Philmont Cavalcade Crew Gear

We got back from our Cavalcade a week ago. What a great trip! I had asked for suggestions regarding gear before going since the equipment list for Cavalcades is different from that for backpacking expeditions. Here are some thoughts on Cavalcade crew gear now that I've been there:

• Before leaving home everyone practiced packing all their personal gear into the 12" by 22" stuff sack that we received from Philmont. Not much room to spare! Having sleeping bags that will compress small is a must (about half our crew ordered Clearwater mummy bags with compression sacks from ScoutDirect.com). Found out at Philmont that the second largest item to be packed, our polar fleece jackets, are rolled up in the Philmont provided rain slickers and tied to the saddle bags behind the saddle. We had a good bit more room in the stuff sacks than we expected without the jackets.


• An optional item on the personal gear list is rainpants. Our wrangler and horseman were surprised these were on the list since they didn't want these worn on the horses (they tend to spook the horses and to tear against trees and bushes while on horseback). Take them anyway since you might need them when you aren't on horseback.


• The gear list has you take a single pair of western riding jeans - also take a pair of shorts or zip-pants to wear in the evenings or for dayhiking on the one trail day when you don't ride.


• Still not sure why the equipment list specified 50 ft. of nylon rope since they provided a bearbag rope. Not knowing what they wanted we took some heavy rope and some clothesline thick cord. We ended up leaving the big rope in our locker and taking the smaller line and a couple of carabiners (not on the list) for our oops-bag.


• We took a water filter but never used it. We only used Micro-Pur tablets the one night we stayed in a trail camp (Bonita Cow Camp). Most Cavalcade treks stay in staffed camps for all but one night and usually pass through a staffed camp each day so purified water is plentiful. I'd still take the filter but not more than one. Oh yeah, take nalgenes and not camelbacks - they don't allow the camelbacks when you are on horseback.


• Following the gear list we took two 2.5 gallon water jugs. We didn't need them but did use them for convenience at Clarks Fork since our campsite was not close to a spicket. We left them by the fire ring when we left the next morning for our dayhike to rock climb at Cito and lunch at Window Rock. Would you believe mini-bears chewed a hole in each one? Other than cleaning them before the trip that was the only time they were ever used so I know that there wasn't any flavor residue in them.


• Although you wear long sleeve shirts and jeans on a Cavalcade, sunburn is still a problem. The back of your rein hand is likely to get burned along with your face, ears and neck (the helmets don't provide much protection). A small tube or stick of sunscreen is all you need for these areas. I gave every crew member a large cowboy bandana the night before we hit the trail. Most everyone tied them around their necks to block the sun (and to help get that cowboy look). Stuff a hat or cap in your saddlebag for when you stop.


• Cavalcade crews don't check out crew gear in base camp, the wranglers and horseman have all the necessary gear including tents,stoves and fuel bottles at Cattle Headquarters (for southern itineraries) or at Ponil (for northern itineraries). [You do need to take stakes and ground covers for tents]. However, when you load the pack horses the first time make sure they include everything you need. Our wrangler and horseman forgot to take a dining fly - thank goodness it didn't rain the first night - so they arranged to pick one up on the second trail day. You might consider bringing one trowel from home since they didn't have one for us and Bonita Cow Camp had no latrine.

  I realize now that we packed our Philmont tents without first inspecting them. We took them out of their bags and rerolled them with the plastic ground cloths and stakes we had brought before putting them on the pack horses. Backpacking crews actually hang their tents up and inspect them in base camp. Maybe the wrangler and horseman checked them before we got there - I didn't ask but you might want to or do your own inspection. Otherwise you might find yourself on the trail with a torn tent or missing a pole.



• Don't forget to take two or three small daypacks to carry your lunches, extra water and first aid kit when you take your dayhike.


• Also, while the gear list specifies "lightweight sneakers or tennis shoes", be sure they are sufficient for your dayhiking. We had one scout substitute water shoes for his sneakers after our last gear check - he didn't enjoy the day hike as much as the rest of us did!


• Don't leave out the sewing kit. With just one pair of jeans you might need it. We had to stitch the first aid kit where it tore while tied onto the pack horse (they tie it on top of the tarp so you can get to it) and also had some boots seams split that needed repair.


• Pack all your gear in ziplock bags inside your stuff sack since it isn't waterproof. You might also want to take a garbage bag so you can cover your stuff sack at night under the dining fly.


• We gave everyone in the crew a mesh bag (sold for washing delicates) to store their bowl, spoon and cup. They were 3 for a buck at the dollar store and do a good job keeping everyone's vittle gear organized in camp and in the saddle bag.


• Have your scouts practice their basic knots before going. They will need to tie two half hitches to finish off the diamond hitch on the pack horses, will use square knots to lash their rain slicker to the saddle bag and will need the taunt-line hitch to adjust the guy lines if using a Philmont tent or dining fly.

• Selden's Philmont,
• High Adventure and
• Scouting Web Pages

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This Web page is maintained by Selden Ball at Wilson Lab.
Please send any comments or corrections to seb@lepp.cornell.edu