The View From the Highest Point in the Rocky Mountain Council - 14,431 feet

COME CAMPING IN THE COUNCIL WITH ALTITUDE!          ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH ADVENTURE BASE!          SAN ISABEL SCOUT RANCH!          SCOUTING FROM THE RIVER TO THE PEAKS!!

Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base is almost ready to open in its new location!

(Some Photos are Thumbnails - Click to enlarge)

Located in the high country of southern Colorado near Poncha Springs, Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base offers white water rafting and backpacking programs in a breathtaking mountain setting.

Our whitewater rafting experience pits you against the roaring Arkansas River as it fights its way along the sheer rock walls of the Brown's Canyon of the Arkansas. After receiving training from our certified River Guides, your crew will join them for two days of exciting - and wet - whitewater rafting. And that's only half the story... 

Whitewater rafting only begins your Rocky Mountain adventure... the challenge of the Rocky Mountains still awaits your unit. Our mountain program offers a diverse range of activities to meet the needs and desires of everyone attending RMHAB.

Well, almost everyone....

You and your crew will participate in a two-day trek into the Rockies with our Mountain Staff, along the Colorado or Rainbow Trail, hiking approximately 15 miles. After receiving training in hiking, packing and low impact camping, your crew will begin their two-day adventure with our guides. RMHAB provides your meals and snacks on the trail and can provide tents and cooking equipment. However, if your troop does own such trail equipment it is advisable to bring gear that you are familiar with, for your own comfort and convenience. A camera is a MUST to record your Rocky Mountain Experience!

 

The Fourteener Challenge The Fourteener Challenge is a series of extremely difficult treks intended for Scouts and leaders in TOP physical condition. For troops experienced in backpacking and seeking a highly challenging but rewarding trek, we offer these mountains over 14,000 feet high...

Mount Shavano (Elevation 14,299): This trek involves a 2.5 mile hike the first day to the base camp. You will wake up around 4:00am the next morning to avoid thunderstorms, giving you the best chance of completing the 4-mile trip to the summit and back for a total of 13 miles and 5000 vertical feet gain. If snow conditions permit, this may involve a glissade down a snowfield.

Mount Princeton (Elevation 14,197): The difficulty of this hike is partly due to the fact that it is completed in one day. You will awake and depart RMHAB around 4:00am. A high clearance vehicle is needed to reach the trailhead, where you will hike the 4 miles to the peak and back for a total of 8 miles and 4000 feet vertical gain.

Mount Antero (Elevation 14,269): It is our most difficult trek due to its length. The first day you will hike 6.5 miles to base camp at Brown's Lake. The next morning will involve a 4:00am awakening to avoid thunderstorms along the 4 miles to the summit. You will then hike the 10.5 miles back to the trailhead for a total of 21 miles and 5000 feet vertical gain. NOTE: This could be the most difficult but rewarding effort you will ever undertake, and due to such factors as weather and personal reactions to extremely high altitudes, we cannot guarantee that every person in your group will make it!

Mountain Biking: (Additional fee of $20 per person; prices may change without notice) Mountain biking in the Rockies is pure "mountain biking". Our staff will help you design a route that meets your crews biking skills. This program is designed as a 1-day activity; RMHAB provide guide services and food for a maximum if 15 participants. Scouts and leaders can provide their own mountain bikes and equipment with no additional charge, but bikes must be in suitable condition for the trek. All participants must wear helmets at all times. The additional fee is paid to the outfitter and the unit assumes responsibility for damages to the equipment. The unit must have a vehicle with a hitch to pull the mountain bike trailer themselves.

Continental Divide Day Hike: (Additional fee of $5.00 per person; prices may change without notice) For this low cost you can ride to the top of the Continental Divide in a gondola and spend the day hiking around the top of the world. The gondola fee is paid directly to the operator. Our staff will lead you and your Scouts down the beautiful trails over to Peck's Peak. This activity is less physically demanding than the backpacking option and does not include an overnight on the trail.

For those who prefer to sample the magnificent Colorado fishing, RMHAB offers one and two day trips to several scenic mountain lakes. You will backpack from the trailhead to a mountain lake located just below the tree line. Elevations of the lakes and hiking distance will vary depending on which trip you embark upon. There will be ample room to spread out your camp and then enjoy some of the finest mountain fishing in Colorado. Fees below are the same for residents and non-residents, but YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 15 do not require a fishing license.

Resident / Non-Resident One Day Permit $ 5.25 - may change without notice.

Resident / Non-Resident Five Day Permit $ 18.25 - may change without notice.

