The Troop 4 members who trekked Philmont are: front row, from left, Kul Thapa, Charusmitha Ram, Matt Delprete and Harrison Gu; back row, from left, Colin Stacey, Lucas Reed, Same Peace, Cooper Dold, Breandan Cole, Alvin Zhong, Owen Bayes, Peter Recos and Fred Chaloux. PHOTO/CHARUSMITHA RAM

For two weeks this summer, a group of Hopkinton Boy Scouts put their survival and leadership skills to the test as they trekked the mountains of the southwestern United States.

The small crew of Scouts from Troop 4 Hopkinton spent 12 days at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, from the end of July to the beginning of August. The group of 10 youth and three advisors hiked a total of 70 miles.

“[Going on this trip was] probably one of the best choices I’ve made in my life,” said Harrison Gu, a Life Scout.

Gu and the other crew members had been planning for this trek for several years. Troop 4 commits to a regular trip to Philmont every three years, and plans to return to the ranch in 2027.

Philmont is Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA’s) largest high-adventure base. Established in 1938, it features over 140,000 acres of mountain wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains. Elevations range between 6,500 to 12,441 feet.

Because of the hike’s many challenges, the crew needed to train and prepare for what lay ahead.

“We had to do a couple of hikes with our bags fully packed to get used to the weight,” said Brendean Cole, another member of the crew. “We did a two-day backpacking trip to prepare as well.”

The boys were tasked with choosing the trail they took through Philmont as well as daily activities. The crew had opportunities to participate in various programs at each base camp along the trail.

“A list of activities was published along with the itineraries [they chose from],” said Charusmitha Ram, Troop 4 Assistant Scoutmaster. She was one of the three advisors that joined the trip.

“We did things like fly fishing and climbing,” said Life Scout Sam Peace.

“There was also rifle shooting, horseback riding and gold panning,” added Gu. “We did a lot of things.”

Cole, Peace, and Gu served as leaders for their crew during the trip. Cole was selected as the crew leader, while Peace took on the role of chaplain’s aide. 

Cole’s main duties centered on setting pace and delegating duties. He set times for the crew to wake up and be ready, as well as dealing with logistical concerns.

“I had the map so I was kind of in charge of navigation also,” said Cole. “But I asked other Scouts to help out with that, too.”

As the chaplain’s aide, Peace took charge of saying grace before meals and leading daily reflections with crew members. 

“People say that Philmont is a spiritual experience, and those [reflections] were a really important part of it,” Peace said.

Gu functioned as the crew’s “Wilderness Guia,” whose role it was to help fellow Scouts understand Philmont’s Wilderness Pledge and BSA’s Leave No Trace principles.

“It was challenging, but I had to endure it,” said Gu. 

Gu led fellow crew members in a small conservation project. During their hike, the boys could complete three hours of conservation work to earn Philmont’s Wilderness Pledge Achievement.

The crew helped clear part of a trail that was under construction. They widened out and expanded the trail, and removed some brush.

“It made us realize how important it was to conserve a trail,” said Gu. “It was really hard.”

When reflecting on their trip, each Scout had a different part of the experience resonate with them. However, they all agreed that the views on the trail were particularly memorable.

“The views here are nothing like out there,” said Peace.

“It was the first time I’ve ever seen the Milky Way,” added Cole.

They also appreciated the bonding they experienced as a crew over the course of their 12-day trek. 

Said Gu: “We bonded so much, it was so fun.”