Last month, 12 Boy Scouts and three troop leaders from Troop 489 of Hillsborough traveled to the Philmont Scout Reservation in the mountains of New Mexico. At 137,500 square acres, it is the largest Scout reservation in the world with about 1,200 staff members and 22,800 Scouts arriving every summer. Philmont also is operated as a ranch, containing a hefty number of burros, horses, cattle and bison.
The Scouts stopped at the University of Colorado for two days of acclimation, and then drove to New Mexico.
In 12 days, the Scouts experienced severe storms, unbelievable views and tremendous temperature ranges. The group covered more than 80 miles of hiking. On the trail, the Scouts dealt with potential dangers of mountain lions, bears, lightning storms or high altitudes.

