Silver On the Sage

Author of the inspirational and Philmont famous song, "I Don't Mind," Peter Bingen joins the show to discuss his summers on staff.  Today Peter is a professional luthier in Minneapolis, MN - http://www.bingenviolin.com/

Philmont Experience
1989 - Trek Participant
1990 - Rayado Participant
1993 - Ranger
1997 - Conservationist at Thunder Ridge

Notable Mentions (Spellings may be incorrect)
Marshall Elliott
Mark Kerr
1993 Crater Lake Staff (Tim Freylick, Dano, Scraggins, Wiggly)
Larry McLaughlin - Philmont Documentary
PJ Parmar
Ryan Raddatz
Reggie Jayne
Ellie Nickens Turner
Iron John Logan
Dylan McDermott
The Sala Project
Tobasco Donkeys

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Bear encounter expert and professional ski industry guru, Kevin joins the show to discuss an array of topics to include how to stay true to yourself while on your professional career path, to stories of the 2002 Ponil complex fire and more.  Thanks Kevin!

Philmont Experience
1993, 1995, 1997 - Participant on trek
2000 - Logistics
2001 - CD Clark's Fork
2002 - CD Miranda
2003 - Backcountry Manager

2001 - Autumn Adventure
2002 - Autumn Adventure Coordinator

2001-2003 - Spring setup crew

Notable Mentions
Gene Schnell
Doug Palmer
Jim Kutz
Chris Werhane
Nate Lay
Birth of the Backcountry legacy project program

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A life-long "Scout Kid," and one of Philmont's first female "Lumber-Jills," Maggie joins the show today to share her stories about growing up at Philmont.  Maggie also highlights the Cimarron community and the amazing people who come together to make the town and school prosper each and every day.  A SPAM lover, aspiring artist, and nomadic soul, Maggie lights up when talking about the impact that Philmont continues to have on her life today - the place she still calls home.

Philmont Experience

2009-2013 - Phil-kid

2014 - 12 day trek participant

2015 -  Rayado participant

2018 - PC at Pueblano / Conservation TSI crew

2019 - PC at Pueblano

Fall 2020 - PC at Philmont Training Center

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Kicking off Season 2 of Silver On the Sage podcast, current full-time Director of Conservation, Lee Hughes joins the show. With humor and wisdom, Lee shares stories and highlights the positive impact that seasonal Philmont staff have on youth participants.  As one  of the first Backcountry Managers alongside the late Unit 41, Gene Schnell, Lee discusses how the ranch has evolved and improved throughout the years.  Last, but not at all least, Lee talks with us about the current work of the Philmont Conservation Department and all they're doing today to conserve the future of Philmont Scout Ranch.

Philmont Staff Experience
1986 PC Fish Camp
1987 CD Fish Camp
1988 CD Pueblano
1989 CD Clear Creek
1990 CD Beaubien
1991 & 92 Backcountry Mgr.
May 1, 2019 - fulltime Director of Conservation 

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Campfire of all Campfires - Season 1 Finale

Ellyn Washburne - Rich Cabins Memories

Slim Uribe-Goertz , Jessica Seifert, Rod Taylor - Night Rider's Lament

Tucker Baker and 2014 Metcalf Staff - Campfire Stories and John Henry

Dan Edwards - Rollin in my Sweet Baby’s arms

Kira Redzinak - Wayfaring Stranger, Abigail Belle of Kilronan

Sam Anderson - Gold Miner’s Daughter, Fire On the Mountain

Josh Standard - Breakfast in Hell - Instagram @joshua.standard and @flume.canyon.radio for more tunes.

Nathan Ford - Georgetown

Ian Furst - I Hear Them All

Ian Bagley - Canyon Joe

Josh Standard - The Song of Wyoming

Intermission - FISH

Carly and Dylan McDermott - Dreamers on the Rise

Patrick Navin - Hard Times

Andrew “Red” Florence - The Shrimp Song, Blackest Crow

Stephen Senter - In The Curve, Pretty Fair Maid in Her Garden

Nathan Ford - Paradise

Iron John Logan, Joe Fox, and Jimmy Lowe - Ozarken Hills

Kelly Mazzanobile - Night Rider's Lament, I Don’t Mind

Dan Edwards - Doreen

Ian Furst - Old Ties and Companions

David Burchfield and Staff - The Road to Black Mountain, davidburchfieldmusic.com

Kira Redzinak - Best of Home

Claire Ficke, Carly McDermott, Dylan McDermott - The Mountain

Carly and Dylan McDermott - Hills That I Call Home, Philmont Hymn


THANK YOU!

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Jimmy Lowe wraps up season one discussing his influential time as a participant on OATC and as a seasonal staff member.  Synthesizing his memories for the first time in a while, Jimmy recalls how exposure to Philmont mines and mining history influenced his higher education, career path, and passions. This is the final interview episode of season one of the podcast!  Thanks Jimmy! 

Philmont Experience

• 2006 - OATC Participant (Order of the Arrow Trail Crew Trek)
• 2007 - PC Beaubien
• 2008 - Services
• 2009 - PC Cyphers Mine
• 2010 - PC Crater Lake
• 2011 - CD Black Mountain
• 2011-2012  - Autumn Guide
• 2012 - CD Cyphers Mine
• 2013 - CD Rayado

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Wally Wolanin, tenured Philmont Training Center staff member, shares a lively interview that begins with a young man’s disbelief that such a place as Philmont Scout Ranch could really be that cool. Turns out it was that cool, and so much more. Wally walks us through the inner workings of a summer experience at the Philmont Training Center (PTC). Discussing that although sometimes thought of as an autonomous place “across the road,” the Philmont Training Center’s programs are extensively intertwined with the rest of the Ranch as a whole. Wally talks about PTC’s rich history of legacy, service, and comradery.  Wally credits PTC for helping him break out of his shell and jump-start his professional career trajectory. Sharing the importance of “being there” for participants and stories of happenstance paranormal activity, this episode will surely keep you smiling. Thanks Wally! 

