Silver On the Sage

Welcome to a special celebration episode to commemorate year 3 of Silver On the Sage Podcast!  A big thank you to everyone who interviews, listens, and supports the show. If you're a weekly or monthly listener, consider donating to the show!

 Ways to Donate:
*Become a monthly contributor: Patreon

*One time donation: Venmo @Caitlin-Lowe-87714 or Podfan

*Donate and enjoy: Silver On the Sage podcast Coffee Mug!

*Donate and admire: Original podcast logo block print

*Donate and listen: The Calico Stray album

All donations go towards keeping Silver On the Sage Podcast alive - so the impact and oral history of our time at Philmont can be shared and preserved.   

Today, Tim Borden and Evan Coombs join the show from Portland, Oregon, where they've met up to participate in an old-time gathering and reminisce about Philmont. In this three part episode, we kick it off with Philmont anecdotes, then focus on the boy's experience through hiking the Appalachian Trail, and wrap it up with an insightful discussion about old time music. 

All roads lead to Philmont.

Philmont Experience
Evan Coombs
2002 - PTC participant
2005 - Trek participant
2009 - PC Ponil
2010 - PC Crater Lake
2011 - PC Clear Creek
2012 - PC Pueblano / Fall CHQ Maintenance

Tim Borden
2009 & 2010 - Ranger
2011 - PC Pueblano / Autumn guide
2012 - CD Pueblano / Fall CHQ Maintenance

Notable Mentions:
Mark Emde
Tim Collver
David Burchfield
Peter Weber
Michael Henneberry 
Brenden and Lela Best
Blake Jones
John Lauber
Tristan Wagner
Tobasco Donkey's
Jimmy Lowe
Steve Nelson
Tim Collver
Chris Sawyer
Ben Hoffman
Ellyn Washburne
Jessica Seifert "Red"
Austin St. George
Chris Trepky
Mark Lockridge
Travis Payne
Travis Scherschel
Flume Canyon Boys
Josh Stanard
Art Woodard
Mary Jo Standard
Blayne Woods
Iron John Logan 
Brendon Best

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Today, dedicated, life-long cowboy Chuck Enloe joins the show. Chuck has been working at Philmont seasonally and full-time for a combined total of 40 years.  He’s also worked at prominent Northern New Mexico ranches including the Moore Ranch and UU Bar.  Chuck is currently the Livestock Foreman for Philmont’s Ranch Department, and has been full-time in the department since 2002.  We discuss the year-round work of the department, which of course is necessary to maintain Philmont’s standing as a working cattle ranch - all the while providing participants with memorable ranch experiences in the summertime.

Philmont Experience:
1968, 69, 70 - Philmont trek
1971 - Dining Hall Staff
1972 - Wrangler
1975 - Wrangler
1976-1980 - Horsemen at Ponil
1983 - Cavalcade Horseman
1992, 1999, 2000, 2001 - Ponil Horseman
1995 - 2002 - Fence Crew Full-Time
2002 - 2019 - Ranch Department staff
2019 - Present - Livestock Foreman

Photo: La Grulla Cow Camp, 1984 with Snip and Lefty.

Notable Mentions
Jim Foster
Doug Johnson
Danny Salone
Alice Moore
Joe Montoya
Bob Knox
Rod & Patti Taylor
Ben Vargas
Bob Ricklefs
Jessica Siefert
Leroy Webb
Lee Bass
Chris Cocha
Jeremy Spivey
Brian Hobrock
Dr. John Alexander
Bart Rayer
Carrie Anderson

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Today, Ashley Olson, E-Commerce Manager for the Tooth of Time Traders (ToTT) joins the show.  We discuss her seasonal summers in Activities, where she fell in love with the Welcome Center and the role of being the first to greet crews upon their arrival at Philmont.  As an impressively productive retail store with six backcountry satellite operations - we discuss the ToTT's history and goals for the future. Ashley shares her passion for seasonal staff, the intentional training and team bonding that takes place each summer, as well as coaching her personal trademark of Legendary Customer Service.

From placing purchase orders, receiving and stocking to website, social media, and custom crew gear - the ToTT really does it all!

