I've heard great things about this camp! We are gong this summer. I will let you know how it is! YIS Scoutmaster Troop 1113

Just+got+back+from+a+great+High+Adventure+backpacking+trip+in+the+New+Mexico+Pecos+Wilderness+area+near+Santa+Fe%2e+17+Scouts+and+four+adults+spent+five+days+and+four+nights+in+the+most+beautiful+forest+and+meadows+I+have+ever+seen%2e+It%27s+in+the+area+near+Philmont%2c+north+and+east+of+Santa+Fe%2e+Crews+are+limited+to+a+max+number+of+eight+per+crew+%28including+the+BSA+guide+provided+by+Camp+Frank+Rand%29+for+low+impact%2e+Our+Troop+had+enough+Scouts+for+three+crews%2c+each+on+a+different+route%2e+Our+older+crew+wanted+a+more+aggressive+trek+while+another+wanted+a+lot+of+fishing%2e+When+we+arrive+at+Camp+Frank+Rand%2c+the+guides+pointed+out+different+options+that+range+from+easy+to+very+difficult+hiking%2e+You+can+climb+up+to+12500+ft+and%2for+fish%2e+You+can+set+distance+goals+or+pick+the+best+scenery%2e+They+will+help+you+design+your+trek+to+fit+your+goals%2c+backpacking+experience+and+dreams%2e+There+is+a+trek+for+everyone+from+the+low+experienced+hiker+to+the+most+experience+Backpacker%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aAfter+we+selected+our+routes%2c+the+guides+spend+the+rest+of+the+day+training+each+crew+low+impact+camping%2c+checking+everyone%27s+gear+to+point+out+items+not+needed+to+lighten+our+packs%2c+and+issue+crew+gear%2e+I+ended+up+taking+out+about+five+pounds+of+stuff%2e+I+did+take+my+hammock+and+highly+recommend+it%2e+The+next+morning+they+drove+us+for+two+hours+to+the+drop+off+point+where+we+started+living+out+of+our+backpacks+for+the+next+five+days%2e+Most+treks+end+up+back+at+camp%2e+My+crew+chose+to+put+in+30+miles+over+the+week+with+a+one+day+layover+to+play+in+the+snow+at+Lake+Pecos+Bawdy%2e+That+worked+out+well+because+the+first+day+was+a+tough+seven+mile+up+hill+hike+in+the+rain+and+mud%2e+That+did+us+in%2c+so+the+one+day+rest+worked+out+great+getting+use+to%0d%0athe+altitude%2e+I+say+rest%2c+we+still+put+in+a+three+mile+hike+on+Truchas+Ridge+where+we+saw+Big+Horn+Sheep+and+played+in+the+snow%2e+Why+do+Scouts+feel+they+must+ambush+the+Scoutmaster+when+around+snow%3f%0d%0a+%0d%0aThe+crews+are+issued+Philmont+food%2e+Everyday+the+view+gets+more+spectacular+and+breathtaking%2e+The+camp+sites+are+very+natural+and+get+more+beautiful+everyday%2e+It%27s+tough+hiking+but+our+13+year+olds+manage+to+keep+up+with+our+14+and+15+year+olds%2e+The+guides+know+how+to+motivate+these+guys+and+have+fun+the+whole+time%2e+Our+fishing+crew+caught+eight+fish%0d%0aand+cooked+them+over+the+fire%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aOur+Troop+has+not+been+to+Philmont+yet%2c+so+I+ask+the+Camp+Pecos+Guide+Director+%28who+used+to+work+at+Philmont%29+what+the+difference+was+between+the+two+treks%2e+He+told+me+the+Pecos+hikes+are+more+physical+and+the+Wilderness+is+more+beautiful%2e+The+Philmont+Treks+provides+a+great+program+along+with+a+great+backpacking+experience+and+although+the+trails+are+a+little+easier%2c+the+program+is+the+best+and+not+duplicated+anywhere%2e+He+said+the+Pecos+treks+are+meant+as+a+Low+impact+backpacking+experience+in+a+true+wilderness%2e+The+five+day+treks+are+shorter+than+Philmont+because+it+is+part+of+Camp+Frank+Rand+Summer+Camp+older+boy+program+but+they+are+building+a+ten+day+trek+next+summer%2e+We+don%27t+get+to+go+to+Philmont+until+2000+so+the+Pecos+fit+our+needs+very+well%2e+The+director+has+backpacked+all+over+the+country+and+says+no+place+can+beat+the+Pecos+scenery+of+meadows%2c+forest%2c+lakes+streams+and+rivers%2e+We+saw+elk+and+big+horn+sheep%2c+trout+along+with+smaller+critters%2e+Didn%27t+see+bear+but+they+are+out+there%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aWe+left+Edmond+OK+Saturday+morning+and+arrived+in+Santa+Fe+around+4%3a00%2e+A%0d%0aLocal+Methodist+Church+let+us+stay+over+night%2e+After+unloading+our+gear+at%0d%0aa+St%2e+Johns+Methodist+Church%2c+we+eat+great+New+Mexican+food+then+took+in+a%0d%0amovie%2e+Sunday+we+attended+Church%2c+eat+breakfast+then+spent+the+early%0d%0aafternoon+in+old+downtown+Santa+Fe%2e+Then+we+headed+up+the+Rio+Grand+and%0d%0awent+White+Water+Rafting%2e+After+we+eat+more+great+New+Mexican+Food+in+the%0d%0aTown+of+Chimayo%2c+we+headed+to+camp+Frank+Rand%2e+The+next+day+the+crews+met%0d%0atheir+Trek+Guides+and+started+training%2e+Tuesday+morning+we+broke+camp+and%0d%0aheaded+to+the+Pecos+Wilderness%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aWhat+a+great+week%2e+We+learned+a+lot%2e+I+learned+about+sumping+your+dishes%0d%0awhich+is+how+we+cleaned+our+dishes+after+eating%2e+The+adults+are+expected%0d%0aand+asked+if+not+ordered+to+step+back+and+relax+while+the+guides+work+with%0d%0athe+Scouts%2e+That%27s+where+the+hammock+came+in+handy%2e+No+roads%2c+power+lines%0d%0aor+any+other+modern+gadgets+to+remind+you+of+home%2e+After+the+first+day%0d%0anear+the+day+hiker+trails%2c+we+didn%27t+see+anyone+the+rest+of+the+week%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aEvery+Scout+had+a+great+time%2e+The+first+day+was+hard+getting+use+to%0d%0acarrying+packs+and+high+altitude+but+after+that%2c+they+couldn%27t+get+enough%2e%0d%0aNext+time+I+am+taking+a+fishing+pole+and+more+film%2e+I+have+been+wanting+to%0d%0astart+a+low+impact+Patrol+but+waited+until+our+trip+was+over+to+ask+for%0d%0avolunteers%2e+We+have+enough+that+the+PLC+wants+to+start+two+Low+Impact%0d%0aPatrols%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aIf+you+want+a+great+backpacking+experience+for+your+older+guys+run+by+great%0d%0aBSA+guides%2c+check+out+New+Mexico%27s+Camp+Frank+Rand+High+Adventure+program%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aCamp+Frank+Rand%0d%0ac%2fo+Great+Southwest+Council%0d%0aBoy+Scouts+of+America%0d%0a5841+Office+Blvd%2e+NE%0d%0aAlbuquerque%2c+NM+87109%0d%0a+%0d%0aTel%3a+505%2d345%2d8603%0d%0a+%0d%0a+%0d%0aBarry+Runnels%0d%0aTroop+386%0d%0aEdmond+OK%0d%0a%0d%0a

This+camp+was+one+of+my+faviorite+camps%2e+The+quality+of+the+camp+was+great%21+They+had+all+the+right+equipment+for+all+the+classes%2e+I+was+surprised+at+how+good+the+camp+was+%2c+although+the+tents+could+have+been+a+lot+better%2e+If+I+had+the+chance+to+go+back+I+would+take+it%2e+Camp+Frank+Rand+is+great+for+all+ages%2e+%0d%0aBrian+%0d%0a

This+camp+is+undergoing+major+renovations%2c+and+is+now+referred+to+as+Gorham+Scout+Ranch%2e++The+campsites+have+new+shelters%2c+tents%2c+and+latrines%2e++There+is+a+new+climbing+tower%2c+and+a+Challenging+Outdoor+Personal+Experience+%28C%2eO%2eP%2eE%2e%29+low+and+high+ropes+equipment%2e++The+pool+and+shower+facilities+have+also+been+updated%2e%0d%0aA+great+place+to+experience+New+Mexico%21%0d%0a%0d%0aTed+Borek%0d%0aAsst%2e+Scoutmaster%0d%0aTroop+280%0d%0a