Philmont Experience: 

• 2008: Trek participant
• 2011: PTC Group Leader
• 2012: PTC Group Leader
• Fall 2012: PTC Autumn Staff Coordinator 
• Winter 2013: PTC Staff
• 2013: PTC Group Leader Coordinator 
• Fall 2013: PTC Autumn Staff Coordinator 
• 2014: PTC Family Program Manager
• LDS Week 2015: Volunteered as Staff for one week to help 
• 2016: PTC Participant 
• 2019: Represented Philmont at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree

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From participant, to seasonal staffer, to current full-time resident of Cimarron/Ute Park - Meghan Herman joins the show to share the insight she gained while working seasonally in the Health Lodge and in the Backcountry.  Florida native, Meghan trained for two-years in preparation to trek at Philmont as a youth.  On the plane ride home, she cried, wishing she could stay forever.  Turns out, with dedicated work and passion, some wishes do come true!  Meghan married fellow seasonal alumni, Ben Herman, who was later offered a full-time position at the ranch.  Today they live at Cimarroncita and continue to give back to Philmont and the surrounding communities via their professional careers.  Meghan is a nurse in Raton, NM, a mother, an artist, runner, and passionate community member.  Meghan gives due praise to the Health Lodge, today called The Infirmary, and it's extensive facilities, capabilities, and trainings.  Thank you Meghan - enjoy those Baldy Mountain views for us all! 

Philmont Experience:

• 2006 - Trek Participant
• 2007- Medical Rechecker 
• 2008 - PC Miners Park
• 2009 - PC Miners Park
• 2010 - Health Lodge Support Staff / Driver
•        Fall PTC Maintenance
• 2011 - Health Lodge Support Staff / Driver
•        Fall and Winter PTC staff
• 2012 - Health Lodge Support Staff / Driver

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New Mexico native and passionate career Forster, Mary Stuever, joins us to discuss land management, forest fires, and conservation of Philmont’s precious and beautiful landscape.  Mary initially pursued a Philmont staff experience for two reasons: to summit Baldy and to prepare to hike the Continental Divide. Like many of us, Mary’s passion for Philmont grew, and she returned for many seasons, spearheading several positive initiatives that remain in effect today.  Mary was a co-author of the original Philmont Field Guide, initiator of the Visiting Forester Program, architect of Philmont’s Demonstration Forest, and has participated in many PSA treks and programs alike. Mary discusses the devastation of the 2018 Ute Park fire with a heavy heart, and continues to provide education and consultation to the Ranch in areas of land rehabilitation and protection against future fires. Mary was the recipient of the 2019 PSA Silver Sage Award (alongside the Philmont Fire Department), in recognition of her work to raise Philmont’s awareness and need for year-round forestry programs. Mary’s lively spirit and stories of joy and sorrow, make this episode especially reflective and humbling. Thank you Mary, for all you have done, and continue to do. 

Mary’s Philmont history:

1976 and 1977 – Rayado Woman treks

1978 – Philmont Ranger

1982-83 – Philmont Training Ranger

1984 – Contractor, Co-author of the Philmont Field Guide 

2005, 2007, 2008 – PSA Treks

2009 – Field tested the Visiting Forester concept

2010 – to Present: Visiting Forester Program Coordinator 

2015 – PSA Trek: Sole Sista’s 

2018 – PSA Volunteer Vacation

2021 – PSA Philbreak

To learn more, seek out The Forester’s Log by Mary Stuever, available on Amazon or perhaps at your local bookstore (who will be happy to order it for you), or at the National Scouting Museum (at Philmont) bookshop.

Mary encourages listeners to support the Philmont Staff Association - Ute Park Fire Recovery Fund.

**Correction: The architects of Philmont’s Demonstration Forest are Arnie Friedt and Harry Morrison. 

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From a very young age, Bucko Cowden was free to roam at Philmont Scout Ranch. As a “Chaplain’s kid” Bucko shares stories of undercover excursions to Ponil, ping-pong tournaments, and numerous Rayado-like Mountain Treks. Returning in 2004 as a young adult on staff, Bucko became “Rock star adjacent” storytelling legend and an integral player in the birth of mountain ball (not to be confused with logger ball). In this episode we discuss an array of Philmont topics from what it was like to experience the 2002 Ponil complex fire to the complexities of the Backcountry Manager position ... to phil-flings and unconventional phil-fiestas! Pour yourself a tall glass of your choosing, light up a fire, gather with friends (in person or virtually), and enjoy this candid and meaningful episode. “We’re all telling the same stories, it’s just the names that have changed.” Thanks Bucko! 

Youth Experience

• Chaplain's kid: 1987, 90, 94

Participant Experience

• 7 Mountain Treks: 1994
• 2 Mountain Treks: 1996

Staff Experience

• PC Miranda 2002
• PC Crater Lake 2003
• CD Pueblano 2004
• CD Miranda 2005
• CD Beaubien 2006
• BCM 2007
• BCM 2010

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