Silver On the Sage

Kicking off a 3-part, mini-series dedicated to local Cimarron establishments that are often frequented by Philmont Staff and participants.   In this episode, I chat with Caitlin and Austin Warner,  twin daughters of Melissa and Steven Warner.  Today, the Warner family owns and operates Hikers Coffee Company and Hikers Cimarron Inn & RV Park - both located in the heart of Cimarron, NM. From dis...

Bonus episode!  Join Caitlin, Dylan, and Jimmy as they discuss the recording process of No Time For Caution , by The Calico Stray .  We genuinely hope you're enjoying the tunes, and thank you for your support! Check out Jesse Rundle on  Soundbetter for mixing and mastering needs!  We highly recommend him and appreciate all his help on this album.  Support the show

Ficke Sisters - Caroline, Caitlin, Carly, and Claire - share their individual Philmont stories and release their debut album of Philmont inspired tunes.  To listen and purchase a digital copy of the album, click here !  For fun photos and videos of behind the scenes from the recording weekend, follow The Calico Stray on instragram.  All proceeds go to the podcast.  Cheers friends!  Notable Mention...

Coming to you with a special interview with Jeremy Spivey.  Rather than follow the traditional format, Jeremy wanted to pay tribute to the individuals and the department that forged him into the person he is today - the Philmont Ranch Department.    In this episode he shares an introduction to Ranch Department history beginning in the late 1950s into the early 2000s.  Jeremy discusses the "hi...

Dave Plumb, came back on staff for "one more summer."  He had sworn off romantic relationships, when at a Tobasco Donkeys concert, he unexpectedly met the women he'd later marry and grow a family with (Meg Graham Plumb).  Prior to working on staff, Dave attended PSA treks with his father.  On these treks, he witnessed the deep connections between current and past staff, which is wha...

Tennessee native, Julie Smith Vigil, first experienced Philmont as a reluctant, 13-year-old mountain trek participant.  Afterward she told her parents she was going to move to New Mexico as soon as she could.  Julie did just that, and she never left. Among the many jobs that Julie worked at Philmont, PTC Group Leader was one of her favorites, as well as holding claim to being the first female CD a...

Savren Nelson is that person who's not afraid to try something new and even take it to the next level of entrepreneurship.  Savren is a warm, intelligent, and talented individual  who currently works in public health while at the same time, runs her jewelry business, S Designs .  She discusses her time at Philmont, highlighting the COPE programs, positive examples of backcountry leadership, a...

Silver On the Sage is celebrating one year of successful podcasting today!  Dylan McDermott, singer-songwriter of the podcast song "Confluence" joins me to reflect and recollect.  We share fun trivia, podcast stats, and memories.  Today Dylan earns a living, loving what he does as a music teacher, local performer, and luthier.    I raise my glass to everyone who has interviewed, donated,...

Although 8 years apart, Mandy Glenn-Clay and Tracy Glenn-Applegate,  experienced Scouting and Philmont together, and the impact it had on their lives resonates still today. The Glenn sisters share their Philmont origin stories and discuss various encounters with wildlife, the challenges of being female in Scouting in the 80's, and their appreciation for teachable moments and learning how to e...

Beginning in 1950, the facilities surrounding the Villa Philmonte were built, and it became the National Training Center of the Boy Scouts of America - known today as the Philmont Training Center or PTC. Today, Andrea Watson joins the show as an authority on the Philmont Training Center.  She first arrived at Philmont in 1986 as a 7 year old, on a trip to PTC with her family.  Andrea describes PTC...

From having little experience traveling, to the 3rd day on trek being on the Baldy Saddle, Mariah Hughes had a revelation, and her life was changed for the better.  She returned home and was unrecognizable to her friends. Mariah went on to work seasonally at Philmont Scout Ranch for 9 summers. During her time as a ranger, she lived for hike-in days and the freeing confidence that a map and compass...

For Pete Bergene, working on the Philmont Cabin Restoration team benefited him in such a way that he could not come up with aspects of his current professional life that weren’t directly traced back to it. In this episode, Pete shares a brief history of cabin restoration  and how it’s been managed by many different departments at the ranch. He shares a rich and descriptive overview of three large...

