In November 2014, sophomore Ethan Powell became the first Whitefield Scout to complete the entire Georgia section of the beautiful Appalachian Trail. He started his quest in 2012 and completed the hike in six sections, the longest of which was a 21-mile section completed last January in the ice and snow with a wind chill factor well below zero. Other Scouts have joined Ethan on different sections of the Trail, and are also working toward completing the Georgia section, an undertaking they are calling the Quest for 76.
Backpacking any part of the famous Appalachian Trail is no easy task, even for an experienced outdoorsmen. The trail extends 2,181 miles along the Appalachian Mountains from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Of that, 76 miles cross some of
the most beautiful and rugged landscape in Georgia. The first white “blaze,” a painted white trail marker, on Springer Mountain at an elevation of 3,782 feet marks the southern terminus of the trail. While on the trail in Georgia, Ethan crossed over the sixth and seventh highest mountains in Georgia (Blood Mountain- 4,458 feet, and Tray Mountain- 4,430 feet); hiked past the headwaters of the mighty Chattahoochee River at Chattahoochee Gap; and traversed seven counties before ending at Bly’s Gap near the Georgia-North Carolina border.
A number of Scouts from Whitefield have hiked 30-60 miles of the Trail; other Scouts who have completed at least three sections of the “Quest for 76” include Daniel Justice, Crawford Folk, JT Morris, Sean Morris, Patrick Spellissy, Preston Bates, Colson Gulledge, and Cannon Crompton.
“It may be surprising to think that a bunch of boys from ages 11 to 16 can do this, but they can,” said Sammy Powell, Scoutmaster of Troop 554. “Our Troop is a boy-led Troop where the older Scouts provide the needed leadership for planning trips such as these. There is a tremendous amount of preparation that goes on before one of these adventures.”
Each patrol, usually a group of four to five boys, is required to have their own meal plan and to pack their food, tents, water filters, and miscellaneous gear. The week of the hike, the boys participate in a “shakedown” where older Scouts and adult leaders go through each boy’s pack to ensure it is packed properly for his size. Then each backpack is weighed and adjusted if necessary. This helps younger Scouts learn what to bring and what not to bring and teaches them that every pound counts when it is on your back for the weekend.
While on the Trail the boys practice the “Leave no Trace” principles of low-impact camping, acting responsibly to protect
the environment and preserve the ecosystem of the Trail.
The Troop has the unusual advantage of having an Assistant Scoutmaster, Steve Howard, who “thru-hiked” all 2,181 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 1999. He shared his exciting story with the boys on a number of occasions and has proven to be a tremendous source of enthusiasm, inspiration, and energy for the boys as they have started on this quest.