Schedule for Philmont pretrek Hike - Jan 24-25
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Backpacking Trip- Woody Gap to Neel's Gap - 10.7 miles

Woody Gap to Neel's Gap 10.7 miles

Saturday, Jan 24
5:55 am - leave promptly from the church
7:00 am- breakfast at fast food restaurant ( you will need money to purchase your breakfast)
9:00 am - arrive at trailhead
Crews will get a chance to visit the Neel's Gap hiking store either before or after they get off the trail. The store carries a wide variety of backpacking gear, AT hats, AT t-shirts and other items
12:00 trail lunch- Philmont food
2:00 pm- arrive at campsites (Leave No Trace Training?)
5:00 pm- dinner- Philmont food

Sunday
7:00 wake up
8:00 breakfast - Philmont food
12 noon-( approx) Arrive back in Athens

Drivers for this weekend are as follows:

Crew 1: Mike F., Kathy G., Susan W.
Crew 2: Jim B., Dennis S.
Crew 3: Bill O., Mike M., Paul T.
Crew 4: Pat McC., Shawn T.

Crews 1 and 3 will share cars as will crews 2 and 4. Dennis and Pat will drive their minivans and will need to plan on space for 5 people and 5 or 6 (for Pat) packs, so remove a seat unless you're a more efficient packer than I.

Those starting at Woody Gap (crews 1 and 2) will need to pay to park. The fee is $3.

Warning: Temperatures on the trail can be as much as 20-25 degrees lower than temperatures in Athens. We should be prepared for ice and snow. A SCOUT IS PREPARED!

Warm weather in Athens does not mean warm weather on the trail!

Several recommendations for cold weather backpacking.
1. The use of layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a heavy coat. Example: Zip off long pants can be covered with your rain pants to provide a layer effect. T-shirt with a long shelve shirt with polar fleece with rain jacket with provide you with several layers.
2. Hands, ears and head are critical areas to retain your body heat. I recommend a pair of lightweight windstopper gloves, and head gear that will provide protection for your head and ears.
3. Your rainsuit will provide wind protection. Windchill can be a problem on the trail.
4. However, the coldest time on the trail will be at night. Remember the following:
A. Do not sleep in your hiking clothes.
B. Sleep in long johns (not cotton) I personally prefer silk C. Change your socks. Sleep in a clean pair of socks.
D. Use a polarfleece cap to sleep in. If you get real cold sleep with your gloves on.
E. Sleeping bags are not insulated at the same level on both sides. There is more insulation on top. That is why you want a full length therma rest sleep pad. It provide you additional insulation between you and the ground. I do not recommend the 3/4 length since it does not give your feet protection.
F. If it gets real cold your boots can freeze, which makes it real hard to put them on in the morning and lace them up. Put a hand warmer heat pad in your boots with your socks you worn during the day.

Now comes the hardest decision to make: Do I get up during the night to go to the bathroom or do I try to wait. Yes, it's cold. But once you take care of this need you will then be able to sleep. If you decide it's to cold and you will try to wait till daylight, you will find that you will not be able to sleep well and daylight will take forever to come.

Remember prepare for cold weather, and you will never be surprised.

Now the interesting item: Of all the troop's backpacking trips the trips where we have had to deal with the elements are the very trips that mold our Scout's character. And these trips are the ones that are part of our troop legend. Snow on top of Tray Mt, rain at Three Forks, etc. So bring your camera and lets hope our cameras don't freeze. :-)
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