Podcasts Culture Silver On the Sage Bucko Cowden

Bucko Cowden

Published: April 26, 2021, 9 a.m.

From a very young age, Bucko Cowden was free to roam at Philmont Scout Ranch. As a “Chaplain’s kid” Bucko shares stories of undercover excursions to Ponil, ping-pong tournaments, and numerous Rayado-like Mountain Treks. Returning in 2004 as a young adult on staff, Bucko became “Rock star adjacent” storytelling legend and an integral player in the birth of mountain ball (not to be confused with logger ball). In this episode we discuss an array of Philmont topics from what it was like to experience the 2002 Ponil complex fire to the complexities of the Backcountry Manager position ... to phil-flings and unconventional phil-fiestas! Pour yourself a tall glass of your choosing, light up a fire, gather with friends (in person or virtually), and enjoy this candid and meaningful episode. “We’re all telling the same stories, it’s just the names that have changed.” Thanks Bucko! 

Youth Experience

  • Chaplain's kid: 1987, 90, 94

Participant Experience

  • 7 Mountain Treks: 1994
  • 2 Mountain Treks: 1996

Staff Experience

  • PC Miranda 2002
  • PC Crater Lake 2003
  • CD Pueblano 2004
  • CD Miranda 2005
  • CD Beaubien 2006
  • BCM 2007
  • BCM 2010
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