Julie Smith Vigil

Tennessee native, Julie Smith Vigil, first experienced Philmont as a reluctant, 13-year-old mountain trek participant.  Afterward she told her parents she was going to move to New Mexico as soon as she could.  Julie did just that, and she never left.

Among the many jobs that Julie worked at Philmont, PTC Group Leader was one of her favorites, as well as holding claim to being the first female CD at French Henry.  Today, she is a school teacher in Cimarron, and continues to work at Philmont in the summer time. 

Julie shares her experiences of being met with with disapproval as a female at Philmont in the1980's - and how she had to work extra, and twice as hard to prove herself.   She was repeatedly asked by management to step into different departments and new roles, always saying yes - embracing the scary but exciting challenge.  Julie finishes off the interview with some fun ghost stories from her time at Baldy and French.

Philmont Experience
1981 and 1983 - Mountain Trek

1985 - Trading Post
1986 & 1988 - PTC Group Leader
1989 - Asst Program Mgr
1990 & 1991 - Assoc Director Conservation
1992 - PTC Services Mgr
1993 - PTC Seasonal Registrar
Fall 1993 - PTC Office
1994 - CD Santa Claus
1995 - CD Clark's Fork
1996 - CD Miners
1997 - Logistics Mgr
1998 - CD Cito
1999 - CD Baldy
2000 - CD French
2001 & 2002 - BCM
2003 & 2004 - Logistics Asst Mgr
2005 - BCM
2006 - Logistics Communications Mgr
2007 - 2010- Asst BCW Mgr
2011 & 2012 - Mailroom
2013 - Asst BCW Mgr
2014 - BCW Mgr
2015 - Mailroom
2016 - Mailroom Mgr
2017 - took off a summer
2018 & 2019 & 2021 - Special Projects Coordinator

Notable Mentions
Chris McCarthy Standard
Mitch Standard
Doug Palmer
Georgia - PC at French
Amy Long - First BCM
Dwight
Johnny Ulibarri
Gene Schnell
Rachel Ricklefs
Linda Anderson
Steve Nelson