Larry Goldsmith's 1998 Philmont Journal
July 9, 1998: Day 6 - Black Mountain to Comanche Camp
| Wakeup is at 5:30 and everything is still wet. The crew was really slow getting out of camp with the wet conditions. I even felt slow in getting things done. We don't make it out of camp and down by the staff cabin to hit the trail until 7:20. We stop for breakfast at about 8:20 and don't get going until 9:40. |
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We hike into Beaubien Camp and pass the staff cabin at 10:40. About 10 minutes later just before starting the descent down to Phillips Junction we meet up with Rich Goldman and the rest of 704-I-1 who are on their way into Beaubien on Trek 7. We arrived at Phillips Junction at 11:25 for commissary pickup and to water up. Adam still wasn't feeling well and wanted to go off the trail. Fortunately, Denis' tooth was not bothering him so he is planning to stick it out. The Commissary Director at PJ radioed into the Health Lodge about Adam. After a long wait, the Health Lodge's response was to take "two IB-hurtin's and call me in the morning" from Clear Creek (our next staffed camp on the trail). We ended up eating lunch and airing out some of the wet equipment -- like Adam's down sleeping bag!
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We finally got back on the trail at 1:44 PM. When we started out Adam was really complaining and at the back with Denis and I. We were getting frustrated with trying to keep him going so we finally told the crew to put him up front in the lead. That (and a bunch of candy he bought at the trading post at PJ) seemed to get him going. Later in the day he seemed to be doing much better. |
| Went to Crooked Creek for the Homesteading program. Since it was late and we didn't have much time we were only able to take the house tour. On the way back to the main trail, Nathan noticed that his camera was not on his belt. He and Blake dropped their packs and headed back to the camp to find it. Meanwhile, Denis and I waited for them by the packs and the rest of the crew as a little way ahead. After awhile, another crew came by and Denis and I grabbed the dropped packs which were almost in the trail and discovered the missing camera between the pack and the pack cover. Nathan and Blake arrived back two minutes later. |
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We arrived at Comanche Camp and camp went up quickly under threatening skies. Soon after it was up a brief thunderstorm cam through with virtually no effect. Dinner was cooked at a reasonable hour and clean up was done along with Thorns-and-Roses before dark. The lack of any significant precipitation (we no longer use four-lettered words) significantly improved the mood of the entire crew.
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