From the day that 16-year-old, Spencer Seim was given an opportunity to lead his crew at Philmont, he gained a newfound confidence - one that he would carry with him for years.  If given the opportunity to lead, one can excel.  Spencer returned as a Rayado participant, which he says was “training for the rest of his life.” Working as a Camp Director, Spencer praises the trust, responsibility, and...

Olivia Starich shares energetic insights from working in several different departments at the Ranch.  As a ranger she was impressed by the full-circle, lasting impact of participants who later returned to work on seasonal staff.  Working in the Infirmary was the kindling that helped fuel her current path as a student in medical school.  As a BCM, she acknowledges the effort and energy it takes fro...

With tremendous spirit and rowdy Louisiana accent - Tucker Baker joins the show.   Tucker praises the Philmont staff experience for its  “can-do” attitude, taking on other duties as assigned and of course the comradery and close-knit friendships which together form the  “Philmont collective consciousness.”  Tucker shares his “Who Dat” story - a somewhat lengthy but worthwhile recounting of the Sea...

To kick off the 2021 Holiday Season, podcast listeners are invited to send in shout out dedications to their Philmont friends.  Recorded in their own voices, spreading love across the airwaves!  “The mere fact that another had walked where I was walking made the path easier for my feet.”  - D.E. Stevenson Support the show

From Mt. Baldy to Mt. Kilimanjaro - Rachel Tindall, current surgeon and former Philmont Ranger and Infirmary Medic joins the show.   As a young Mountain Trek participant, and later a Mountain Trek Ranger - Rachel discusses the life-changing impact that the program had on her.  As a seasonal driver and Medic at the Philmont Infirmary, she was able to practice and embrace a life-long mentality of a...

With a resounding Alabama, "Come on!," Ali Meeks joins the show to discuss her time on staff in the 90's.  Ali worked at the Philmont Training Center, Conservation Department, and in the Backcountry.  Ali voices her appreciation for the "work hard, play hard" attitude of Conservation, and how it impacted the young women she lead on on Trail Crew Trek, helping instill indep...

November 1st and 2nd, celebrates Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos.  Day of the Dead is a traditional Mexican holiday - when it is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit their living family members.   To honor this holiday, we will wrap up our mini-series on Philmont Ghost stories with Graham Nelson.  Graham has been able to see ghosts since he was a child.  All the same, he stil...

Trevor Lombardi joins the show to share is passion for one of the newer backcountry camps at Philmont Scout Ranch - Metcalf Station.  Trevor shares some quick history of the North Ponil Canyon as well as the Railroad industry of that area.  In fact, he is a co-author of the soon to be released book, titled: Pride and Glory, the Cimarron & Northwestern Railway Company .   This episode is a grea...

Andy Gerhart has been collecting Philmont ghost stories for years, including his own encounters.  Andy shares two of these stories today - the first happened in 1994 at Cypher's Mine, and the second in 1992 at Crater Lake.  Lantern tricks, misplaced items, shadowy figures, and voices in the mine.  The rich Philmont history and Southwestern environment, paired with the power of the mind and im...

Dirty Larry and Sassy Caitlin continue their conversation, this time covering Larry's Philmont story.  Larry shares his experience as a Rayado participant, ghost stories, being the music chairman in the dining hall, and more.  He also shares behind the scenes stories about the evolution of the Tobasco Donkeys and the making of the Philmont Documentary .  Like many of us, Larry's Philmont...

This week the tables are turned as Caitlin Lowe, host and producer of Silver On the Sage Podcast, is interviewed by former staffer, Larry McLaughlin (Producer of the Philmont Documentary and Tobasco Donkeys member).  In this episode Larry and Caitlin discuss all things podcasting and Philmont, including phil-music and phil-flings.  Caitlin grew up listening to her dad's stories of his time on...

Bethany 'Fidgit' Hughes joins the show to discuss how her experiences as a Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch led to a life of professional through-hiking.  From November 2015 to today, Fidgit and Neon (Lauren Reed) have been hiking the length of the Americas via non-motorized means; a 20,000 mile trek.  Their journey is titled: Her Odyssey - "we walk, we talk, we connect." The hea...

As a youth, Jessica was eager to join BSA Venturing and her Philmont story began as a family affair, pioneered by her father, who is also a Philmont alumni (1976).  As a seasonal wrangler, Jess enjoyed participating in both ranch and backcountry activities, broadening her understanding of program and her circle of friends.  Today Jess works full-time for the Ranch Department.  She talks about the...