Troop 1 Mendham Scouts Complete 106 Mile Philmont Adventure

This summer, eight Scouts from Troop 1 Mendham traded the comforts of home for backpacks, mountain trails and 12 days in the wilderness of northern New Mexico.

By the time they were finished, the Scouts and four adult advisors had hiked 106 miles through Philmont Scout Ranch, climbed two of its best-known peaks and completed one of its most physically demanding treks.

The 15-day adventure began June 24, when the crew flew from Newark Liberty International Airport to Denver and traveled by bus to Colorado Springs. Their first day included visits to the U.S. Air Force Academy and Garden of the Gods. The next day, the crew traveled to Pikes Peak and went whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River.

On June 26, the crew made the three-hour trip south to Cimarron, New Mexico, and Philmont Scout Ranch, where the backpacking adventure began.

Philmont encompasses roughly 220 square miles of rugged mountain wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico. Crews spend 12 days backpacking from camp to camp, carrying nearly everything they need on their backs.

For Troop 1, even the choice of where to go was left to the Scouts.

Philmont offered 24 different 12-day itineraries for 2026. The Troop 1 Scouts studied the routes, programs, mileage and difficulty levels and selected Itinerary 12-22, one of the few rated “Super Strenuous” by Philmont.

The published itinerary lists approximately 82 miles of camp-to-camp hiking, but that does not include many side hikes and trips to program areas. By the time Troop 1 walked back into Base Camp, the crew had logged 106 miles.

Along the way, they summited Baldy Mountain, Philmont’s highest peak at 12,441 feet, and the iconic Tooth of Time at 9,003 feet. The Tooth provided one of the trek’s most memorable moments: the crew woke at 4 a.m., climbed through rocky terrain to reach the summit before dawn, and watched the sun rise over the New Mexico landscape.

The Scouts were well prepared for the challenge. Troop 1 schedules two Appalachian Trail backpacking trips each year, typically covering about 30 miles over three days and two nights. The Philmont crew also completed additional training hikes and conditioning activities before the trip.

But Philmont is about much more than hiking.

The Scouts participated in gold mining and geology, blacksmithing, rifle shooting, rock climbing and hatchet throwing. They also attended two campfire shows featuring stories and music from the American West and completed a conservation trail-building project.

Just as important as the physical challenge was the leadership experience.

Philmont expeditions are designed to be led by the Scouts rather than the adults. Troop 1 elected Mark Herzog, who will be a senior at West Morris Mendham High School this fall, as Crew Chief. Throughout the expedition, the Scouts navigated between camps, managed the daily schedule, divided responsibilities, prepared meals, managed water, set up and broke down camp, and made the decisions needed to keep the crew moving.

Throughout the expedition, the Scouts navigated between camps, managed the daily schedule, divided responsibilities, prepared meals, managed water, set up and broke down camp, and made the decisions needed to keep the crew moving.
The four adults served as advisors, providing guidance and overseeing health and safety while allowing the Scouts to run the expedition.

After 12 days of trail food, the crew especially appreciated one final stop in Cimarron: gourmet burgers at the historic St. James Hotel. The 150-year-old hotel has hosted many well-known figures from the Old West, including Wyatt Earp and Jesse James.

The crew also visited the National Scouting Museum at Philmont, where a special exhibit honored William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt, founder and first Scoutmaster of Troop 1 Mendham and one of the most influential figures in American Scouting.

The adventure ended July 8 with the crew’s return to New Jersey, carrying dirty gear, tired legs and memories of an experience they are unlikely to forget.

For more information about Troop 1 Mendham, visit mendhamtroop1.org.