Philmont Experience
2005 - Activities staff
2006 - Activities Tent City Manager
2008 - Activities Assistant Manager
2009 - Activities Assistant Manager
2021 April - E-Commerce Manager Tooth of Time Traders fulltime

Notable Mentions:
Erica
Betty Pacheco
Will Taylor
Ry Taylor
Mathias Olson
Luke Teske
Shelley O'Neill
David O'Neill

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Former Philmont Comptroller, General Manager, and Director of BSA High Adventure Division,  John Clark discusses what goes on behind the curtain. John has been involved in Scouting since 1967, and made it known early on in his professional BSA career that he wanted to dedicate his work to the High Adventure programs - and he did just that.

We chat about the business side of Philmont and Philmont’s relationship to the National BSA office.  We discuss the history and business details of the Chase Ranch and Cimarroncita, both of which were properties that John helped Philmont acquire during his tenure. 

Today John stays connected to the Cimarron and Philmont communities, and is the President of the Chase Ranch Foundation. 

Philmont Experience:
1983 - PTC participant
1985, 1986, 1987 - Led a Autumn Adventure Council
1988  - 2001- PTC Participant and/or Instructor
2002 - 2005 Comptroller for Philmont
2005 - 2009 Comptroller of the High Adventure Division
2009 - 2015 General Manager of Philmont/ Director of the High Adventure Division Today - President of the Chase Ranch Foundation

Notable Mentions:
Mark Anderson
Shelley O'Neill
John Greene
Roger Hoyt
Kevin Dowling
Keith Galloway
Doug Palmer
Linda Johnson

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Today Bob Mosher, current Executive Director of the Philmont Staff Association, joins the show. Bob worked seasonally at Philmont for 10 summers, 2  autumns, and 4 winters.  In this episode we discuss an array of topics including the importance of the Camp Director role, the origins of the Roving Prospector position, the year of the Donald Duck orange juice themed Phil-fiesta, the infamous Pizza Hut challenge, and more. The second half of the conversation we focus on upcoming PSA events, namely the 50th anniversary homecoming happening this July, 2023.   

Philmont Experience:
92 Trek participant
93 Activities Staff
97 Activities Assistant Manager
98 Kanik Guide
98 Activities Manager
98 Kanik Asst Coordinator
99 CD Ring Place
99 Autumn Adventure Guide
00 Kanik Asst Coordinator
00 CD Cyphers Mine
00 Autumn Adventure Guide
01 Kanik Asst Coordinator
01 Roving Prospector
02 Interpretive Programs Coach
04 Backcountry Manager
05 Backcountry Manager
09 CD Cimarroncito

Notable Mentions
Dean Tooley
Steve Willis
Trish Daily Siefert
Troy Phillips
Austin
Mark Anderson
Linda Anderson
Doug Palmer
Bill Spice 
David O'Neill
Bob Rickleffs
Rod Taylor
Derek Gotlieb 
Chris Swain
Tobasco Donkeys
Larry McLaughlin
Nancy Coleman Stickelman
John Seim
Nate Lay
Kevin Stickelman
Liz Harper
Shayla Ridgway
Danny
Cory Younts
Tennessee Boys

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Today's holiday episode will focus on the cultural heritage of the holidays in Northern New Mexico, as well as holiday traditions specific to Philmont and Philmont staff.

History - National Park Service Article: Luminaria Traditions

Story book passage -“The Farolitos of Christmas,” by Rudolfo Anaya.

Holiday intro tune - "Christmas Confluence" by Dylan McDermott

Photograph - Diana Loomis from Light Among the Ruins at Jemez Pueblo Historic Ruins. 

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Today's 100th episode brings David GD Werhane to the show. For nearly 11 years, Dave has been living in Cimarron with his family and working full-time as the Philmont Museums Director. He kicks it off discussing his infamous nickname and memories of hiking Philmont's trails as a participant in 1981 and 83. Reflecting on Dave’s seasonal staff experience in Food Service, backcountry interp, and Health Lodge - the conversation is dynamic, forthcoming, and sprinkled with nuggets of insight and gratitude.  Lastly, he takes us behind the scenes, discussing his role as the primary director of not only Philmont’s historical archives, but those of the BSA too.
 
