It is well worth attending the course at Philmont, especially since you are within driving distance. First, you get a small experience of an actual Philmont trek. Go through pack shakedown with rangers, load up your pack, be driven to a turnaround, then hike on actual Philmont trails to do training at an actual Philmont backcountry camp. Usually it is the Lover's Leap camp. Trek group stops at Lover's Leap. (Look it up.) You have to be there to experience it. Our group had ten scouters during our PSR-PASS weekend. Finish up the evening sitting around a campfire talking about Philmont and Scouting with other Scouters at Philmont.
Three day training goes through everything your crew will do during the first three days at Philmont. You will go through every area of the Camping Headquarters: Welcome center, logistics, equipment warehouses, food pickup, storage, post office, etc. Meet with the head of the infirmary and tour it, gaining an understanding of what happens if there is a medical issue while at Philmont. Great information to give your parents to let them know how their kids will be cared for. You will be familiar with what your crew does once you arrive at Philmont.
On the trail you eat Philmont trek food. You get to experience what it is like when you take the entire crew. Philmont cooking methods, cleanup, sump use. Also have to follow all Bear procedures to keep your group safe. Establish Bearmuda Triangle. Experience Philmont temperature changes.
Sleep in Philmont tents. Crew splits up crew gear.
Directly interact with two Philmont rangers continuously from Friday until Monday morning who give their perspective on what it takes to get a crew ready for a trek. They share their experiences on the trail with various crews during the past summer. They share their love of Philmont -- while at Philmont with you on the trail in a relaxed atmosphere.
Bear Bags - how can you really experience this unless you are there at the campsite going through the difficulty of actually putting up the bags. Took our group over an hour which is a similar experience to what the boys get to experience.
Experience altitude adjustment at 6,500 feet and what it feels like with loaded pack heading out on the trail.
My PASS group had Scouters from around the US getting ready for their treks the next year, Colorado, New York, Illinois, Hawaii. Everyone shared their own concerns.
When we departed on Monday, it felt like we had gone on a Philmont Trek and I was familiar on what to expect when my troop came again the next summer.
And, we finished up getting to meet the Philmont Director and having him talk to us over dinner about Philmont and its operations for two hours.
Can't say it enough. It's a great experience, and it cannot be duplicated locally. Anything to get your Crew prepared for Philmont is worth it.
And did I say you are in New Mexico, get to see the Range Lands, experience heading into the mountains, see Ponderosa Pines, flying Eagles, Urraca Mesa. Get a picture in front of the Tooth of Time, see Mt. Baldy in the distance, etc.
