L. Goldsmith Philmont 98 Journal: July 8, 1998

Larry Goldsmith's 1998 Philmont Journal

Philmont

July 8, 1998: Day 5 - Miners Park to Black Mountain

We awake at 5 AM -- and I think it is time to search for my calendar so I can time the crew -- with everything wet they are taking a LONG time to get out of camp. Denis and I leave at about 6:30 to water up and then head up to the turnoff from the main trail to the rock climbing program area. We have planned to eat breakfast and drop the packs at that place. Last night at Advisors Coffee we arranged with one of the Program Counselors that we would be there so they could inform us of the status of the rocks after they checked them out. The PC came by about 7:30 while we were still waiting for the crew to let us know that both the 8 and 10 AM programs were being cancelled due to the wet rocks. The crew finally arrives and we eat breakfast before finally leaving at 9:00 to North Fork Urraca Camp which was the next landmark.

At North Fork Urraca, we started to head out when Tim Lingelbach spoke up that he thought that we were heading the wrong way. We checked the map and bearings and indeed he was right. We then headed up North Fork Urraca Creek having to gain almost 1000 feet in elevation and crossing the main stream 48 times -- plus about 4 tributaries! My feet ended up wet.

Crossing Number 9

We arrived at Black Mountain Camp about 12:15 and were shown to a campsite. The weather is threatening again. Just as the tarp is being set and we are getting our tent up, the thunderstorms cam. It came down hard. We huddle under the fly for lunch. While we are eating some of the dried fruit, Denis bites down on a prune pit and splits off a big section of one of his teeth. It is sensitive so he is considering his options. Depending upon how it is when we reach Phillips Junction tomorrow morning, he may have to go off the trail. And probably not rejoin us until Sawmill. I am not looking forward to losing him -- or carrying the whole tent over Mount Phillips!

I am wet and cold so I climb into long polypros, my fleece, and sleeping bag for the afternoon while it continues to rain. I still feel chilly like I am borderline hypothermic. Adam is also wet and cold and feeling sick. He developed quite a cough. We later find out that he is carrying a down sleeping bag which has gotten wet and is providing him little warmth.

After dinner Denis and I wade down to Advisors Coffee. The staff at Black Mountain does not even come out to join us. They do have a dog named Diogee (pronounced dee-OH-gee) that does join us -- and scampers off with a used teabag of which we can not find even the tag when we catch up with him. To end the day, the zipper on our tent decides to give out and no longer zip correctly. Clothespins will hopefully keep the elements out. They also discourage any middle of the night health breaks.