Silver On the Sage

Lee kicks it off with his haunting "Music Man" tale that happened at French Henry in 1988.  We also discuss the story behind Lee’s nickname "Bear," as well as highlights of the progressive North Country Christmas party of 88' that went from Miranda, to Baldy, ending at French with a sweat lodge of epic proportions. Lastly, we chat about Lee’s experience as part of the very...

At Philmont one is able to dream and take on different lives - spend a summer as a miner, learn the ropes as a wrangler,  or protect lives as a medic.  Youth is full of unusual adventures - like for instance recording an entire album at a backcountry camp, and managing to release it before the summers end.  Sailboat, also known as Ryan McDowell, and the Cypher’s Staff of 2021 did just that. Today,...

For today’s guest, Meg Plumb, Philmont has always been and continues to be a family affair.  From trekking with her immediate family and recruiting her cousins to be on staff - to today, visiting the area often as her family now has ties to Ute Park, NM. Her first summer on staff, Meg was a tour guide at the Villa Philmonte.  A job that for Meg was a constant reminder of the generosity of the gift...

Stories unite us.  They create a universal space to share how we came to be, and who we are becoming.  Today’s guest, Jack Rodgers, discusses the drive behind Philmont’s Marketing and Photo Services Department.  Jack is currently the Marketing Manager for the department, and has also been a seasonal trek participant and a Ranger.  In MPS, staff members are given a passport to do a lot of cool thin...

Elder Wilson, spent thirteen summers as a Chaplain at Philmont Scout Ranch. For him, the beauty of being a Chaplain was the privilege to be able to serve the entire ranch - staff and participants alike. Philmont is a place where you can experience numerous faiths in action, attend services, and simply be still in the presence and wonder of nature. For Elder Wilson, the team of Philmont Chaplains w...

Phil first trekked with the inaugural group of Kit Carson Men in 1968.  He returned and worked on staff in the 60s and 70s.  From 2014 on, he’s been heavily involved with the PSA and this summer, he completed his 14th PSA trek.  As a ranger on staff in 69, Phil appreciated and enjoyed the exposure to diversity, guiding crew from all over the country. The rest of his  tenure was spent in the backco...

As a young Scout, Jeb looked up to the older boys in is troop and dreamed of one  day going to the elusive Philmont Scout Ranch.  After trekking in 2012, he began on staff in 2015 and worked 6 seasons total.  He quickly found his forte in the Conservation Department.  On work crew in 2016, perseverance was the name of the game.  He excelled and went on to become a Work Crew Foreman.  In that role...

Welcome to Season 5 of Silver On the Sage Podcast.  We are four months away from celebrating our two year anniversary and fourteen interviews away from our 100th episode.  I want to thank all those who contributed to today's campfire episode - I can’t think of a better way to acknowledge the immeasurable impact that Philmont has had on us, than gathering together to share music and stories. ...

Alex Avé Lallemant has lived and traveled all over the world as a Foreign Service Officer.  He shares a witty and insightful interview, revealing how impactful our time on staff really is.  As a young fourteen year old, Alex was tested on the trail. His crew pushed him to lead, and he found himself building confidence and accomplishing more than he ever thought he could. Alex spent five summers in...

Music has the power to shift our attitude, enhance an experience, recall detailed memories, and more. Philmont music is a special breed; all of its own.  It’s not just the chords and lyrics, it’s the warm night breeze while overlooking the Tooth at Crater, or the impromptu staff after-show as crews hike off to their tents, headlamps bouncing, it’s the telling of our best or worst stories, its the...

It’s no secret that we love Philmont and its people. Many of us work seven, eight, or nine summers or seasons in a row.  We even consider and some of us achieve - the dream of returning on staff full-time.  In November of 2021, Nancy Coleman Stickelman and her husband Kevin made that happen for their family as Kevin was offered the Director of Facilities position. For Nancy, Scouting and Philmont...

Jackie’s Philmont participant story begins with a bang - in 2013 on day 2 as a Ranch Hand at Clark’s Fork she suffered a serious injury on horseback.  After a rough, year-long recovery, she was most upset by the fact that she wasn’t able to complete the Ranch Hands experience.  She finally returned in 2019 on staff at PTC. Jackie celebrates PTC as being a place to experience so many different oppo...

