Philmont Scout Ranch
Cimarron, New Mexico

Philmont Boy Scout Ranch was a dream when I was a kid: the American Mecca for Boy Scouts. Sorry to say, I never made it until I was 55. I didn't know what to expect but all those red roofs everywhere were quite a surprise. I was also quite surprised at the size of the physical plant: buildings all over the place. And thousands of tents, too, but I didn't see any Boy Scouts anywhere.

I stopped in for a trip through the bookstore and the Seton Library. Nice stuff, with lots of reprinted first-hand historical texts for sale. There were also quite a few wildife prints and paintings on display.

The photos here were taken during a simple drive-through of the central part of the Ranch. Most of this huge property is accessible only by permission, and it helps to be a Boy Scout...