Silver On the Sage

Rod Taylor, Eagle Scout and Texas native, worked full-time as a Philmont cowboy and Cattle Foreman for 34 years. Before that he trekked twice as a participant and worked seasonally for 5 summers.  Today he enjoys retirement and resides in Cimarron, NM.

2023 Philmont Wrangler Reunion website

Closing song by Jessica Seifert, Slim Uribe-Goertz, and Rod Taylor.

Philmont Experience:
1972 - Participant
1973 - Participant
1974 - PC French Henry
1975 - PC Beaubien
1976  - Wrangler Beaubien
1977 - Horseman Beaubien
1978 - Cavalcade Horseman
1983-2017 - Full-time Cowboy

Notable Mentions:
Patti Taylor
Steve Lewis
Carol Munch
Boss Sanchez
Bob Knox
Bob Rickleffs
Doug Johnson
Ben Sloan
Chope Phillips
Ben Vargas
Jane Munch
Chuck Enloe
Pep and Donna Archuleta
Hank Wiesscamp
Mollie Gruver
Margie Martinez
Joanne & Wiggs Martinez
Ry Taylor
Mason Taylor
Will Taylor
Jesse Martinez
Gene Schenell
Chris Hogan
Brian Thompson
Johnny Nelson
Doug Johnson
Jeremiah Johnson

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Christine (Salisbury) Sammons joins the show to discuss her nine summers working in the Ranger department, three of which she served as Philmont’s Chief Ranger. 

Show notes link: 2023 Wrangler Reunion

Philmont Experience:
2004 - Trek participant
2005 & 06 - Ranger
2007 & 08 - Ranger Trainer
2009 &10 - Associate Chief Ranger
2009 - Fall autumn guide
2010 - Fall autumn coordinator
2011 - 2013 - Chief Ranger
2014 - Outfitting Services Manager

Notable Mentions
Mark Anderson
Chris Sawyer
Kirstin Anderson
Jada Day 
Eric Martinez
Jenna Anderson

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Today Jason Maz joins the show.  We discuss everything from neurodivergence, native bee populations, and canoe portaging at Wilson Mesa to the challenges of the Rayado Trek Coordinator role and the operational processes that take place during a Philmont Search and Rescue.  Jason lives in the mountains of Vermont and works as a contracted ecologist, University educator, and economic pollination researcher. 

"Why We Run," featuring Bernd Heinrich

WATERMAN FUND ESSAY WINNER: Splitting Clouds at the Edge of the World: How Had I Never Noticed It Before? by Jason Mazurowski

Philmont Experience:
2011 - Ranger
2012 - Ranger trainer
2013 - Rayado trek coordinator
2014 - Assistant Chief Ranger (ACR)
2015 - ACR

Second seasons:
Autumn 2013 - Maintenance
Winter 2013/14 - Winter adventure guide
Autumn 2014 - Autumn adventure guide
Winter 2014/15 - Winter adventure coordinator

Notable Mentions:
Collin Bowser
Jason Contino
Andy Taylor
Eric Martinez
Bernd Heinrich
Mark Anderson

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As a city kid, Jack was initially apprehensive about trekking at Philmont and taking on true High Adventure. But in 2017, as an 18 year old on trek, they had the time of their life. Jack was deeply inspired by the music and the people, and simply could not believe a place like Philmont existed.
  
Today’s episode closes with Train song by the Metcalf 2022 staff, from their album titled “Sally No. 1 Pride and Glory.”

Photo credit: Marielle Scott

Philmont Experience:
2017 - Regular Trek Participant
2018 - TSI Crew/PC Beaubien
2020 - PC Pueblano (Covid, never was)
2021 - PC Pueblano
Fall 2021 - Forestry Crew (Injured, never was)
2022 - PC Metcalf Station
2023 - CD Urraca

Notable Mentions:
Ford Lee
Erin Duffy
Mary Laben
Kevin Dowling
Annie Anderson
Bonnie Miller
Paul French
Elliot Hoinbell
David O’Neill
George Birch
Steve Nelson
Garret Witherington

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Zak shares his love for Zastrow and contends that the role of Camp Director is the best job on the ranch.  And that Philmont is the perfect environment for growing young adults - where problem solving and self-sufficiency is demanded of you.
 
YouTube link to The Agitators - backcountry musical from Crater Lake 2011

Note: The drawing of Zak climbing a tree and pulling lightning from the sky -
The drawing was done by Brandon Thomas, who worked at Philmont in 2011.

Closing song: "All Men are my Brothers." Sung by Zak and Karl Sparks.

Philmont Experience:
2003 - Regular trek
2006 - Regular trek
2007 - PC Zastrow
2008 - PC Pueblano
2009 - PC Black Mountain
2010 - PC Pueblano
2011 - CD Crater Lake
2014 - PSA Staff Trek
2019 - PSA Staff Trek
2021 - PSA Staff Trek

Notable Mentions:
Tim Collver
Sarah Dunn-Rankin

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Seth discusses the Bonito Creek restoration project.  As the project lead and doctoral candidate, he explains the valley morphology of bonito creek and the timing and impacts of arroyo erosion in a wet meadow system.

