I am very sorry to hear of the young Scout's tragic death. It sounds like such a freak accident and given that the violent thunderstorm occurred miles away in the mountains in the middle of the night, no one is to blame.

I attended Philmont in 1950, along with my older brother. Believe me, things were much more primitive there then, than today. I do remember that with distant mountains, a rain storm there might never have been known to us.... until the small creeks suddenly rose dangerously.

My condolences to the Scout's family.

L.W. (Eagle Scout, 1952.)


"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." (William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830s.)