A crew of teenage Scouts and their leaders recently went on a life-changing summer trek through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.

Philmont covers 214 square miles of vast wilderness, with trails climbing from 6,500 feet to as high as 12,441 feet.

During the trek, Boy Scouts from Troops 1600 and 191 hiked more than 90 miles over 10 days.

The group of Scouts and their advisors carried everything they needed to survive during the trek on their backs while hiking from camp to camp.

They participated in backcountry programs along the way including rock climbing, archaeology, homesteading, spar pole climbing, blacksmithing and gold prospecting.

The trek included a conservation project where the Scouts learned and participated in the upkeep of Philmont's ecosystem. Along the trek, Scouts endured tough challenges including backpacking in bear and mountain lion territory, steep climbs, and often-inclement weather. The Scouts list the summit of Baldy Mountain and watching the sun rise from the top of the Tooth of Time Mountain as key highlights.

The crew made what amounts to a Scouting pilgrimage with their trip to Philmont. Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of America's premier high adventure camp and the largest youth camp in the world serving nearly one million participants since 1938.