Last Chance!
After several weeks of planning and meetings, the 2014 Summer Backpacking Trek is taking shape – there are five Scouts and a number of adults signed up. Since the final trek plan is a bit shorter than the original, we are offering a last chance for others to indicate their interest in participating. Signups will close with the start of the detailed planning and training programs in mid-February so please respond now if you have interest or would like further information.
It will be Saturday, June 14 in the morning, through Saturday, June 21, in the late afternoon. We will Hike South Bound on the Application Trail from Atkins, VA, to Damascus, VA (75.3 miles). There will be 6 days of hiking, at about 12.6 mi. per day, and a range of 10.2mi to 15.8mi on the final day.
We will Depart Saturday morning, June 14, by car, overnight in motel on Application Trail in Atkins. We will start hiking Sunday, June 15, and finish hiking Friday, June 20. We will return home Saturday, June 21. The drive is 6 hours plus stops and any shuttle time. We will resupply after day-1 and mid-day-4 so you’d carry food for 3 days max at any one time and we have got a good amount of potential adult support which will simplify logistics considerably.
To ensure everyone is ready for this trek, the following training / conditioning activities are planned:
- Four day hikes (10-15 miles), some local, some in N. GA. First will be Feb 16th after church at Kennesaw, two others TBA soon.
- Four overnight backpacking trips (N. GA). Two are on calendar now (February “Winter B/P” and March “Spring AT B/P”). Two more to be planned, one April, one May, TBA soon.
- Personal commitment from each hiker to hike a total of at least 10 miles every week not having a day hike or weekend trip (your neighborhood, Leita Thompson, Roswell Park, Kennesaw, etc.).
The training will conflict with many other spring activities. Because the trek crew depends on everyone being prepared, the trek preparation will have to take precedence over many otherwise fine activities. Every crew member is expected to attend at least 3 of 4 of the day hike and overnight b/p trips planned for the crew. The crew depends on each other for health, safety, and even simply the ability to complete the trek. Adequate preparation is required! Please talk to Mr. Moultrie if you have any concerns about fulfilling this requirement!
These are the Estimates of the cost (per person):
- Mileage assistance to drivers – $34
- Overnights off-trail in Atkins and Damascus – $30 (total)
- Six meals off-trail (3-up, 3-back) – $75
- Pocket money for snacks, pizza at first trail night (Pizza Hut delivers on the AT there!) – $25
That’s about $165!
Click HERE for the day-by-day hike plan.
Click HERE for the Elevation Profile.
Note: On the Elevation Profile, we would start at bottom right (Atkins, mile 542) and hike left and up the page finishing on the upper left at about AT mile 467.