Larry Goldsmith's 1998 Philmont Journal
July 10, 1998: Day 7 - Comanche Camp to Comanche Peak Camp
| We were the first crew into Clear Creek
at 8:50! We were given a camp site so we would be able to cook our dinner at lunch time as
we were headed for a dry camp tonight. We then did program of blackpowder rifle, tomahawk
throwing, and the trapper's cabin tour and talk. We had a few problems with our sister crew during blackpowder. We were especially upset to hear that their advisors were back at the camp site and cooking the crews' lunch. Denis had a talk with one of them to let them know that we were disappointed with the crew's Scout Manners as well as their actions as advisors. |
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We cooked our lunch of macaroni and cheese. After cleaning up and watering up, we hit the trail about 2:05PM. The trail from Clear Creek up to Mt. Phillips was as bad as I remembered it when I came down it in 1996. I was really sucking wind up the trail. As my 1996 co-advisor, Bob Greeley, would say, "There is no oxygen about 10,000 feet." We went into the caterpillar for a good portion of the way and were able to keep a pace going with an occasional need to break -- usually when I called it! I guess I need to do high altitude training for 2000! Dave Thomas carried one of my water bottles up the second half as I was carrying about 4.5 liters of water. |
We reached the top of Phillips at 3:53PM -- 11,741 feet! I claimed to the crew that I was the first one to the top because I found the VABM marker first. We took a number of crew pictures at the top and headed out. There were a number of dark clouds going over and we were more than a little concerned about a thunderstorm suddenly starting.
Crew on Top of Phillips 
Advisors at Phillips VABM
We made it over Comanche Peak to Comanche Peak Camp by 5:15 with a great sense of accomplishment. By 6 we were sitting down to a dinner of squeeze cheese, crackers, and Oreos. The crew even had hot water ready for the Advisors.
After dinner we Denis and I "hosted" an Advisors' Coffee for the crew. We shared stories before doing Thorns and Roses, a brief religious service, and closed with the Philmont Hymn. The guys have even started to sing the Philmont Hymn on the trail during the day!
For the Advisors' Coffee, I broke out a one pound bag of Twizzlers that I had been carrying. And then I shared my story of why I chose the trail name of "Survivor Spice" as the Spice trail name. I am a cancer survivor. In 1984 at age 37, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. This disease usually occurs in men from age 18 to 35 which was an important reason to share the story with the Scouts. I then had reoccurrences in 1990, 1992, and 1993. During early 1994, at age 46, I was told by my doctors that my chances of reaching age 50 were less than 10%. Sitting with the crew tonight, I am 6 weeks short of age 51. To me being here is a real accomplishment.
It was very gratifying during Thorns and Roses when Blake said that his Rose for the day was hearing my story; having him feel that way became my Rose for the day.
