Yes, there really are bears at Philmont, and yes, many crews get to see them. Bears routinely come into campsites at night when you are asleep, but if you follow the rules about "smellables" and bear bags, they just pass through your camp. If you or your crew does anything to try to attract bears into your campsite, Philmont makes you leave the backcountry and sends you home.  Bears that have gotten a chance to eat human food because of camper mistakes are killed. That's where they get the expression, "a fed bear is a dead bear."

 

Yes, people really get hit by lightening at Philmont if they don't take precautions during storms. One of the most dangerous places to be during a storm is on a mountain peak, and hikers need to pay attention to a storm's progress so they aren't caught unprepared.  On July 30, 2007, eleven hikers were injured by lightening during a storm that hit Baldy Mountain, requiring ranger Search and Rescue crews to be dispatched to their aid.

 

Yes, the Council Contingent Leader will support a lead advisor's decision to remove crew members  - youth or adult - from a Philmont crew for being unprepared, overweight, uncooperative, missing shakedowns, or any other criteria that your unit has chosen.  Don't let this happen to you!