Troop 56 Appalachian Trail Hiking Program

There are 72.4 miles of the Appalachian Trail which traverse NJ. The trail extends from the New York/New Jersey border near GreenwoodLake, along a northwesterly course through WaywayandaState Park to High Point. At High Point the trail turns southwest along the Kittatinny Ridge, through StokesForest to Route 80 at the Delaware Water Gap. This distance is easily broken into six sections. These section hikes range from 9.8 miles to 14.5 miles and are each completed as a single day hike. To date, 40 scouts and 20 adults have participated on at least one hike. Four scouts and three dads have completed the entire NJ AT.

For those interested in completing the requirements for the Hiking Merit Badge, these hikes may be used to satisfy the “complete five 10-mile hikes” component. These hikes are great ‘tune-ups’ for more demanding backpacking overnights

Dates for the scheduled hikes are fit into the Troop calendar. Hike dates are divided equally between Friday (summer), Saturday and Sunday. Heavy rain or snow may cancel a hike. Adult volunteers are vital to the success of an AT hike. Adults, who do not wish to hike, can support the efforts of their scout, by providing much needed shuttle support. Since each hike is a ‘one way trip’, a driver is needed to shuttle the ‘hiking and driving’ adults back to the start of the hike after dropping off their vehicles. In this way, when all hikers get to the end of the hike, they can simply get in the waiting cars and head home. This saves an hour of shuttle time at trails end when tired Scouts can do nothing but wait. This effort is sincerely appreciated by everyone!

We try to plan a 5-mile Early Exit Opportunity when possible (this requires additional drivers).

While on the trail, participants learn to read trail blazes, improve map skills, test their stamina and get an opportunity to see a different side of New Jersey. Wildlife sightings are common. Often we will pass Thru-hikers – people who have committed themselves to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. We walk the same trail as they do (with considerably lighter packs!) Each section provides a unique experience.

What to bring

Comfortable hiking shoes/socks	sneakers should be avoided as they provide little support over the rocky terrain, no low-cut socks,an extra pair of socks takes up little room and a fresh pair can offer relief during a break and help to avoid blisters
Synthetic pants/shirts	jeans are NEVER appropriate for hiking, zip-offs are great, layering in cooler weather, long sleeves help with bugs/sunburn, cotton should be avoided, quick wicking fabrics help keep you dry
Water	It is important to keep hydrated, bring 1 to 2 liters of water, Nalgene/plastic bottles (no glass),Camelbaks work well and provide storage, www.camelbak.com
Pocket Knife	ll scouts with their Totin’ Chip should bring an appropriate pocketknife
Compass	A simple compass.Learning how to use one is a requirement for several achievements
Small 1^st Aid Kit	An adult leader will be carrying additional first aid supplies but each scout should have some simple items in the event you get separated (ex. Band-Aids for blisters)
Lunch	pack your lunch and pack out your garbage, you will be eating along the trail
Snacks	pack some snacks that you can eat along the trail – energy bars, gorp, nuts etc.
Rain Gear	Weather can change quickly; also can be used as an extra clothing layer
Pack	Large enough to comfortably carry what you are bringing, these are NOT overnight trips
Hat, Hiking Stick, Sunscreen, Bug Repellent
Maps	a map is provided at the Elks Club before leaving for the hike
our Handbook has some good ideas on what to bring as well.

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