By Kyle LoJacono
In 2008, Boy Scout Troop 3 of Land O’ Lakes attempted to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT), but the trip was cut short.
“Two years ago we went and had to stop after one day,” said Steve Mitchell, troop leader. “We didn’t know what we were getting into. I hurt my knee and we weren’t properly prepared. We just hiked in and hiked back out.
“Finishing what we started two years ago felt really good,” Mitchell continued. “We planned everything much better and we were better conditioned to make the trip.”
This time the trip was a success.
“We were on the Appalachian Trail from April 5 to 10 and hiked 30 miles in northern Georgia,” said Mitchell. “The 30-mile hike was part of the hiking merit badge the boys earned as part of the trip.”
In all, 15 scouts from the troop went on the hike with six adult leaders.
“The first day was relatively easy,” said First Class Scout Alex Graves. “We had a lot of energy then and we only went about two and a half miles that day.”
Alex’s father, Dave, has been the troop’s scoutmaster for more than one year.
“It was very hard work trying to get to the end of our hike,” Dave said. “It was a physical challenge. The weather was spectacular except on one day when it rained all day. We met some nice people who were trying to hike the entire trail and they all said our kids pushed through some tough conditions that day.”
On backpacking trips, hikers have to carry everything they need in their packs. That includes food for the week, tents, sleeping bags, toiletries and clothes. Anything unnecessary is left behind to lighten the weight of the bags and when it rains the only thing that can be done is to cover the packs and keep moving.
“That Thursday (April 8) when it rained was the hardest day,” Graves said. “It was a steady to heavy rain all day and there is no place to dry off. The physical challenge that day wasn’t too bad, but it was very mentally challenging to keep going. The boys stepped up and got through it.”
Alex, 14, said the cold that set in after the rain and the added weight from being soaked took all the strength from the hikers.
Despite the rain, the hikers are left with pleasant memories of the scenery and landscape.
“On the third day we had a lot of downhill hiking and the trail was so green,” Alex said. “That’s the only way I can describe it. All the trees and plants were so green. It was like walking through a rainforest without the heat.”
Another spot stood out to Mitchell.
“There were some nice views,” Mitchell said. “Springer Mountain was great. Just the feeling of being part of nature for a couple of days was great. The boys struggled at times and I’m sure this will be the last time some of them do the AT but they didn’t give up.”
The AT is 2,178 miles long, which makes it the longest marked footpath in the United States, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. It starts in north Georgia, ends in Maine and passes through 14 states.
More than 10,000 people have reported completing the entire trail since it was established in 1937. The AT’s highest point is on Clingmans Dome in Tennessee and is 6,625 feet high. In comparison, a mile is 5,280 feet long.
Neither Alex nor Dave were part of the trip two years ago because they moved to Land O’ Lakes after the troop went.
Troop 3, which has scouts from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Odessa and Spring Hill, has no plans to return to the AT next year, but Graves said they might do so in later years. Alex has a similar timeframe for a grander plan.
“I’d like to do the whole thing later in life,” Alex said. “Maybe when I’m 19 and I have the time to do it. The people who were hiking through seemed to really enjoy it because of how rare it is for people to finish. That would be really cool to be able to tell people I completed it.”
Troop 3 information box
Meeting times: 7 p.m. each Monday
Location: First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes
Address: 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
This year’s Appalachian Trail Hikers from Troop 3
Scouts Adults
Will Leopold Steve Mitchell
Collin Finch Kurt Sturm
Emmanuel Cadavid Dave Graves
Henry Van Petten Todd Godfrey
Tim Godfrey Dan Benoit
Alex Graves Erin Finch
Sebastian King Henry Landry
Justin Epplin
Sam Meinke
Robby Sturm
Ryan Benoit
Luc Benoit
Lyden Landry
Sam Anoff
Max Pierovich
