Eastern TN // Sep 2022 [POSTPONED]

This trip has been postponed due to lack of sufficient interest.

SUMMARY 🔴

WHAT: An advanced backpacking trip to eastern TN (Roan Mountain, Appalachian Trail).

RSVP: TBD

This trip is open to Scouts who:

Have been on 4 or more Troop Intermediate backpacking trips in the last 2 years, OR have been on a Philmont or Boundary Waters High Adventure Trip.

Max 10 people (7-8 Scouts with 2-3 Adults)

DEPART: 4:00PM on Fri Sep 23 from

Publix parking lot⁠

(5 hour drive)

RETURN: Evening of Sun Sep 25 at

Publix parking lot⁠

⁠

DISTANCE/ELEVATION: ~14 miles round trip, 2,897 ft ascent, 5,518 ft descent

MEALS:

Friday: Bring money to stop along the way for dinner

Saturday: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sunday: Breakfast, bring money for lunch off the trail

COST: $60 for Scouts, $36 for Adults ($30 discount for Scouts using OWNFOOD-ROAN if bringing your own food)

It is possible that there will be an additional charge for a shuttle service - that will be confirmed before we leave for the trip and collected separately if needed.

PACKING LIST:

Backpacking Packing List⁠

⁠

ITINERARY

We will leave from Franklin (the

Publix on Royal Oaks⁠

) on Friday afternoon and drive out to Roan Mountain State Park where we’ll car camp for the night. Saturday morning we’ll have breakfast and break camp. We’ll drive everyone to the Carvers Gap trailhead and hit the trail. We’ll hike from about 8 miles on the AT. A tentative campsite is marked on the GaiaGPS map below. On Sunday we’ll hike the remaining 6 miles to the the Mountain Harbour B&B, where we’ll enjoy a good meal at their restaurant before heading back to Franklin.

This is a strenuous trek - take note of the elevation changes. Nearly 3000 feet of ascent (comparable to the Mt Baldy ascent at Philmont), and over a mile of descent (almost twice the Mt Baldy descent at Philmont!). If it’s been a while since you’ve been backpacking, this is not the trip to ease back into things with.

We have some details to iron out with shuttling vehicles between the start and end points. Mountain Harbour runs a shuttle service, or we might shuttle 2 vehicles ourselves. Details will be confirmed after signups have closed - additional cost possible (likely less than $20).

The Roan Mountain area is unique in eastern TN as it’s known for the “

balds⁠

” - mountains that do not have typical tree cover, allowing for some amazing views. We’ll also get to add the Appalachian Trail to our list of places we’ve hiked (and see some of their shelters).

Once the roster is finalized, Scouts will choose their leadership roles for this trek based on how we backpack at Philmont: Crew leader, Chaplains aide, and Wilderness Guia, as well as cooks.