Philmont Scout Ranch Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cimarron

The town of Cimarron boasts only about 1,000 residents. Cimarron and the area that is now Philmont is on the eastern edge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, part of the Rocky Mountains. It was a stop on the famous Santa Fe Trail that led settlers to New Mexico from Independence, MO. The area has also been used for gold prospecting and, more recently, cattle ranching.

Answer: Waite Phillips

Waite Phillips, 1883-1964, was born in Iowa and made his oil fortune in Oklahoma. By 1941, he had donated 127,000 acres (about 40%) of his favorite ranch in New Mexico, including all water, mineral and timber rights, to the Boy Scouts of America. He also donated a 23-story building in Tulsa OK to the BSA as an endowment to support the program at Philmont.

Answer: Tyrannosaurus rex

T. rex tracks are extremely rare. A geologist working in the area of Ponil Canyon in 1983 noted possible dinosaur tracks in his field notes. He showed photos to a dinosaur track expert in 1989, and they were confirmed as T. rex tracks by 1994. Today, visitors to Philmont can take an easy 4-mile round trip hike to see these rare tracks.

Answer: Tooth of Time

The Tooth of Time is visible from Philmont Headquarters and is a symbol much used for Philmont merchandise and promotional material. The peak was named by 19th century travelers on the Santa Fe Trail - when they saw it, they knew they would reach Santa Fe in a week.

The Tooth is a granite knob that juts up around 500 feet from Tooth of Time ridge; the highest point is 9,003 feet. Baldy Mountain at 12,441 feet is the highest peak at Philmont and a popular hiking destination, but it is not quite as famous as the iconic Tooth of Time.

Answer: Liberator

A U.S. Army Air Forces B-24 Liberator bomber crashed into Trail Peak in Philmont on April 22, 1942. All seven aboard died, including two crewmen who were Boy Scouts as youths. Remains of the plane can still be seen and is a popular destination for many of the 35,000+ Philmont hikers each year, making that B-24 the most visited airplane wreck in the world.

Answer: Apache

The Jicarilla Apache tribe and the Ute tribe both occupied the land that is now Philmont Scout Reservation. The Jicarilla were settled in the area by 1500, possibly much earlier. The Jicarilla and allied tribes fought a battle with the U.S. Army in 1854 and later in that decade were moved to a reservation in the San Juan Basin of northwest New Mexico. Philmont has some Jicarilla and Ute archaeological sites and programs at the various camps seek to preserve native tribal culture.

Answer: Steve Fossett

Businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett, 1944-2007, earned Eagle Scout rank in 1957 and worked as a Ranger at Philmont in 1961. He later said that Scouting was the most important activity of his youth. He continued to serve Scouting as an adult, donating his time and treasure to support the BSA.

Answer: Philmont Grace

One of the 12 points of the Scout Law is "Reverent"; even though Scouting is non-denominational, many Scout traditions include reverence for a "higher power". The Philmont Grace was first written in 1929 and is said before each meal at Philmont and at many Scouting events across the U.S. The full text is:

For food, for raiment,
For life, for opportunity,
For friendship and fellowship,
We thank Thee, O Lord. Amen.

Answer: Albuquerque

Groups of Scouts from all across North America and the world travel to Philmont each year, most by air. Albuquerque NM and Denver CO are the largest close airports. Some crews drive, some take the train and some commercial buses. The cost of transportation is not included in the fee charged by Philmont for the program they deliver on their many types of adventures.

Answer: Ranger Song

Experienced and trained young adults can work as Rangers at Philmont. Each group of 12 or so Scouts are trained by a Ranger and accompanied by them for the first few days of their 7- or 12-day backpacking trek. Rangers are a spirited group, and often break into stories or song, one of which is the "Ranger Song". The full verse that this excerpt is from is:

"I want to go back to Philmont,
I want to go back to Philmont
Where the old Rayado flows,
Where the rain come a-seepin'
In the tent where you're a-sleepin'
And the waters say hello."