may not use them after Philmont, unless your troop does a lot of hiking/campouts, but for the two weeks you're there you'll appreciate them.

BTW, I still wear my Philmont belt and buckle today! Be sure to take money specifically for the Tradin' Post. Memories last longer with a momento fo your adventure.

Good luck Scout, have fun!

[Sir_Brass]

I agree, get the best in gear, else your body will hate you for it.

I wanted to go to Philmont, b/c my dad always used to take a troop of boys up every year or two. However, by the time I was finally old enough to go my dad couldn't get a troop together. I never ended up going. Now I can't go as a boy, b/c I'm nearly 20 now. Oh well, at least I made Brotherhood in the OA (once I get out of college I'll try and get involved with Scouting once again and also see if I can go Vigil within the OA) and got my Eagle Scout .

[personman]

I took an REI new star, an REI nooksack(I dont think mine was rated that cold though) random socks from REI, random liners from REI, REI monarchs mine were the non gortex version, but I water proofed them a bunch of times before we hit the trail, and that was all we needed because it only rained the first two or so nights, and the first day we were crossing streams... I took one of those light jackets that fold up into a pocket, from walmart but heres a link to an REI one (more expensive)bleh
That was the only jacket I neeeded really, save the fleece, and the only time I broke that out was for baldy because its so damn windy and windy = cold
Anyway make sure you are content with your backpack before you go, because backpacks need to break in as well (er, atleast internals do)

Also if you meet a guy named stephen around baldy town, stay away from him

[cannedheat]

I went 2 years ago, I had a blast. When I went I found a huge elk antler halfway through the trip and packed it out. Very heavy but very worth it.

Be sure to pack light. Dont go with out essencials but be sure to go as light as possible. Duofold shirts are great and airy and light weight. Dont bring extra snacks, they give you plenty. Water purifiers are nice though.

As for boots, I dont like them. I prefer trail runners to boots. However If your ankles arnt very strong I wouldnt recomend this at all, most people reccomend boots but my feet are a slightly odd shape and boots just tear me up.

As for blisters, be sure to keep your feet dry. Gore-tex boots can make your feet really hot and sweaty. Even though they keep water out they dont breath really great... another bonus for trail runners. Air out your feet every chance you get. Mole skin works great but duct tape did the trick for me, acutally I prefer it to mole skin now.

Hope this helps, and have fun!

[Thordic]

My friend Matt went hiking in Philmont once and got a hernia. He had to walk all the way back down the mountain, with is brand spankin new hernia, before he could go see the doctor. He still complains about that one... haha.


(tsk tsk tsk...)

[Can_Opener]

All depends on where hes going if hes gonna need the fleece or not, it gets *cold* camping up on top of Mount Phillips, but the sunset and sunrise up there is beautiful. And the duct tape trick works a lot better than putting moleskin around a blister, sticks a lot better. Bring tennis shoes and at least 1 pair of cotton socks too, that way as soon as you stop hiking, take off your boots and into the shoes, makes it a lot easier on your feet, and they dry out that way.

Personman, you only got rain 2 days while out there? It rained on us every day for like at least 2 hours, and my trek was through the south country...

[chizle97]

PACK ALOT OF SOCKS!!!!!!

[personman]

Originally posted by Can_Opener
Personman, you only got rain 2 days while out there? It rained on us every day for like at least 2 hours, and my trek was through the south country...

Yeah we got lucky.. I think.. it was pretty damn hot.. oh well I hate camping in the rain, putting wet tents in my pack = sux0r
We went all around, we went through were the fire was, which was gay because every time I touched a tree for like support or something I got ashes on my hand..
My favorate part was probally baldy, or the tooth.. you defentally want to try and get a trek that hikes through the tooth, and one of the 3 tallest mountians. If you dont, you're a pansy. Watch out if your going up phillips, I diddnt, but my troop goes every two years (im going again in 2005) and time before us someone got hypothermia on phillips. Also what really sux0rz about no rain is that it = to no snow on baldy actually there was a patch or two but whatever.

[Sir_Brass]

Originally posted by cannedheat

As for blisters, be sure to keep your feet dry. Gore-tex boots can make your feet really hot and sweaty. Even though they keep water out they dont breath really great... another bonus for trail runners. Air out your feet every chance you get. Mole skin works great but duct tape did the trick for me, acutally I prefer it to mole skin now.

bring as many socks as you can without overloading your pack. also, liner socks helps GREATLY, b/c they're light and absorb the sweat and are what you change more often instead of regular heavier socks. They also stay on your feet and THEY slide along the sock, taking the friction instead of your skin.

but I must agree, you should also bring plenty of mole skin and cover up those red spots (red and loose skin on the heel) ASAP with mole skin before they get irritated more and fill up with fluid and become roaring blisters.

[BobTheCow]

PHILMONT ROCKS!!!!

I went... um, summer of 2001 I guess it was... probably the single greatest thing I have done while in Scouts. Still angry we had an insanely easy trek though...

I've bought the same model of boots every time I get boots, I'm on my 3rd pair now (from outgrowing them, not wearing them out)... I'll let you know later what they're called, but I do a fair amount of hiking, mostly backpacking... the Appalachians near me help with that.

Hmm okay I'm gonna stop rambling now, and then rant more about the awesomeness of Philmont later when I let you know what kind of boots I have.