The Rocky Mountain Council is now accepting reservations for the summer of 2008. To make a reservation or request information, contact:

CAMP SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

The Rocky Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America, strongly believes "no youth shall be denied a program
experience because of lack of funds". However, every effort must be made by applicants to "earn their own way".
Scholarship Procedures:
1. Scholarships are only available for the Rocky Mountain Council outdoor programs as listed below.
2. Only registered youth members of the Rocky Mountain Council are granted scholarships.
3. Full scholarships are not awarded. Due to limited funds, (up to 25% of the total fee) are preferred. Only in
    extreme situations will more be awarded.
4. Please fill out application completely.
5. Return to Rocky Mountain Council; Camping Department; 411 S. Pueblo Blvd; Pueblo, CO 81005-1204.
6. Please submit request at least 30 days prior to the event. Scholarships cannot be given after attending the activity.

Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base is seeking Scouts, Explorers, and Leaders of all types to serve in full-time and part-time positions during the summer of 2007. RMHAB is a great place to work, especially for Scouts and Explorers who want something more out of a "summer job" than a paycheck. We are seeking candidates for Mountain Rangers, River Guides, Rock Climbing Guides, Commissary Staff, Quartermaster Staff and Mountain Bike Guides.

Service on the staff of RMHAB is challenging and rewarding. If you are a unit leader and have an outstanding Scout or Explorer who wants to contribute to the growth of Scouts and Leaders from all parts of the country, then see contact information below.

Adults are also needed and welcome on the RMHAB Staff. Full time and part time positions need to be filled by quality Scouters. If you are one of these people, feel free to contact Jason.

The goal is to improve the  program, service, and operation with each passing year. The only way this can be accomplished is with the active support and participation of council youth and adults. RMHAB staffs have been made up of excellent people from all parts of the country, and their efforts to bring a quality program to Scouts and Scouters is certainly appreciated.

However, the Council Outdoor Program is the responsibility of the local council and the people in the local council. Encourage your Scouts and Adults to consider service at RMHAB this coming summer!

WHAT OUR CAMPERS THINK:

The following is an excerpt from Order of Arrow, Brother, Mark Majkrzak's journal about his summer camp trip to Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base Camp (RMHAB) in Poncha Springs (near Salida, CO). Mark is freshman at Washington High School, where he's on the swim team and plans to play baseball this spring. He is a Life Scout and SPL of Troop- 232. T-232 is a Camelback District troop that meets at First United Methodist Church in Phoenix on Monday nights. 

My trip started early one Saturday morning last June in the church parking lot. We loaded up the church van and headed to scout camp at Poncha Springs, Colorado. On our way, we'd stay one night in Albuquerque. From there we'd head to PHAB where we'd do the routine camp sign procedures. After that we set up camp and started cooking dinner. As we finished cooking, a huge storm rolled in and caused us to frantically take cover in the dining hall. Eventually, after the storm cleared, we headed out to our tents only to find they had all been blown down. The next day (Sunday) we still didn't do much, but go on a tour of camp and sign up for activities for the rest of the week. These were white water rafting for two days, rock climbing /rappelling, a 25 mile downhill mountain-bike ride, fly fishing in a volcano lake at 9,000ft, and a gondola ride to the top of 13,000ft Monarch Pass on the Continental Divide. 

Monday: Our first day consisted of a great 25 mile bike ride (mostly downhill); through a twisting mountain trail (Marshall Pass, 10842 ft). When we passed by RMHAB, we opted to ride another 5 miles into Salida for ice cream...but it was another 5 miles uphill back to camp! As you may have guessed, by the time we returned back to camp we were pretty tired. We jumped into the natural hot springs back at camp and really relaxed. Historians say that several past US Presidents and other famous people including the Outlaw Jesse James have enjoyed the hot springs. After a very festive day of bike riding, we headed out to a climbing site, where we would do a little climbing, and a very exciting 165 foot rappel. The rappel was amazing and very breathtaking, as was the climbing. The most interesting part of that day was a little equipment malfunction right before the rappel, but evidently we all got back to camp safely. As you can see, we had already had loads and loads of fun, but more excitement was yet to come!

 The next day we went fly fishing with a group of conservationists (Trout Unlimited), who didn't use barbed hooks, which turned out to be for the worst. We were definitely hooking many Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout and Spotted Trout. The problem was that as soon as we got them close enough to see they would wiggle off the hook and get away. But that made for great fish stories.
 
We had one "off" day at camp (Wed), which we used to drive to Monarch Pass. We rode the gondola to the summit, which was a 13,000 foot peak right in the middle of the Continental Divide. It was very cold and very windy. To prove my point, we made a paper airplane and threw it and it flew for as far as the eye could see. The last, and most exciting, days at Rocky Mountain were the two great days of white water rafting. In those two days, I had more fun than I’d ever had in my life! It was awesome to paddle through huge walls of water (rapids) that hit us. I really liked to bow ride the raft and be hit square in the face. So, thanks, Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base Camp. We're planning to return in the summer of 2007!

Mark Majkrzak

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