HA201 – Packs – Dolly Sods Wilderness Backpacking High Adventure
Photo credit: Valerius Tygart
TROOP 1128 Aug 2017 HA-201 – Packs 2017 – Dolly Sods Wilderness Backpacking High Adventure!
August 7-12, 2017
Announcing HA-201-Packs 2017, a 5-day backpacking high adventure to Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia!
This trip is a true wilderness backpacking adventure! You will be exploring in the entire Red Creek watershed of Dolly Sods Wilderness (32,000 acres), including many areas never visited on our normal Troop outing!
- You will carry all your personal equipment, tents, sleeping bags, crew gear, food and water as you explore the high open plateau in the north and the forests and waterfalls in the south.
- You will traverse to sweeping vistas of Canaan Valley to the west and the Allegheny Front to the east.
- You will “bushwhack” cross-country with map & compass and follow the course of Red Creek upstream where there is no trail.
- You will swim in the creeks and play in the waterfalls including a stone “water slide” (if water levels are good).
- Rhododendron may still be in bloom, and in the north wild blueberries will be a tasty treat!
- You will see white-tailed deer, beaver in their ponds, hawks, be startled by grouse and wild turkey, and if you are very quiet maybe even see a fox.
- At night around a campfire you may hear coyotes howl!
- If you are very lucky you may even see a black bear, and of course we always watch very carefully for copperhead snakes and rattlesnakes!
After we come off trail there will be final adventure: Zip Line at Nelson Rocks, with 12 zip lines as long as 680′ and 80′ high, 3 sky bridges and a 40′ rappel!
The trip is open to all Scouts who:
- Are ACTIVE in the Troop
- Will be at least 13 years old by August 7, 2017
- Have attained First Class rank
- Have been backpacking to Dolly Sods at least once
- Have earned Troop Achievement Award – BASIC
All eligible Scouts are welcome and encouraged to participate. (Scouts who are going to Philmont 2018 are required to go on this trip as training.)
Cost: Estimated trip cost is $200 per participant, which includes all activities, fees, food and transportation.
Deposit: $100 deposit is required to hold a space. Make checks out to “BSA Troop 1128”.
Sign-ups will be available at Troop meetings.