Philmont: How to Pack

HOW TO PACK YOUR STUFF FOR PHILMONT, COLORADO AND THE AIRPLANE - READ EVERYTHING BELOW FIRST THEN SCROLL DOWN (if you're on a smartphone) or SEE THE COLUMN TO THE RIGHT (if you're on a PC).

What should be in your Colorado Bag:

Anything you're going to use when you're not backpacking:
Clothes for Saturday July 19 (Scout uniform), Sunday July 20, Monday July 21, Tuesday July 22 (we go out on the trail on Wednesday July 23). One some of these days you'll need to wear your uniform.
Clothes for when we get off the trail: end of day Saturday August 2, all day Sunday August 3, including the water park, and your uniform for travel home.
Warm clothes and rain gear for when we're out and about in Colorado and New Mexico (you should put your warmest layer and your rain jacket/rain hat in your Colorado bag, then move them to your backpack once we're at Philmont.
Toiletries (yes, deodorant is okay when you're not backpacking), medicine, phone charger, things to pass the time (like a deck of cards).
At least one of your nalgene water bottles (so you have one when we're out hiking in Colorado. Make sure it's uncapped.
Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, bandana.
A book to read or notebook to write in (and a pen).

Your hiking boots should not be in your Colorado bag. Wear them on the plane (they are the most difficult thing to replace of anything you're carrying).

Here's a suggested list:

1. Four pairs underwear
2. One pair of shorts (in addition to the Scout shorts you'll be wearing on the plane)
3. One long-sleeve shirt (dri-fit is best, like the T98 Pandemic shirt)
4. Two short-sleeve shirts (at least one should be the Troop 98 Philmont Tiki shirt; we may opt to wear matching shirts some days instead of Scout uniform shirts). You will receive this shirt just before we leave.
5. Four pairs of socks. Include sock liners and sturdy outer socks for when you're wearing boots (which will be often).
6. Swimsuit and small towel (at least not a huge towel)
7. Toiletries bag including deodorant, shampoo, personal grooming gear, medicine
8. Ball cap or hat
9. Warm layer (like fleece or sweater)
10. Outer layer (like lightweight down or other outer jacket)
11. Rain jacket
12. Spare pair of shoes (like sneakers) for when you're not wearing your boots. This can be the same pair you're taking on the trail.
13. Sandals for the pool, if you want, as long as they strap onto your foot, like Crocs or Tevas, not flip-flops).

Q&A

Do I need to bring a school ID or other identification to get onto the airplane?
NO, you do not, unless you're over 18 years old (TSA rules)
Am I allowed to bring deodorant to Colorado?YES, PLEASE DO, and USE IT! You are only prohibited from taking it on the trail.
How much money should I take and will you run a "bank" like at Summer Camp?
NO BANK. You should not need much money on your way to Philmont (all your meals are paid for; snacks and extra drinks are on you).
Philmont tells us most Scouts spend from $100 to $150 on souvenirs at the Base Camp TRADING POST [LINK]. For example, the cheapest belt + buckle costs about $60 (branding is free). You can use a debit or credit card there. In the backcountry, you probably don't need more than $20 (money has to go into your smellables bag). If you need something more expensive while on the trail you can buy it on credit and settle up when you get to base camp. The Scoutmaster is used to making loans at attractive interest rates (good SAT word: USURIOUS).
Where can I keep my stuff that I don't take on the trail?You will leave your Colorado Bag, your carry on bag, and anything that you don't carry on the trail (like your phone) in your crew's rental van, which will remain locked in the Base Camp parking lot for the entire time we're on the trail. High-value items (like your wad of $100 bills) can be left in the Philmont security lockbox, but we advise against this because it's a complicated process.

KNOW YOUR EXPEDITION NUMBER 722P1 or 722P2 or 722P3. Write it on everything you're taking, especially expensive things you'd like returned (rain jacket, expensive clothes, backpack, water bottles, hats, cameras). TAKE OUT THE YELLOW CARD INSIDE YOUR PHILMONT GUIDEBOOK, WRITE YOUR EXPEDITION NUMBER ON THE CARD, AND LEAVE IT WITH YOUR FAMILY.

Laundry bag, backpack, Colorado bag, and carry-on bag

HOW TO PACK YOUR STUFF:

1. Put all your BACKPACKING STUFF inside your backpack. Be sure to leave your Nalgene bottles UNCAPPED. You should be able to leave your backpack untouched until you get to Philmont (meaning all your travel clothes are in your Colorado bag).Wrap the HIPSTRAP (hipbelt) backwards around the front of the pack and clasp it and tighten it. Clip and tighten all other straps (like sternum and shoulder straps).
2. Put all of your travel clothes into your COLORADO BAG. Attach your first ID TAG to your Colorado Bag using the wire tie. Include toiletries and a bathing suit, plus WARM CLOTHES and your RAINJACKET for our travel around Colorado.
3. Using a Sharpie Marker, label your LAUNDRY BAG in a way that you can easily pick it out from the others in your crew.
4. Attach your second ID TAG securely to your backpack and then put your backpack and Colorado bag into your Laundry Bag.
5. Securely wrap and tie your laundry bag using its own string tie. A double clove hitch is a good finishing knot, and you can place Gorilla tape over the wraps for extra security. Attach your third ID TAG to the outside of the bag (tied into the closure strings).Prepare a CARRY-ON BAG for the airplane and van rides. Things to think about putting in this bag: important medicine, water bottle (empty), snacks, pillow, games, phone charger, book, sunglasses, camera, wallet. Things to NOT PUT in your carry-on bag: liquids, pocketknife/leatherman, anything sharp or with a blade.

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