Byron Davis, an Eagle Scout with four palms, is a 2003 graduate of Georgetown High School. He is a freshman at the University of Dallas where he is a member of the cross country team. Byron is a Philmont veteran as he took part in backpacking treks in 1999 & 2002 and Kanik Adventures in 2000 & 2002. Byron plans to work at Philmont during the summer of 2004, hopefully as a Ranger.
According to the Philmont camping department, 361 individuals took part in the Cavalcade program this summer.
Other 625-CW youth crew members included David Ballard, Chris Hammack (Chaplain Aide), Meagan Henry, Drew Mahaffey, Ashley Clemens-Pavlovich, Chase Pavlovich, Jessica Pope, Shane Pope, Alison Smith and Carly Stevens (from Crew 157). Adult crew members were Brenda Clemens, Mark Pavlovich, Mitch Pope and Terri Smith.
The crew got their first choice of treks, #4A. They covered at least 46.8 miles. Listed below is where they camped each night.
June 25 Base Camp June 26 Base Camp (at Cattle HQ during the day) June 27 Abreu 7.1 miles June 28 Fish Camp 10.8 miles June 29 Fish Camp layover day June 30 Beaubien 8.0 miles July 1 Clark's Fork 14.3 miles July 2 Base Camp 6.6 miles
Day 2 found us waking up and messing around in front of our tents before and after breakfast, socializing and "bonding". We then hurried over to the corral to be assigned our horses learn how to tie them, clean them and saddle them again. We then left on a fun outing where we ate lunch at the lower base of Urraca Mesa. After everyone began to feel comfortable on their "brand spanking new" horse we headed in to camp to desaddle, feed the horses and put them up. We then went to dinner and had our shakedown where several arguments ensued over "necessary" gear. We then played a violent game of slaps and went to bed exhausted and ready to wake up chipper the next morning.
Not needing to bond and socialize on Day 3 we ate breakfast, checked out and headed to the corral with our gear in no time. Getting there early we got our horses fed, saddled and packed before it got too hot. We then were instructed by our Wrangler on the proper way to pack and tie a pack horse. Chico, Mr. Ed, and Honeybun were three of the coolest pack horses we had met at camp that day. (Being only nine in the morning they were the first.) We then headed out with the direction of Wrangler for Abreu. Eating lunch on the trail we arrived at Abreu right before dinner. A dinner which was an excellent taco salad/burrito/taco dinner whichever you had a preference for. After this we had a desert consisting of goat's milk (Byron drank his directly from the goat), root beer and an exciting game of catch the scared-out-of-its-mind chicklet. After this we stayed up and told stories and talked and finally went to bed.
The sun on day 4 woke us up right on schedule. The pack horses were retrieved by some early birds while everyone else dragged themselves out of bed and broke camp. The early birds were however surprised to find the pack horses not saddled at the agreed upon time. Blowing this off, the first-class crew saddled up and headed out for Crater Lake for some fun climbing up wooden poles. Everyone that participated had a delightful experience. After this we ate lunch, shared some outrageous laughs and mounted up. Finally arriving at our destination, Fish Camp, we unsaddled our horses fed them and made our way to the lodge to check in. Dinner brought us three bean chili which everyone ate hefty portions of (actually no one really ate a whole lot so Byron and Drew ended up eating about 2 1/2 bags so as not to fill up a yum, yum bag.) This brought out interesting evening activities such as tackle Frisbee and supreme Frisbee. That night we got to hear the history of the lodge, some bear stories and got the chance for a detailed tour of the lodge in the blackness of night.
Not departing from Fish Camp on day 5 we didn't let the sun wake us up and slept lazily. We then tied flies and learned the steps in casting a fly rod. After much practice we were ready to hit the waters. Mrs. Smith reeled in the only prize for the day but a lot of us had fun. We then headed out to our conservation project, trout habitation rehabilitation. Our Cons guys were the best and we learned a lot from the experience. Some of the various projects that people took upon themselves were rock flinging, shoveling dirt, moving dirt and a potpourri of other odd jobs. After this we played in the rain and made our way back to camp to be pelted by hail. At camp we devoured dinner and continued our extravagant game of tackle Frisbee.
We assimilated together on day 6 to depart for Beaubien with a layover at Phillips Junction. We ate breakfast up at Phillips then retrieved our new assortment of delicious foods for the remainder of the expedition. After this we made our way up to Beaubien where we enjoyed roping, horseshoes, playing Frisbee, hackey sacking, Spades, talking, laughing and just blowing all of our time. After some excellent meals we tucked it in early so we could get up bright and chipper the next morning.
Darkness found us wandering around aimlessly at 2:30 a.m. on day 7. We eventually go the pack horses packed and saddled up to head out to Cypher's Mine. Arriving here we took a tour of the cave and listened to a completely "riveting" discussion about how we know when the dinosaurs died. After this we packed up and shipped out towards Clark's Fork. Upon arriving at the Hunting Lodge though "Special Ed" (Originally Mr. Ed but quickly got renamed after this incident.) freaked out and dropped his load and started bucking. The quick thinking witty crew leader, not wanting to be mashed to a pulp by this renegade pack horse as it headed his way, leapt off of his saddle into a tree above him, conveniently safe from the fray.
After this our magnificent Wrangler galloped off into the sunset after the rebel pony lassoed him and rode heroically pack to the hunting lodge horse in hand. After sitting in the rain for awhile, we rigged the saddle so it was useable and headed off to finish our trek to Clark's Fork. Arriving there we quickly went to the chuckwagon dinner and campfire which was amazing.
Finishing off a wonderful Cavalcade on day 8, we packed up and headed back to camp. After passing a herd of elk we arrived in camp, checked in, showered off and got all of the logistical stuff done. We then ate lunch at the incomparable dining hall. We then competed in the Gymkhana which was a magnificent show. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Drew and Meagan rolled in the awards for CW. Overall CW won the steer herding contest. After this suffering from long term memory loss the author has no recollection of the events that took place.
(Note: Byron's memory loss was that our other crew of younger Scouts, 625-CV, won all of the other Gymkhana events. That's because they had better horses, right Drew?)
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