2014 High Adventure Trip to Great Smoky Mountains: Backpacking & White Water Rafting
Dates: July 28 - August 3, 2014
Cost: $250/person including all costs for transportation, food, activities
Pre-requisite for Attendance: All Scouts must be at least First Class Rank and 70
lbs. No rookies allow on this trip, everyone needs to have attend one of three troop backpacking "shakedown" weekends 8/1-4/2013, 9/20-22/2013, or 4/11-13/2014. This also can count towards the three 15 mile trips needed for Backpacking merit badge.
Health Forms: Need typical parts ABC Click here for ABC form.
Equipment Needed: 80-90 liter backpack (can rent backpacks from REI for $8/day or
borrow from a friend), two 1 liter water bottles. Can bring personal backpacking
tent or use troop tent.
Merit Badges: This trip will satisfy 30 miles for requirement #11 for Backpacking merit badge.
Cost: $250/person including all costs for transportation, food, activities
Pre-requisite for Attendance: All Scouts must be at least First Class Rank and 70
lbs. No rookies allow on this trip, everyone needs to have attend one of three troop backpacking "shakedown" weekends 8/1-4/2013, 9/20-22/2013, or 4/11-13/2014. This also can count towards the three 15 mile trips needed for Backpacking merit badge.
Health Forms: Need typical parts ABC Click here for ABC form.
Equipment Needed: 80-90 liter backpack (can rent backpacks from REI for $8/day or
borrow from a friend), two 1 liter water bottles. Can bring personal backpacking
tent or use troop tent.
Merit Badges: This trip will satisfy 30 miles for requirement #11 for Backpacking merit badge.
Backpacking Routes (click here for map)
Schoenle Crew (Jerry & Dominic, Mike & Joe, Matt & William)
7/29 Drive to Big Creek ranger station near Waterville, park, walk to 37 Lower Walnut Bottoms (6.7 miles) follows stream on grated trail (no crossings), 7/30 go from 37 via Pretty Hollow Gap trail to to 38 Mt Sterling (6 miles) following a stream with crossings and later a ridge, 7/31 go from 38 Mt Sterling (6 miles)reversing prior day route back to 37 Lower Walnut Bottoms, 8/1 go from 37 to Big Creek ranger station (6.7 miles) follows stream on grated trail (no crossings). Total miles 25.4. As an alternate for only 2.3 more miles, on last day 8/1: go from 37 up Lower Gap Trail (2.5 miles) to Application Trail - Mt. Cammerer Trial to Chestnut Branch Trail to Big Creek ranger station (9 miles from 37) mostly easy walking along AT ridge. Can decide on 8/1 based on health of crew.
Wilson Crew (Kevin & Peter, Joe & Chris & Gabe, Jim & Andrew) 7/29 Drive to Big Creek ranger station near Waterville, park, walk to 37 Lower Walnut Bottoms (6.7 miles) follows stream on grated trail (no crossings), 7/30 go from 37 to 39 Pretty Hollow camp site (8 miles) follows a creek with multiple crossings ascending 4 miles then descending 4 miles. 7/3 go from 39 to 38 Mt Sterling via Little Cataloochee trail (10.2 miles) following stream with multiple crossings for 4 miles then steady climb 5.5 miles with some crossings, 8/1 go from 38 to Big Creek ranger station (7.2 miles) all downhill with multiple switchbacks.
Schoenle Crew (Jerry & Dominic, Mike & Joe, Matt & William)
7/29 Drive to Big Creek ranger station near Waterville, park, walk to 37 Lower Walnut Bottoms (6.7 miles) follows stream on grated trail (no crossings), 7/30 go from 37 via Pretty Hollow Gap trail to to 38 Mt Sterling (6 miles) following a stream with crossings and later a ridge, 7/31 go from 38 Mt Sterling (6 miles)reversing prior day route back to 37 Lower Walnut Bottoms, 8/1 go from 37 to Big Creek ranger station (6.7 miles) follows stream on grated trail (no crossings). Total miles 25.4. As an alternate for only 2.3 more miles, on last day 8/1: go from 37 up Lower Gap Trail (2.5 miles) to Application Trail - Mt. Cammerer Trial to Chestnut Branch Trail to Big Creek ranger station (9 miles from 37) mostly easy walking along AT ridge. Can decide on 8/1 based on health of crew.
Wilson Crew (Kevin & Peter, Joe & Chris & Gabe, Jim & Andrew) 7/29 Drive to Big Creek ranger station near Waterville, park, walk to 37 Lower Walnut Bottoms (6.7 miles) follows stream on grated trail (no crossings), 7/30 go from 37 to 39 Pretty Hollow camp site (8 miles) follows a creek with multiple crossings ascending 4 miles then descending 4 miles. 7/3 go from 39 to 38 Mt Sterling via Little Cataloochee trail (10.2 miles) following stream with multiple crossings for 4 miles then steady climb 5.5 miles with some crossings, 8/1 go from 38 to Big Creek ranger station (7.2 miles) all downhill with multiple switchbacks.
Itinerary
July 28: meet at SSA Plymouth 8:00 am, depart at 8:15 am, travel to Tennessee. 6 pm, arrive to Cosby Group Camp Site #3 in Great Smoky Mountains, cook dinner & setup for camp.
July 29: 8:30 am (after breakfast in Cosby) - Both crews drive to Big Creek Trailhead, park, start 4 day hike. On July 30, crews go on separate routes to rejoin back at Cosby Group Campground 8/1.
