Dahlonega, GA December 19-22 – Four local scouts from BSA Troop 303 took a 35+ mile backpacking trek through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during their Christmas Break. Their adventure started at the trailhead at Kephart Trailhead hiking up the creek to Kephart Shelter the first night. They meet the Appalachian Trail and headed north toward Icewater Spring for lunch and then enjoyed the views from Charlies Bunion. Camping at Pecks Corner Shelter that evening, they prepared for the extreme COLD weather coming in as they planed to stayed the next night at Cosby Knob Shelter with temperature below 0 degree. The next morning they started hiking early to Cammerer Observation Tower with temperature warming up to 10 degree. After breakfast, they continued down the ridgeline and finished their exploration at Davenport Gap. Highlights of the trip included seeing the ridgeline views at Charlies Bunion and Cammerer Tower, working on their wilderness skills, and completing this 34+ miles backpacking trek.

Scouts who participated in this trek were: Samuel Roys, Trey Greer, Michael Pierce, and Jacob Walden. For more information about scouting contract us at rgreer@lumpkin.k12.ga.us or 706-867-7047.

Dahlonega, GA November 8th  – 9th – BSA Troop 303 took nine scouts on a weekend outdoor adventure trek to Sandrock, Alabama. The scouts enjoyed bouldering, exploring, and climbing within the rock formations. The scouts worked on their cooking and camping skills and just enjoyed the great outdoors. Scouts who participated this weekend were: Trey Greer, Michael Pierce, Nick Gooch, Samuel Roys, John Passman, Grant Lytch, Davis Gabriel, Danny Niconovich, and Eric Niconovich.

Dahlonega, GA OCTOBER 10th-12th – BSA Troop 303 took eight scouts and four
Welbos from Pack 357 to participate in the Etowah District Boy Scout Fall Camp-O-Ree
at Scoutland in Gainesville, hosted by Troop 205. Some of the outdoor events included:

• Orienteering Course
• One-arm Tent Set-up (2nd Place: Moose Patrol)
• Back Pack Relay
• Big Clove Hitch
• Pancake Relay (3rd Place: Moose Patrol)
• Catapult Pioneering
• Stretcher Relay
• Troop Campsite Inspection
• Dutch Oven Dessert Cook-off (Kevin Moore: 1st Places

Troop 303, sponsored by Dahlonega Baptist Church and Lumpkin Family Connection,
took 1st place in the dutch oven dessert cook-off event, 2nd place in the one-arm tent set-
up event, and 3rd place in the pancake relay. Troop 303 had a wonderful time competing
against the other troops from the North Georgia Area. Scouts who participated this
weekend were: John Passman, Jonathan McCraney, Danny Niconovich, Braden
Barrentine, Will Passman, Trey Greer, Andrew Swain, Justin Scott, Damian Mobley,
Sam Barrentine, Ethan David and Kevin Moore.

On September 13 & 14 took the nine scouts to explore 16 miles of the Jack’s River Trail in the Cohutta Mountains. The trail runs northwest from Dalley Gap in Blue Ridge to the Georgia-Tennessee state line near Cisco, Georgia. Highlights of the trip included the forty-two river-crossings, camping along the riverbank with the fall color, and Jack’s River Fall, an impression 80-foot, two-tier waterfall. Every one that went loved the trip, despite our sore feet, wet clothing and cold weather we would do it again. This is one of the best trails we’ve ever been on and next year more people need the go.

Dahlonega, GA August 16 &17– BSA Troop 303 took the scouts to explore the Silver Comet Bike Trail and started working on their Cycling Merit Badge. Named for a train that used the route from 1947-1968, the Silver Comet Trail is Georgia’s entrée to a rails-to-trail trend that is sweeping the nation. The trail runs 61 miles from Smyrna to Cedartown and then connecting to the Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama. http://www.silvercometga.com/index.shtml
A few of the highlights of the adventure include: Brushy Mountain Tunnel (near mile 31) the Pumpkinvine Trestle (near mile 23), Rockmart Riverwalk (near mile 38), and Esom Hill Trailhead (on the Georgia-Alabama State Line) The scouts enjoyed biking, camping at The Rock (mile 34), and playing frisbee in the afternoon. Scouts who participated this weekend biking trek were: Jacob Walden, Trey Greer, Luke Hebert, Jonathan McCraney, and Michael Pierce.