‘UNKNOWN AND WONDER’

Local Scout talks about participating in the St. George Trek in New Mexico

Wesley Grainer (l.) — shown with St. George Trek Director Greg Szczesny, who is also the immediate past chair of the Albany Diocese Catholic Committee on Scouting — attended the National Catholic Committee on Scouting’s St. George Trek this year at the Philmont Scout Reservation in Cimarron, N.M. Participants included 39 Scouts from across the U.S. forming five crews, with six priests, four seminarians, one sister, three lay members and Szczesny serving as an adult advisor. Additionally, Bishop Michael W. Fisher of Buffalo — the USCCB’s liaison to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, who attained the rank of Eagle Scout — attended the entire program and enjoyed visiting the participants out in the backcountry. (Photo provide

As part of its mission to promote Scouting’s “Duty to God,” the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting provides underwriting support for Scouts to attend the National Catholic Committee on Scouting’s St. George Trek, held every other year at the Philmont Scout Reservation in Cimarron, N.M. 

This year, Wesley Grainer — a Life Scout with Troop 1078 which is chartered by St. Pius X Church in Loudonville — participated in the trek. Grainer currently serves as Senior Patrol Leader for the Troop and has begun his work to complete the requirements to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.

Mark Wilson, the current Chair of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, asked Grainer for his reflections on this physically challenging and spiritually moving experience. 

MW:  How did you prepare physically and spiritually for the trek?

WG:  To physically prepare for the trek, I started walking around my neighborhood months before. Eventually, by the time of the trek, I was carrying a full pack weighing more than 40 pounds where I hiked a few miles each day. I prepared spiritually by always wondering at Mass and in my prayers how the trek would go and asking for guidance. 

MW:  Describe the Philmont Scout Reservation, which serves as the base camp for the trek.

WG:  The Philmont Scout Reservation is 140,711 acres in size and located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico which are part of the Rocky Mountain chain. The base camp is large and has a sea of tents and people which nearby includes the National Scouting Museum. There are about 3,500 scouts and staff on the reservation on any given day in the summer. 

At base camp, you are assigned to a ranger who prepares your crew for the trek and teaches everyone the Philmont style of camping which you will utilize for the rest of the trek. This includes safety precautions and ways to preserve the wilderness, such as steps on how we handle waste to where we set up tents. For example, we had to set up our tents at least 50 feet from the “bear-muda-triangle” which is a triangle connecting the sump, bear bags and fire ring.  

MW:  What did you like best about this experience?

WG:  Nature played a major part in what I liked best about this experience. The program also helped me best understand what heading toward the path of a religious vocation would entail for me. The best aspect of the experience would be the feeling of accomplishment at the end.

MW:  Were there any challenges to completing the trek?

WG:  Preparation was a confusing problem I tried to solve. I had to do a lot of research and preparation to make sure I had the best pack and lightweight items. My pack weighed 42.5 pounds with water and team equipment. My personal physical challenge was shin splints that appeared on long inclines. One of the major challenges for me was acclimating to the higher elevations and drastically hot temperatures. We eventually ended our trek at 70 miles over 10 days on the planned route.

MW:  How many Scouts, leaders and clergy took part in your trek?

WG:  In my crew we had eight scouts total and three clergy, two priests and a seminarian. Every one of us were from different dioceses across the United States. By the end of the trek, we all wanted to stay, but knew we had to leave.

MW:  How did this experience bring you closer to God’s Word?

WG:  There were several times when I felt some parallels to the disciples following Jesus, certain passages in the Bible, or just the wonder of God’s world and his plans. 

•  Ahead of the trek, I had to go through a shakedown several times to remove unnecessary items that I had packed for the trek. Among other items, it was my decision to leave behind items of comfort such as an extra shirt, sweater and pillow, with the intent of reducing the weight of my pack. Once I had reduced my pack to only the minimal items necessary, I had to take on the extra items that the crew needed, such as a tarp, tent and food. Through this experience, I was reminded that Jesus asked the disciples to leave their things behind and follow him and how they chose to have a light load so they could focus on their relationship with Him and ultimately help others.

•  I was reminded of how the disciples had to walk long distances with Jesus, sometimes in the desert or mountains. This trek felt a bit like that type of journey. We prayed the Rosary on most of the hikes and had Mass on the trail or at camp. At the end of every day, we each shared a rose, thorn and bud for that day. The rose was what you enjoyed about the day, the thorn was what you didn’t like about the day, and the bud what you look forward to in the future. It was a nice way to end the day.

•  Our crew had Mass and Communion several times while on the trail. We decided to have Mass on a boulder, in a valley, with our upcoming path in view. Besides the spectacular view for Communion, the unique aspect of the experience was the bird activity around us during Mass. There were more than the usual number of birds present and they were communicating with loud calls.

•  Two words really define how I felt during the trek: unknown and wonder. Leading up to the trek there was the uncertainty of the unknown; if I can make it through the trek and the unknown of what it would be like. Even during the trek there was the unknown of what we would see or do that day. There was also the wonder of how I could carry 40 pounds for 10 days straight. Discernment has the feeling of uncertainty of the unknown and wonder about who I will be in five years and what plans God has for me.

•  The last morning, everyone in my crew hiked up the Tooth of Time Mountain before sunrise which was at roughly 9,000 feet. There were about 50 Scouts at the top and we all sat in total silence and watched in wonder as the sun rose. This was a very communal experience for me.

Importantly, I’d like to thank the Albany Diocese for supporting me on the 2026 St. George Trek.