Hot Springs and the AT

Troop 1 Mountain Backpacking Weekend
September 30 – October 2, 2016

Troop 1 is headed to the Hot Springs area in North Carolina for an early fall backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.  Hot Springs is the only town on the 2,180-mile-long AT where the trail actually goes through the middle of town so much of life there revolves around backpacking.  Anyone who backpacks or hikes on the AT will discover a place that inspires awe through natural wonders. You’ll never experience the same mountain twice: today you might come face-to-face with an owl, another day you may see rare wildflowers in bloom. There’s nowhere else on Earth that you can enjoy such a variety of mountain life in one amazing place.

Our destination Friday afternoon will be Garenflo Gap where we will begin our trek backpacking just over 3 miles to the Deer Park Mountain Shelter to spend Friday night.  After breakfast Saturday morning we will conclude the backpacking portion of the trip by trekking another 3 miles right into the town of Hot Springs in time for lunch where we will set up camp at the world famous Hot Springs Resort and Spa!  Following lunch, it will be off on the next leg of this adventure hiking one of the many loop trails in the area before returning to our campsite for a special afternoon surprise where you might want to pack a swimsuit.  We will finish the evening with a visit to a local pizza restaurant.

There will be $45 charge for this trip.  The troop will be providing dinner Friday (Chick-fil-A bag supper on the bus so you may want to bring a snack for later) and Saturday (local pizza restaurant) evening along with a lunch stop on the way home Sunday.  Scouts will need to provide their own breakfast and lunch on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.

Please register by the September 27th scout meeting.

We will meet at 3:30 Friday at the scout hut and depart in the church bus promptly by 4:00 planning to return to the scout hut around 1:00PM on Sunday.

You will need your own backpacking stove and method of purifying water or make arrangements to use someone else’s.  You may bring a book bag to carry your water etc. on the day hike Saturday afternoon.

Packing List

• Good hiking boots and socks
• Light-weight stove (or make arrangements to share)
• Rain gear
• Backpack and pack cover
• Layer your outer ware. Synthetics next to your skin to wick
• Gloves and warm head gear
• Camera (optional)
• Sleeping bag  (even though it is September, plan for much cooler nights than Spartanburg)
• Water bottle (have at least 2 quarts – Gatorade bottles will work)
• Lightweight shelter (Scouts should share and plan in advance).
• Water filter or tablets (may share, make arrangements in advance Be prepared for areas where suitable water will not be found by having at least 2 quarts of water with you)
• Cookware
• Food (Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, and Sunday Breakfast)
• Sleeping pad (optional)
• Flash light
• Bio-degradable soap (cleaning dishes, may get at Wal-Mart)
• Toiletries, TP
• Compass
• Fire starter (not everyone needs this)
• Swimsuit for hot springs

Click to download a topographical map of the trail.