Mountain Backpacking Weekend

Grandfather Mountain
October 2-4, 2015

Troop 1 is headed to the Grandfather Mountain area for an early fall backpacking trip. Anyone who visits Grandfather Mountain 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. Just talk to one of our naturalists to understand more about these living treasures and learn where to find them. There’s nowhere else on Earth that you can enjoy such a variety of mountain life in one amazing place.

Friday night the troop will prepare a fine dinner as only our talented chefs of Troop 1can do and we will camping off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Saturday morning we will break camp and head out on the Tanawha Trail leading towards Grandfather Mountain. Tanawha, the Cherokee word for fabulous hawk or eagle, is an appropriate name for this trail that offers hikers spectacular views of distant mountains. Completed in 1993, the Tanawha Trail, like the final section of the Parkway it mirrors, is unique in construction. The trail traverses a fragile and ancient ecosystem and leads hikers through a surprising range of biological and geological terrains. Some sections tunnel through thickets of laurel and rhododendron. Others dip down into remote hardwood coves and then ascend into evergreen glens. Boulder fields and cascading streams punctuate the landscape. Along this trail second year and older scouts will turn to the left and begin a journey that will bring them to the top of Grandfather Mountain by Sunday morning while the First Years will continue the journey along the Tanwha Trail to near Blowing Rock. The two groups will reunite Sunday morning on the small boulder of Macrae Peak (elevation 5844ft) for a very memorable worship service.

There will be $35 charge for this trip. The troop will be providing dinner Friday evening and a lunch stop on the way home Sunday. Please register by the September 29th 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 3:00PM on Sunday.

You will need your own backpacking stove and method of purifying water or make arrangements to use someone else’s. You will be responsible for your own food for meals from Saturday morning through Sunday breakfast.

Packing List:
Good hiking boots and socks
Light weight stove (or make arrangements to share)
Rain gear
Back Pack 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 – a Gatorade bottle 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 through Sunday Breakfast)
Sleeping pad (optional)
Flash light
Bio degradable soap (cleaning dishes, may get at WalMart)
Toiletries, TP
Compass
Fire starter (not everyone needs this)

Sample menu:
Saturday morning- Add water grits or oatmeal, breakfast bar, hot chocolate (Plan on heating water with your backpacking stove.)
Saturday Lunch – Trail mix or jerky. Candy bar and fruit.
Saturday Supper- Jerky or country ham to be boiled, instant mash potatoes, dehydrated soup, ramen noodles.
Sunday Morning- Same as Saturday