August 1: Return to Cosby Group Camp Site #3 early afternoon. Dinner is at group camp site.
August 2: Sleep in, lunch, depart at 12:30 pm for 1 pm - 3 pm White water rafting trip on Upper Pigeon River with Outdoors Adventures. click here for rafting details. Return to Cosby for dinner (wear Class A shirts). Attend evening Mass at 7 pm at St. Mary's in Gatlinburg, TN.
August 3: Depart for home 7 am to return to SSA Plymouth 4:30 pm.
Food Plan (click here for food plan). All food will be provided to ensure you maintain about 3500 calories a day given all the calories spent hiking.
Tips On Packing
Pay attention to weight, your total weight of everything carried should be no more than 25% of your body weight (and you'll be happier at 20%). Here are some weight estimates: pack 4-5 lbs, sleeping bag 4-5 lbs, 2 liters water 4.5 lbs, food 8 lbs, So minimize your clothes when packing (wear same clothes 3-4 days).
There are several methods for ensuring your sleeping bag and key clothes stay dry. At minimum, put your sleeping bag in a garbage bag (tying end close). Or purchase a 15-20 liter lightweight dry bag for $20-25. Get a box of 2.5 gallon size zip bags from Kroger's (10 for $5 but can be shared by two persons) to pack your clothes, squeeze out the air to condense it for packing and keep it dry. Without the 2.5 gallon zip bags, use another garbage bag to contain your clothes and keep them dry.
Bring a pair of mid-height hiking boots that provide good ankle support, light shoes to wear in camp after hiking, pair of old running shoes or water shoes to cross streams.
With Internal frame, lay the pack down on its back for loading. The sleeping bag goes in first, packing it on the bottom; then pack all else adding last the tent putting it inside and center going length of pack (away from your back). Try to pack a layer of soft clothing against the side of the pack that will be against your back. Pack the densest, heaviest items near the bottom and against this soft layer, as close to your back as possible. Fill in the rest of your stuff so that the entire pack is tightly packed. It is very important to use all the straps and buckles on an internal to secure the load properly, as close to your body as possible. For an external frame, sleeping bag is at bottom mounted outside pack, tent mounted on top outside. You can also view Youtube videos on packing a backpack.
Since we are really only "car camping" 1st and last two nights, if you want to only put in the backpack what you'll take for 4 days backpacking that would be fine. Your choice. You could pack all in your backpack or you can bring an extra bag just for items used 1st and last two nights. But we won't take the trailer so pack light!
July 28: meet at SSA Plymouth 8:00 am, depart at 8:15 am, travel to Tennessee. 6 pm, arrive to Cosby Group Camp Site #3 in Great Smoky Mountains, cook dinner & setup for camp.
July 29: 8:30 am (after breakfast in Cosby) - Both crews drive to Big Creek Trailhead, park, start 4 day hike. On July 30, crews go on separate routes to rejoin back at Cosby Group Campground 8/1.
August 1: Return to Cosby Group Camp Site #3 early afternoon. Dinner is at group camp site.
August 2: Sleep in, lunch, depart at 12:30 pm for 1 pm - 3 pm White water rafting trip on Upper Pigeon River with Outdoors Adventures. click here for rafting details. Return to Cosby for dinner (wear Class A shirts). Attend evening Mass at 7 pm at St. Mary's in Gatlinburg, TN.
August 3: Depart for home 7 am to return to SSA Plymouth 4:30 pm.
Food Plan (click here for food plan). All food will be provided to ensure you maintain about 3500 calories a day given all the calories spent hiking.
Tips On Packing
Pay attention to weight, your total weight of everything carried should be no more than 25% of your body weight (and you'll be happier at 20%). Here are some weight estimates: pack 4-5 lbs, sleeping bag 4-5 lbs, 2 liters water 4.5 lbs, food 8 lbs, So minimize your clothes when packing (wear same clothes 3-4 days).
There are several methods for ensuring your sleeping bag and key clothes stay dry. At minimum, put your sleeping bag in a garbage bag (tying end close). Or purchase a 15-20 liter lightweight dry bag for $20-25. Get a box of 2.5 gallon size zip bags from Kroger's (10 for $5 but can be shared by two persons) to pack your clothes, squeeze out the air to condense it for packing and keep it dry. Without the 2.5 gallon zip bags, use another garbage bag to contain your clothes and keep them dry.
Bring a pair of mid-height hiking boots that provide good ankle support, light shoes to wear in camp after hiking, pair of old running shoes or water shoes to cross streams.
With Internal frame, lay the pack down on its back for loading. The sleeping bag goes in first, packing it on the bottom; then pack all else adding last the tent putting it inside and center going length of pack (away from your back). Try to pack a layer of soft clothing against the side of the pack that will be against your back. Pack the densest, heaviest items near the bottom and against this soft layer, as close to your back as possible. Fill in the rest of your stuff so that the entire pack is tightly packed. It is very important to use all the straps and buckles on an internal to secure the load properly, as close to your body as possible. For an external frame, sleeping bag is at bottom mounted outside pack, tent mounted on top outside. You can also view Youtube videos on packing a backpack.
Since we are really only "car camping" 1st and last two nights, if you want to only put in the backpack what you'll take for 4 days backpacking that would be fine. Your choice. You could pack all in your backpack or you can bring an extra bag just for items used 1st and last two nights. But we won't take the trailer so pack light!
