Troop 96 had a wonderful opportunity recently.  Each year we accept some number of 11-year old scouts as they cross-over from cub scouts.   In November, 2007, we took a trip with the new scouts and dads to the Pinhoti Trail.  To our knowledge, it was the first time we ever had 44 backpackers in on one trip. 

Not only was there a load of scouts, but we actually had 17 adults go.  Talk about a committed bunch of dads!

We drove into Pine Glen campground late Friday night.  The Friday night football playoff games kept some of us arriving either much later Friday night, or early Saturday morning.  We got up Saturday, cooked breakfast, and started moving up the trail.  It was a most amazing site seeing 44 backpacks moving up the trail.  It reminded some of us of army ants, or a column of infantry.  After walking up the banks of Shoal Creek for a few miles, with the younger scouts doing orienteering with maps and compass, we made it to Sweetwater lake and had lunch.  We ran into another scout troop from Georgia at Sweetwater Lake.    

After a leisurely lunch, we walked on to Laurel Shelter.  Some of the more senior adults decided to bed down in the shelter, leaving the rest to their tents.  We had a fine time gathering firewood, and cooking dinner.  We sat around the campfire fellowshipping, hearing stories about mountain goats, rhinos, mischievous great-grandmothers, and getting lost in the woods.  After a long day of backpacking and a good dinner, that's hard to beat. 

In the morning, we ate a quick breakfast, and moved up the trail to Shoal Creek church. 

It is a church that has been around since the 1820's.  We dropped all our equipment and moved inside for an short church service.  After church, we moved on, skirting Coleman Lake, to the trailhead. 

Due to the support, and dedication of scouts, scouters, and dads, this was a most amazing trip.  We had good weather, good food, good fellowship, and an overall good time.  We hope to have many more like this in the future.