Philmont Experience:
1981- Trek, itinerary 23
1983- Rayado Men's program
1984- CHQ food service
1985- PC Miranda
1986- PC Pueblano
1987- PC Black Mountain
1988- PC/Blacksmith at Kit Carson
1989 -PC/Blacksmith at Kit Carson

1990 - Autumn - Independent contractor: La Postita restoration
1991 - Winter - Kanik guide/equipment specialist
1991 - Summer – Health Lodge driver and EMT
1992 - Winter - Kanik guide/equipment specialist/EMT

February of 2012 - Philmont Museums Director

Notable Mentions:
Keith Walters
Chuck Enloe
Rod Taylor
Mark Anderson
Steve Rick
Berny David Plough
Joe Joe Morrison
Ralph Russel
RT Taylor aka Brad Johnson
Steve Zimmer
Dean Tooley
Doug Palmer
Cliff Waygee
Dave Stone
Joe Davis
Tony Gerard "Snake"
Willy Hitson
Dave Bates
Dave Kenneke
Lucy Brazil
Jim Johnson
John White

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Philmont Scout Ranch staff are familiar with the notion of “other duties as assigned,” and the lack of "normal business hours," during the summer season.  This is especially the case for one department in particular - Logistics.  Today, Sid Covington joins the show.  Sid worked as Philmont’s logistics manager for several summers, among other positions at the Ranch.

Sid discusses the main functions of Logistics including: Trip planning, Transportation scheduling, and Radio room communications. We chat about several improvements Sid spearheaded during his time on staff including: the refined creation of the Crew Leader copy, added accuracy to Philmont’s participant tracking system, reworking the first day arrival process for crews, streamlining NCAP prep and scheduling, and most recently - the creation of the Guidebook to Adventure: Advisors edition. 

Notable Mentions:
Irene Mutz
Bruce Walcott
Frank Reigleman
Mark Anderson
Doug Palmer
Shelley O'Neil
Larry McLaughlin
Julie Phillips 
Dwight Stein
Dave Plumb
John Clark
Marianne Graham
Elder Wilson
Cory/Fred Davison
Steve Nelson
Shelley O'Neil
Johnathan Lozon
Tom Guingi
Mike Doughty
Julie Vigil
Tim Roessisen
John VanDreese
David O'Neill

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Bob is well known at the ranch and in Northern New Mexico for his work with livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.  He worked at Philmont seasonally for 6 summers and full-time for 44 years. The majority of this full-time career was spent as Philmont’s Ranch Superintendent. 

In this episode, Bob focuses on the history of Philmont’s bear policies and procedures, in conjunction with New Mexico Game and Fish law.  In 1986, several serious bear attacks occurred at Philmont.  These attacks set into motion the need for more defined and strategic bear practices at Philmont, many of which are still used today - including backcountry bear box trash receptacles, bear cables in campsites, and the sump for waste water.  It also meant the establishment of the 10-34 bear sighting form and a designated bear researcher position.

I want to thank Bob for sharing this history and dedicating a large portion of his career to the bear.   

Philmont Experience:
 1967 - 1972 - Horse Department seasonal staff
1972 fall - Hired by Bob Knox full time as cowboy
Mid 1970's - Became Cattle Foreman
1980 - 2016 Hired as Ranch Superintentdent by Paul Claussen

Notable Mentions:
Bob Knox
Paul Claussen
Lloyd Knutson
Al Account
Steve Hararro
Gene Pompeo
Don Jones
Steve Zimmer
Hap Blacksten
Jeff Ogata
Boss Sanchez
Ben Vargas
Rod Taylor
Chuck Enloe
Brian Hobrock
Leo Martinez
Aaron Ricklefs
Fred Cicneros
Rachel Ricklefs

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I wish you all a crowded table, a warm fireside, plentiful food, good health, and the love you deserve.  Happy Thanksgiving friends!

This episode highlights clips taken from previously recorded interviews, with the intention to highlight, celebrate, and honor the impact of Philmont Scout Ranch on all our lives.

Notable Mentions:
Tim Collver
Doug Fasching
Scott Toney
Dylan McDermott
Alex Ave Lallemant
Lori Idalski Repovich
Piper Niehaus
GS Harper
Fran Romero
Brad Plumb
Chris Sawyer
Betsy Teter
Tanner Shaw
Tom Much
Peter Bingen
Mary Stuever
Ali Meeks
Bethany Hughes
Larry McLaughlin
Dollie O'Neill
Shelly Quartieri
Daniel Godwin
Bucko Cowden
Jada Day
Jessica Seifert
Katrina Moon
Kira Redzinak
Kevin Stickelman
Lela Murphy 
Mariah Hughes
Slim Uribe-Goertz
Andrea Watson
Maggie McCulloch
Sarah Burgess
Todd Zinn
John Celley & Zach Seeger
Dave Werhane
Claire Ficke
Karl Sparks

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