Troop 1 will again be embarking on a 50 mile whitewater paddling and Art Loeb Trail hiking adventure July 8-12 , 2015 (Wednesday-Sunday), earning each participant the prestigious 50 mile patch. The thirty mile section of the French Broad River we will paddle offers excellent canoeing and the twenty miles we will cover of the Art Loeb Trail is loaded with spectacular views and varied terrains.
We will depart the scout hut Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 5:00PM for Rosman, NC where we will camp and cook at base camp.
Thursday morning we will be shuttled into the mountains and dropped off at our beginning point on the Trail. We will then pack ten miles before setting up camp alongside the trail. On Friday we will pack the final ten miles of the trail and hike to the Pisgah Ranger station to be shuttled back to our base camp.
The real excitement begins the following morning as we take to the river to cover the first 20 miles. We will carry all our gear in the canoes for a paddle-in camp out. Dry bags for storage will be needed. We will camp alongside the river Saturday night, before completing the final portion of the river on Sunday before lunch. After a meal for lunch, it will be time to return to Spartanburg.
To get a better feel for this trip check out the photos of our 2004 and 2013 trip at this link:
http://troop1.smugmug.com/2004/FrenchBroadCanoeingB/4883105_Pf3kwJ#!i=291265027&k=fJqTgGL
A requirement for earning the 50 mile patch is during the time on the trail or waterway to complete a minimum of 10 hours each of group work on projects to improve the trail, springs, campsite, portage, or area. This will be done as we go.
Space is limited on this trip and is on a first come basis. A participating scout must have either:
- Completed 6th grade and earned the canoeing merit badge OR
- Be accompanied by his father/male guardian.
Camping accommodations, canoe equipment, PFD, helmets, transportation, and meals in base camp are included in the $75.00 fee. Register as soon as possible to ensure a space. Final sign up is May 30, 2015. There will be a waiting list.
Questions: Mark Mullen 909-4649 [email protected]
| Date | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, July 8 | 5:00 PM Depart Scout Hut for the Headwaters Campground. Scouts should eat before or bring their dinner on the ride. | |
| Thursday, July 9 | Breakfast provided by troop at Headwaters Campground, then break camp and take shuttle with backpacks to Black Balsam parking area to begin backpacking portion on the Art Loeb trail. Scouts will provide their own lunch and dinner on the trail and camp that night along the trail. | |
| Friday, July 10 | Continue along the Art Loeb with scouts providing their own breakfast and lunch along the way. You will end the backpacking portion that afternoon hiking to the Pisgah ranger station. We will then be shuttled back to the Headwaters campground. The troop will provide dinner that night. | |
| Saturday, July 11 | Breakfast provided by troop at the Headwaters campsite, then break camp and launch (walking distance from the campground) the canoes to begin afloat portion. Scouts will be required to pack all their gear in their canoes as we will paddle in to our campsite that night. This will be a new challenge as the boys will have to pack in dry bags all their gear for sleeping, lunch and breakfast. The troop will provide dinner on this night. Everything you take in the canoe with you should be in a dry bag attached to the canoe. | |
| Sunday, July 12 | After breakfast, we will break camp and continue on journey afloat to the take out point. We will stop on the ride home and get lunch. Head home mid afternoon. |
Registered
| Scouts (22) | Adults (11) |
|---|---|
| Buddy A. Will B. Ben F. Sam F. Max G. Langston G. Alex H. Graham H. Rob K. Drew L. Will L. Eli M. Henry M. Banks M. James M. Aidan P. Colton P. Graham S. Ross S. William S. Allen T. Jack W. |
Bryan Goldman Bryan Green Jim Hall Boyce Lawton Todd Manke Mark Mullen Ed Miles Bobby Pereyo Scott Scheel Bill Schwartz Jay Wakefield |