Boy Scouts preparing to hike the Appalachian trail
MARSHALL COUNTY — In June, Boy Scouts of America Troop 251 from Plymouth will be making a trip to hike the Appalachian Trail. The troop has spent the last year preparing and training for that hike. Scoutmaster Shawn Hooley spoke about the scout’s and their preparation for it.
“They told me prep, stress, weight, and distance are their biggest concerns. They have been hiking throughout the summer on treks of at least 10 miles or more applying different methods of hiking,” Hooley said when asked what the scout’s thoughts were about the trip.
The plan, according to Hooley, is to leave on June 4 and return on
June 13. “We’ll be on the trail for the majority of the trip. The last day will be a wind down day before traveling home,” Hooley said. He added that there was a great deal of planning that went into getting permits to camp with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
One difference in hiking the Appalachian trail and normal camping is that with normal camping, the scouts take a trailer with larger tents and supplies. For this trip, the scouts will be using the light weight backpacking method.
“So, the scouts are having to lighten up their packs, everything they need for the trip will have to be with them. Having only the necessities they need: clothes, shelter, supplies, and food,” said
Hooley.
The weight that the scouts will be trying to accomplish is around 20 percent of their body weight. Hooley said that the lighter they can go, the better it will be on the scouts.
“Learning about weight and packing techniques and applying them for the next trek. Learning how to make dehydrated meals to control weight as well as removing big or unneeded items from their packs. Some have opted to hammock camp as a way to control weight and help with space in backpacks,” he said.
They will be traveling roughly 72 miles over seven days camping about six nights on the Appalachian trail from the southwest border to the north east border of the Smoky Mountains National Park.
The hike will test the scouts in more ways than one. Hooley describes it as “everything from a discipline trip to strength trip.” Working together will be one of the key aspects to the trip. Hooley said that the scouts will be following the buddy system and will have to watch out for each other. Some items can be shared also, which would reduce some of the weight for their buddy.
“With multiple elevation changes, campsite locations, water supply sources and weather, everyone will be challenged needing to apply basic scouting knowledge, and knowledge learned from working on hiking, backpacking, and camping merit badges,” said Hooley.
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Troop 251 was able to hold fundraisers. However, they have been restricted more due to the pandemic. Hooley stated that the troop is chartered with First United Methodist Church in Plymouth and have close contacts with the Potawatomi Wildlife Park. If you would like to help out with fundraising or would like more information about BSA Troop 251, visit their Facebook page by searching @ T251plymouth.
“As their scoutmaster, most of these boys have been in scouting for a considerable amount of time, this trip is a coming together of all that they have learned. Their quest for high adventure trips is becoming more prevalent. As their leader, one could not be prouder of them.