PHILMONT CREW GEAR LIST

(PP) Provided by Philmont if needed
(BB) Must be stored in bear bag overnight

ITEM

COMMENTS

backpacking tents (PP)

Philmont will provide 2-man tents (about 5.5 pounds) if needed. You DO NOT have to use Philmont's tents. We recommend using your own tents because you will be familiar with them, and your tents will probably be MUCH lighter than Philmont's tents. Philmont requires that ALL campers must have tents.

backpacking tent ground cloths

If using Philmont tents, cut ground cloth 5'6"x7'6". If using your own tents, cut to fit your tents. Cut and tuck ground cloths so that none of the cloth is sticking out from under the tent.

backpacking tent stakes

Philmont DOES NOT PROVIDE these stakes. Philmont tents require 18 stakes to stake out "properly" - 9 stakes per Scout. If using your own tents, bring needed stakes. It's amazing how many crews get to Philmont having forgotten their tent stakes.

12'x12' nylon dining fly (PP)

The crew fly is no longer an option. Each crew is required to carry a fly. Philmont will provide if needed. The fly provided by Philmont weighs about 4 pounds and is "pre-strung." We use the Kelty Noah's Tarp 12 or similar - half the weight and more set up options.

dining fly poles (PP)

Philmont will provide 2 collapsible poles (about 1 pound total) if needed. Most crews use hiking sticks or trekking poles for their crew fly poles and leave Philmont's poles at base camp.

dining fly tent stakes

It will take anywhere from 6 to 10 stakes to stake down the crew fly depending on fly set-up. Philmont DOES NOT PROVIDE these stakes.

crew equipment tarp

Cut a piece of plastic 6'x8' to use under the fly or near the sump to set dry equipment on when the ground is wet/muddy. Provides a dry seat under the fly in rain storms.

bear bags (PP)

Provided by Philmont if needed. We use custom bear bags made of cordura nylon with drawstring closures and carabineer loops.

bear bag rope (PP)

Philmont provides two 150' of 1/4" nylon rope (weighs about 2.5 pounds each). For 2005 we used 700# test parachute cord for our bear ropes. Philmont would not allow us to tie the parachute cord to the trees, so we used a 10' piece of Philmont bear rope with two permanent bowlines as anchor points for the parachute cord. This configuration saved us about 3.5 pounds in weight.

crew cook kit (PP)

2 8-qt pots

2 8-qt pot lids

2 8-qt pot cozies

12 small turkey bags

1 8qt pot, 1 4qt pot, and 1 fry pan with handle provided by Philmont if needed. If you use Philmont's pots, be sure to clean them well every day, or you will spend an hour at base camp cleaning them before they will take them back. Using your own cooking gear helps with gear check-out and check-in. Crews can get by with 2 large pots and the fry pan (used as a lid only) if food is mixed. Bring along the third large pot if you don't mix your food. 4 pots are too much for most crews.

Note on our cooking equipment and procedures for our 2005 Philmont treks.

Each crew carried 2 8-qt pots with lids and pot cozies (see www.antigravitygear.com for an explanation of a pot cozy - we made our own custom cozies - see our how-to page here). We used a modified "turkey bag cooking" method with these pots, cutting our KP time to about 5 minutes per evening. Unlike Philmont's current teaching, we DO wash everything every night.

Our process: In the "wet" pot, we would boil about 6 or 7 quarts of water. While the water was on to boil, the cooks would line the "dry" pot with a small turkey bag (dry pot was already in its pot cozy). The cooks then placed the dry ingredients (minus any mashed potatoes - those were mixed in our personal bowls) into the turkey bag. Once the water in the wet pot was boiling, the wet pot was removed from the stove and immediately placed into its pot cozy. The cooks would then measure the amount of water needed for the meal from the wet pot and put that water into the turkey bag in the dry pot. The meal was allowed to re-hydrate for at least 10 minutes then we blessed the meal and ate.

The remaining water in the wet pot remained extremely hot when the pot was placed in its pot cozy. The remaining hot water was used for KP.

KP consisted of removing the turkey bag from the dry pot (it became the evening meal's yum-yum bag), placing about 2 inches of water in the dry pot along with 2 drops of CampSuds, washing all personal gear (after personal sumping), washing the dry pot, then using the remaining hot water to rinse.