Emily Megee joins the show to discuss her five summers on staff and three unique summers as a participant.  On Rayado, she came off the trail with a new vision of what it could mean to be a positive, impactful person in life.  And how impactful friendship is defined.  She encountered moments of clarity - where the world could be both big and terrible, and slow and beautiful all at once.  These mom...

Doug worked seasonally at Philmont for 10 summers from 1987 to 1996.  He then went on to volunteer 17 years for the PSA as their Technology Manager from 2004 - 2021. In this episode Doug chats about ominous encounters at Urraca, the hard to sell program of Santa Claus in the 90s, bears, mullets and everything in-between.  We also chat about how Doug ended up mid-summer as the sole person working a...

Administrative Champions, Customer Service Experts, and Culture of Excellence Creators. For 30-40 years Betty Pacheco and Fran Romero served in various roles, but spent most of their time working as Camping Registrar and Camping Secretary. These two ladies made sure that day in and day out the job was done, and done right. Fran and Betty grew up together, and met in grade school in Cimarron, They...

Married couple Matt Hubbard and Emily Bergman join the show.  With lots of laughs and answering questions in tandem, Emily and Matt share how their experience at Philmont, “laid the foundation for the rest of their lives.”  The couple jokes that Matt imported his Phil-fling, as Emily followed him to Philmont after the couple had met in college.  With a hodgepodge assortment of borrowed gear from f...

Lori first came to Philmont to visit a boyfriend, and ended up staying the rest of the summer to work.  With no intention to return the next year, she suddenly got the itch and found herself craving another Westward adventure.   Her first official summer on staff, she was a PTC group leader.  She recalls PTC being a great place for a non-scouter to start her Philmont career.  She also remembers he...

Every other year or so, Annie Anderson’s family made the trek from Tennessee to Philmont to attend PTC.  And ever since then, for Annie, Philmont has always felt like home.  As a PTC participant, Annie loved meeting kids her own age and running around the wilderness together. Today, she shares stories from her time as a participant on Mountain Trek, ROCS, and Rayado. From altitude sickness and hom...

As a current Philosophy Instructor at the University of Idaho, Bryce discusses backcountry culture, logger camps, Phil-flings, and the connective elements of sharing food and drink - all through a philosophical and contemplative lens.  Bryce praises Philmont for teaching him to appreciate mentors and staff with opposing world views and how to be patient and adaptive at such a young age. That it’s...

51 years ago, Brad Plumb was given the opportunity to quit his summer gig lifeguarding, and work instead as a PC at the then very quiet and secluded Clear Creek.  It was "the best summer of his life."  Brad shares a description of Clear Creek somewhat unfamiliar to most of us - as a place at the end of the earth, no gas, no electricity, and no direct contact to base camp. His experiences...

Having never been to Philmont Scout Ranch, Dollie O'Neill began a journey to what would become her home in March of 2011 when her husband David O'Neill was offered a full time position at the ranch.   Eleven years later, the O'Neill's remain at Philmont, with their two daughters and furry friends.  Dollie shares her "fish out of water" experience arriving at Philmont,...

Ryan Raddatz, or perhaps more fondly known by his Philmont friends as "Raddish,” joins the show today to discuss Rayado, Philmont music, inclusive scouting, and more. Ryan praises the musicianship and skill of todays staff, recalling how campfire dynamics of the 90s were more spontaneous and on the fly - a collaboration of new and refired musicians learning from one another. Ryan comments on...

This episode is part of a larger collection of Women Ranger Digital Stories. Many would say that there is a unique bond between Women of Philmont, a sisterhood of sorts.  Joy Pendley and Nancy Nelson join the show to highlight this bond of friendship - one that feels more like family.  From impromptu hair cuts and tent surfing, to hitch hiking in from Ute Park and enjoying the freedom of the rovin...

Wrapping up our four part mini-series on Wildland fire and forestry with Dr. David Godwin, PhD.  I want to thank our sponsor of the mini-series, Limmer Boot Company .  Limmer believes in the power of growing communities and relationships in the outdoors, and they know that the moments of introspection and self-reliance learned there, can transform any individual. So if you’re looking for your last...

In this episode, we shift the focus to a historical discussion of the original program and the lodge at Zastrow.  Zastrow is one of Philmont's southernmost backcountry camps where the Cooks Peak Fire burned.   On April 22nd, 2022, the cabin was lost to fire. A continued thanks to our sponsor of this mini-series, Limmer Boot Company .  Limmer is excited to support the podcast and encourages ot...