Philmont Hymn

2006-04-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

I've accepted a job as Ranger out at Philmont. I'll leave this post up so that if anyone is going out there they can drop their Crew number. Who knows, I may just have you!

2005-12-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

"The only things we keep permanently are those we give away."
-Waite Phillips

2005-12-09T00:13:00.000-08:00

Falling too fast

2005-12-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

"I Don't Mind"
By Peter Bingen

Well I am looking, I am searching, I have found
Near the ground, my soul, myself, beneath this trail.
There's no other place I'd rather be.
Can't you see me out here walkin' in the rain and hail.

Purpose of life seems to me
Not to take yourself too seriously.
I wouldn't want to be an old man sittin' in an office
Building someplace far away, with worry on my face.

Well you can take my car, my stereo, my little money.
Leave me with nothin’ but my trail family.
Take my dress up clothes, my cheap cologne,
My college loans I don't mind, I don't mind.

Well if that taxman comes lookin’ I'm at 10,000 feet
Cookin' up some oatmeal or some rice and beans.

I worship the Spirit who doesn't just look down
He looks up and through and all around,
Find Him in the rocks and trees. Cause there's no reason to pray
When you wake up every day to the sunrise over Cito Peak.

So find some ground lace up your boots start walkin'
And you will find reason, enough reason to believe.

Well you can drop your worries at the parking lot
Or way down in the city where the sun burns hot.
Although civilization is a nice place to visit,
I wouldn't want to live there.

Oh just one final paragraph of advice don't burn yourselves out.
Be as I am. It's not enough to fight for the land.
It's even more important to enjoy it while you can, while it's still here.

So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around.
Ramble out yonder explore the woods, encounter the grizz,
Climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers,
Breathe deep that yet sweet lucid air.

Sit quiet for awhile contemplate the precious stillness
That mystery and awesome space enjoy yourself.
Keep your brain in your head and your head attached to your body.
Body active and alive. And I promise you this much.

I promise you this one sweet victory, over our enemies.
Over those desk bound people with their hearts in a box
And their eyes hypnotized by calculators.
I promise you this one sweet victory...
YOU'LL OUTLIVE THE BASTARDS!

2005-12-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

Base Camp

2005-12-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

The Virginia Blog Carnival is up (I'm a Virginian). Check it out.

Today's bit is a Phil-quote by the big Phil himself, Waite Phillips.

A man can fail many times but isn't a total failure until he begins to blams someone else for his own deficiencies.

2005-12-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

Night Sky at Lovers Leap

2005-12-03T12:57:00.000-08:00

New Mexico Rain
by Michael Hearne

Smoke cuts the night, in this old campfire light
And I'm thinking, where I'd rather be
Maybe chasing senorita's, down in old Mexico
Or standing at the edge of the sea
If I had the money, well I'd tell ya honey
We'd be on that first plane to Spain
But as long as we're here, the answer is clear
We'll dance, in the New Mexico rain.

* CHORUS * variation # 1
New Mexico rain – It's hot down in Texas
New Mexico rain – Oh, and I call this my home
If I ain't happy here, – I ain't happy nowhere
New Mexico rain – When my mind starts to roam.

Oh the lights of the city, keep callin' my name
And you know, I've been through that before
It's just a giant hotel on a long four-lane street
With a checkout time on the door.
If I had the money, I'd tell ya honey
We'd be, on the New Delhi train
But as long as we're here, the answer is clear
We'll waltz in the New Mexico rain.

* CHORUS * variation # 2
New Mexico rain – Well It's hot down in Texas
New Mexico rain – I call this my home
If I ain't happy here, – Then I ain't happy nowhere
New Mexico rain – When my mind starts to roam.

I've been talkin' all day, with a man in town.
And he sure seems unhappy to me
He tells me he's going nowhere, he's goin' there fast
And he envy's this life that I lead
Oh, if I had the money, I'd tell ya honey
I'd keep him from goin' insane
You know there's one thing for sure, there just ain't no cure
Like a walk in the New Mexico rain.

* CHORUS * variation # 3
New Mexico rain – Ya, it's hot down in Texas
New Mexico rain – Oh and I call this my home
If I ain't happy here, – Then I ain't happy nowhere
New Mexico rain – When my mind starts to roam.
If I ain't happy here, – I ain't happy nowhere
New Mexico rain – When my mind starts to roam.

2005-12-02T07:28:00.000-08:00

Sunflower and the Tooth

2005-12-01T10:42:00.000-08:00

What's this post about? Well, I'm a former Philmont Ranger, class of 2003. I'm keeping up this blog in order to remember my memories of Philmont, in the hopes of keeping the fire of desire to return burning. It's been two summers since I worked there, and I've noticed the longing to go back has diminished as I've been tied up in worldly things.

I plan on continuing this blog, which will feature pictures from my time out there as well as thoughts, until I return. At that point, I will stop the blog because its mission will have been fulfilled.

With that, I leave the Philmont Hymn.

Silver on the sage,
Starlit skies above,
Aspen covered hills,
Country that I love.
Philmont Here's thee,
Scouting Paradise,
Out in God's country, tonight

Wind in whispering pines,
Eagles soaring high,
Purple mountains rise,
Against an azure sky.
Philmont here's to the,
Scouting Paradise,
Out in God's country Tonight.