Nothing better than seeing Phil-friends in the off-season. This photo was taken on January 2nd, after an incredible New Year’s reunion. Another highlight of the weekend was a 12 am screaming of the ranger song, in our characteristic unintelligible slurring of the lyrics. “wheretherain’sa’seepintentsyou’resleepinwaterssayHELLO!” It’s 2011 now - in 5 short months I’ll be back in New Mexico!

The length of winter break and my relative inactivity has me pining away for Philmont. I need to get busy again to distract myself from the mild depression of being homebound and bored. I’m taking a Wilderness First Responder class starting on Monday, an 8 to 5, 80 hour intensive course that will teach me how to react to medical emergencies in the backcountry when hospitals and medics are a few hours or days away. I think the knowledge will be empowering and will make me a more confident ranger. I am fortunate that none of my scouts gouged their legs or seized on the trail, but I know other rangers that did face these difficult situations.

“I! Want to go back to Philmont!”