Check out the official Philmont Wrangler Reunion website - where you can browse auction items, share photos, consider sponsorship contributions, and RSVP.  All Philmont staff are welcome to attend and participate. 

Philmont Experience
1998 - Trek Participant
2000 - Trek Advisor
2004 - PC Black Mountain
2005 - PC Miranda
2006 - CD Black Mountain, 15 Zulu fall maintenance
2007 - Work Crew Foreman, 15 Zulu fall maintenance
2008 - ADC Conservationists, Fall Conservation
2009 - PTC Winter Maintenance, ADC Ists, Fall Cons
2010 - ADC Ists, Fall Cons
2011 - Invasive Species
2012 - Field Manager
2019 - Conservation researcher
2020 - Conservation researcher
2021 - Stream Restoration Coordinator
2022 - Stream Restoration Coordinator

Notable Mentions:
Steve Wurtzel
Josh - CD Black 02
Bucko Cowden
Daniel Herrel "Beav"
Cory Peterson
Seth Schwartz
Arkansas
Lee Leatherwood
Michel Serio
John Celley
Rick Smith
Jim Kutz
John Vandreese
Jackie Clark
Martin Gibson
Justin Huffum
Matt Wagner
Allison Vinson Defrees
Stephen Senter
Michael Malchovitch
Josh Cook
Katie Cury
Casey Meyers
Mike Sudmeier
Mark Anderson
Karri Anderson
Rod Taylor

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Diana was among the first female seasonal staffers to work at Philmont in 1970’s.  She returned as the first ever female Protestant Chaplain in 2022.  For Diana and many of us, God lives in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. And going high into those mountains equates to total wellness of body, spirit, and mind. 

Philmont Experience:
1973 - CHQ Public Relations Administrative Assistant (first female summer staff at CHQ)
1974 - PTC Assistant Muchacha Director
1975 - PTC Muchacha Director
1990 - CHQ Dining Hall Manager
2022, 2023 - Protestant Chaplain (first woman Protestant Chaplain)

Notable Mentions:
Steve Loomis
Phil Loomis
Joe Davis
Betsy and John Roof
Kathy Leach
Nancy Wells
Carol Munch
Hannah Wilson
Steve Nelson
Roger Hoyt

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To fall in love at Philmont is a unique journey of it's own.  To celebrate Valentine's Day - husband and wife, Lee and Carly Scarbrough join the show to share their Philmont love story.

Check out Carly's Website here: www.cjcasper.com

Philmont Experience:

Lee
COPE 2014
PTC Fall 2014
PC Rich Cabins 2015
PTC Fall 2015
ACD Beaubien 2017
PTC Fall Coordinator 2017

Carly
PC Ring Place 2012
PC Ponil 2013
PC French 2014 (late arrival)
PC Cito 2015
ACD Ponil 2016
Autumn Adventure 2016
CD Clarks Fork 2017

Notable Mentions:
Jesse McCallon
Chris Watters
Stephen Alexander
Wally Wolanin
Kyle Sawyer
Sam & Whitney Anderson
Amy Braganini
Pete Bergone
Nate Lay
Carter Smith
Grant Reigelman

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Toph White shares some historical love for The Double H - a satellite BSA High Adventure Base that ran from 2004 - 2009 in Southwestern, NM.   At the Double H there were no designated trails, a staff of 60, and just one backcountry camp - the experiences were similar to Philmont, yet more austere and uniquely challenging. 

In part two of this episode, Toph praises the licensed Philmont Infirmary for its capabilities of care and highly qualified staff, in partnership with the University of Kansas Medical Center.  Today he is the Assistant Patrol Director for the Canyons Village, Park City Ski Patrol. 

Philmont Experience:
1996 - Participant
1998 - 18 year old Advisor
2000 - Activities Staff
2001 - Ranger
2002 - Mountain Trek Ranger
2004 - Phil-Break Participant
2004 - Double H Senior Guide
2005 - Double H CD Martin Camp
2006-2009 - Double H Program Director
2010-2016 - Infirmary Assistant Chief of Medical Support

Notable Mentions:
Andy Schmidt
Brian McCormick
Mark Anderson
Nate Lay
Chris Sawyer
Keith Galloway
John Celley
Ryan King
Dave Kopsa
Kevin Stickelman
Steve Parks
Christin Pickerillo
Eric Jimlink
Gavin Faulkner
Colfax Gazette
Roger Smith

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Today Ben Edmonds joins the show to discuss his staff experiences in the Philmont Maintenance and Conservation departments, as well as his career today as a Marine stewardship and monitoring specialist at The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary - including work with Mission: Iconic Reefs, large area image acquisition, and more.

Philmont Experience:
2005 & 2008 - Trek participant
2009 - Basecamp maintenance
2010 - Work Crew Papa
2013 - Work Crew Romeo
2014 - Work Crew Sierra Forman
2015 - Sea Base 

Notable Mentions
Wayne Baker
Juan
Rick
Old man Jim
Steve Gabriel
Matt Serio "Jersey"
Alice Paulding
Dawn Sally
Kim Ames
Giland "Gil" Dees
Zach Harris
Shannon Edwards
Mike Jack
Seth Eldridge
John Celley
Robert Fudge

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