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COOL STUFF TO SEE AND DO
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WHAT IT IS
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WHERE TO FIND IT
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MORE INFO
(citation)
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VALLE VIDAL
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No trails, the most animals, the fewest humans, the finest backcountry
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Lush mountain basin, vast alpine meadows, deer, bear, mtn lion, bald eagles, elk, buffalo, trout, few crews, few established trails, bushwhack using only map and compass or GPS.
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Valle Vidal
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Valle Vidal
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NORTH
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Ascend "The Wall"
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Got what it takes to make it up "The Wall"?
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French Henry to Copper Park:
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Bag Hart peak - great views of Baldy
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Side hike Hart Peak (7975 ft), great views of Baldy
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Ponil to Pueblano or Indian Writings
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Candidate for best rock formations
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Along the trail, there are several outstanding rock formations. The views north to Little Costilla Mountain are unique.
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Indian Writings to Dan Beard
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PAG
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Excellent views of Baldy
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Exceptional views west to Baldy and Touch Me Not.
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Baldy Skyline to Head of Dean
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PAG
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Highest accessible peak - Baldy
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Baldy
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Baldy
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Baldy and 'over the Tooth'
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Prettiest camp candidate –Ewell’s Park
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Excellent view of Mt. Baldy in background, meadow with wildflowers in foreground.
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Ewell's Park
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Prettiest place candidate – Wilson Mesa
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Baldy, Touch Me Not and surrounding mountains; lake in foreground. Several years ago, Wilson Mesa was devastated by a forest fire which destroyed its trees but provided for some exceptional views north into Colorado and west towards Baldy Mountain.
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Ponil, Sioux, and Bent to Pueblano over Wilson Mesa
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PAG
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Tremendous views
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Tremendous view on jeep trail from Metcalf to Cottonwood Canyon.
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Metcalf Canyon
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CENTRAL
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"Purple mountains rise against an azure sky" – at Visto Grande
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The famous line from Philmont hymn, written by John West, was coined for the view from Visto Grande
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Visto Grande
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Philmanac
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Best canyon candidate – Grouse Canyon
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Towering rock walls and lush vegetation make it a very scenic hike. The views along the canyon walls are outstanding.
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Cimarroncito to Sawmill
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Best meadow candidate
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Two beautiful meadows.
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Vista Grande to Harlan
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PAG
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Best place for serenity - Hidden Valley
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Hidden Valley is a lush, green, very picturesque place. Both are great spots.
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Cito / Deer Lake / Aspen Spring
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Best rock chairs candidate – Ute Spring "living room"
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Awesome rock "living room" in the campsite next to the road
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Ute Springs
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Best rock formation candidate
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Rock formations large enough to climb over and sit it, resemble Swiss cheese. Past the Tooth of Time, before you enter Heartbreak Ridge, off to the side.
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Tooth Ridge
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Best scenic trail candidate
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Words cannot describe the views of Cathedral Rock, Window Rock and the backside of the Tooth of Time.
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Harlan to Cimarroncito
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PAG
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Best sunrise candidate - 360 degree view of everything – Shaefers Peak
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Easy hike to Shaefers Peak, everywhere you've hiked for the last 10 days
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Shaefers Pass, Tooth Ridge
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Baldy and 'over the Tooth'
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Best sunrise candidate – Comanche Peak camp
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Comanche Peak camp offers an incredible sunrise view.
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Comanche Peak camp
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PAG
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Bushwhack Bear Mtn
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Bag a peak, bushwhack Bear Mtn. (10,663 ft).
The trail does not top Bear, but skirts along the western side near the summit. Look the rock cairns
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BTW Black & Shaefers: (.19 mi to peak as crow flies)
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Bushwhack Grizzly Tooth
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Bag a peak, bushwhack Grizzly Tooth (9,005 ft, two feet taller than the Tooth of Time).
Miners Park to Shaefers Pass - Close up view of the Grizzly Tooth.
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From Shaefers, .33 mi as crow flies
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PAG, Philmanac
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Excellent view of Baldy & Wheeler Peak
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Baldy Mountain (highest accessible from Philmont), Wheeler Peak (highest mtn in NM), Eagle Nest Lake and Colorado.
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Sawmill to Thunder Ridge
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PAG
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Excellent view of Baldy & Wheeler Peak
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There are several overlooks that offer views of Baldy Mountain and Wheeler Peak to the west.
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Thunder Ridge to Comanche Peak
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PAG
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Excellent view of Tooth of Time
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From Lovers Leap, there are great views of the Tooth of Time.
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Lovers Leap
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PAG
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Find the path! – Cathedral Rock
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There's no known way to get atop the rocks, but somehow Venturing Crew 1716 made it to the top in 2006!
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Cathedral Rock Trail Camp
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Highest camp, best sunset candidate, best rock chairs – Mt. Phillips
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Watching the sun rise and set from the top of Mt. Phillips provides one of the best views in the world. Rock chairs in one of the campsites.
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Mt. Phillips
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In the home stretch - Tooth Ridge
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The path along Tooth Ridge is exceptional, with huge rock outcroppings and great views. Look to the north and pick out Baldy Mountain.
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Shaefers Pass to the Tooth of Time
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PAG, Baldy and 'over the Tooth'
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Lose your advisors – steepest trail! – Black Mtn
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Steepest trail in the Ranch ascends Black Mtn -- do you have what it takes?
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Black Mtn trail
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Window Rock
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Panoramic view, exceptional views of the Tooth of Time and base camp
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Cito / Deer Lake / Aspen Spring
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SOUTH
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Best meadow candidate
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Short walk to Abreu. Continue along the Rayado Creek. Trail splits and goes up Bonito Canyon. Once out of the canyon, you will come to a meadow framed by pines and aspens. Depending on the amount of rain, the field maybe filled with mountain iris, yarrow, and other wildflowers. Look for deer, bears, elk, and mountain lions here.
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Rayado River to Lookout Meadow
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PAG
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Best scenic trail camp – Lookout Meadow
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Views of 3 peaks, Lookout, Crater and Rayado peaks. Sit on the grassy reservoir wall at dusk to watch birds swoop up insects while deer come to water.
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Lookout Meadow
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PAG
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Best scenic trail candidate - Rayado
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The trail follows along the south side of the Rayado River canyon where the hiker has continual views of the river and the mountains to the north.
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Fish Camp to Abreu
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PAG
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Best sunrise/ sunset candidate - Inspiration Point
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Great view of the Tooth of Time. One of the best sunrises is from Inspiration Point. Sunset isn't too shabby either.
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Urraca Trail Camp
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Hang on! – The Notch
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“The Notch" is a unique rock formation caused by two faults meeting together -- the wind races so fast through the small rock outcropping it can blow you off your feet. Legend (unconfirmed) is that Waite Phillips blasted the Notch. Truly gorgeous scenery too.
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Abreu or Carson Meadows and Crags
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Sleep without tents! – Cyphers Mine
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Tired of putting up tents? Sleep in an Adirondack shelter!
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Cyphers Mine
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Stonewall Pass
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Special views of the Tooth of Time just outside of Bear Caves camp.
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Abreu to Crater Lake
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PAG
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high adventure 