One other note: On future treks, Philmont or otherwise, instead of each person carrying personal eating gear, we will carry lexan bowls and spoons as crew gear in a mesh ditty bag. This will allow the gear to be ready and available immediately when time to sanitize. Also, the KP crew will do a good job on all of the items, because they don't know which one they will be eating from the next meal.

crew utensil kit (PP)

2 large spoons

1 pair hot pot tongs

2 one-cup measuring cups

Philmont will provide 2 spoons, 1 spatula, and 2 pair hot pot tongs. If crew members use a measuring cup as personal gear, leave the measuring cups out. Leave the spatula and 1 pair of hot pot tongs at base camp.

crew eating gear

lexan bowls for entire crew

lexan soup spoons for entire crew

mesh ditty bag to store bowls and spoons

Incorporating personal eating gear into crew gear gives the advantages of having all eating gear together quickly for sterilization once the dinner water is boiling and quicker KP and storing after KP is completed. Since all bowls and spoons are identical, the crew can "grab and go" for eating.

spice kit containing: (BB)

1 "spice wheel" - 6 spices packaged together

1 small set salt & pepper

1 medium bottle green Tobasco

1 medium bottle red tobasco

1 small container Cajun seasoning

1 small container Greek seasoning

Philmont food has gotten dramatically better over time, but extra spice is still needed. DO NOT add seasoning to the food in the pot. Allow each crew member to season their own food in their bowls. Double bag all spices, and then double bag the entire kit. This is one BIG smellable mess if not taken care of properly.

2 backpacking stoves

Recommend white fuel stoves. White fuel can be purchased in the back country at commissaries. Containerized fuel may or may not be available in the back country. Clean and re-build your stoves just before your treks to ensure their functionality.

fuel containers (BB)

Use either aluminum or Nalgene plastic bottles to store liquid fuels. All containerized-fuel cans must be carried out. Fuel must be stored either by the sump or in the bear bags overnight.

felt fuel filter (BB)

Use a 4"x4" piece of heavy felt to filter fuel purchased in the back country. Their fuel is notoriously dirty. Store filter in its own zip-lock bag. Store at sump or bear bag overnight.

2 2&1/2 gallon water containers

Used to collect and treat water once the crew has arrived at camp. This water is used for cooking, clean-up, and filling canteens before bedtime.

crew cleaning kit (PP)

1 2oz. bottle of Camp Suds (BB)

1 small bottle hand sanitizer (BB)

Frisbee colander

rubber spatula

2 Scotchbrite pads (cut into 1"x1" squares)

The Camp Suds provided is enough for the entire crew to wash dishes for 10 days. A little goes a LONG way. Be sure to cut up the Scotchbrite pads when you receive them - allows the pads to be used only as needed. The Frisbee and rubber spatula should be double bagged in zip-locks when in packs and stored by the sump at night.

first aid kit - injuries & blisters (BB)

2 sheets moleskin per crew member

20 1" wide flexible fabric Band-Aids

small role 1/4" wide waterproof tape

6 4"x4" sterile gauze pads

small tube NeoSporin ointment

nail clippers

tweezers

Customize as desired. Each crew member is to turn in one package of moleskin before the trek. Carry this kit in double bagged zip-lock bags.

first aid kit - medications (BB)
(no prescription medications)

#30 Acetaminophen 500mg tablets

#30 Ibuprofen 200mg tablets

1 roll Roll-Aids, Tums, etc.

#20 Imodium 2mg tablets

#20 Pepto-Bismol tablets

small tube 1% hydrocortisone cream

Customize as desired. Carry this kit in double bagged zip-lock bags.

2 "tool kits" - each containing:

small Bic lighter	small roll electrical tape
small knife/Leatherman	small roll duct tape
pins & rings for external-frame backpacks	50 feet waxed cord (sewing) & large sewing needle
whistle	large safety pins
plastic tie straps	replacement hip belt buckle

Customize as desired. Make small rolls of tape by wrapping tape around a drink straw. Be sure to include BRAND NEW lighters. Use electrical tape to re-seal food bags if you "strip" your food bags at food pick-up of food you will not eat (why carry it?).

latrine kit

2 rolls toilet paper (PP)

2 to 3 80-count containers FLUSHABLE wipes (BB)

small camp shovel (PP)

Unless you trek in the Valle Vidal, you should not have to dig cat holes. Philmont will provide more toilet paper at staffed camps and commissaries as needed. Number of flushable wipes depends on crew size. Use the flushable wipes to clean hands before cooking and to clean up face and body. Wipes MUST be flushable in order to go into the latrines. If not flushable, they must be packed out!

3 personal cleanliness kits (BB) - each containing:

1 1oz. bottle of Camp Suds

1 travel size tube of toothpaste

Hold one kit in reserve. Customize as desired. You can substitute a small bottle of liquid soap and shampoo for the Camp Suds. Double bag all liquid items.

2 lotions kits (BB) - each containing:

1 small bottle sunscreen (SPF 30)

1 small bottle 100% DEET bug repellant

Hold one kit in reserve. Customize as desired. Double bag all liquid items.

water purification equipment

Micro Pure tablets (PP)

water filters

Philmont provides Micro Pure tablets for the entire crew. You MUST keep the aluminum sleeves that the Micro Pure is dispensed in or your crew will be charged $5.00 for each missing sleeve. The Micro Pure is very expensive and Philmont does not want any extras to go home with the crew. 2 water filters per crew are also recommended. Polar Pure is not enough for some of Philmont's water.

(PP) Provided by Philmont if needed
(BB) Must be stored in bear bag overnight