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 there were formative and primitive - learning to build a smokehouse to make jerky, and even partaking in a rocky mountain gray jay feast with scouts - his memories are romantic and idyllic.
After a very primitive year at Clear Creek, he returned in 1972 which ended up being a much more active and diverse experience - Brad was hired to be a PC at Cyphers, but ended up a PC at Cito and later that same summer CD at Crater. Brad shares stories from bear trap encounters and memorial latrines to being a part of the first officially approved rappel of the Tooth of Time.
Since his time on staff, Brad has been very active in the PSA and is currently on the board of directors. After participating in numerous PSA treks, Volunteer Vacations, and Phil-Break, Brad celebrates the valuable work of volunteering and giving back.
Brad closes the episode reflecting how Philmont is such an emotional experience - a place of intense relationships, of life-long bonds, and of soulmates.
Philmont Experience:
1968: Trek participant
1971: PC Clear Creek
1972: ACD Cimarron Cito (beginning of summer – July 25)
1972: CD Crater Lake (July 25-end of summer)
1973: CD Crater Lake
1996: PTC District Key 3 Training
1997: Trek with Son’s explorer post
PSA Treks: 1999, 2001, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
Volunteer Vacation: 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021
Phil-Break: 2021
PSA Board: 2003-2005, 2021-2023
Notable Mentions:
Dave Plumb
Joe Clay
Gene Tyson
Bill Shriver
Lee Davis
Joe Davis
Burky
Matt McClain
Dave Bates
Robyn Slack
Bjorn Kelstrum
John Nickel
