This trip is an approximately four mile, two day, weekend backpacking trip. The trip will be in the Wilson Creek Area of the Pisgah National Forest north of Morganton on NC 181. Trails covered will include parts of the Mountain to Seas Trail, Raiders Camp Creek and Harper Creek. The trip is intended for scouts of varied experience in hiking and camping from novice on. Total distance under full pack will be approximately three miles. Altitudes will range from 2200 to 1900 ft. Temperatures may range from the 20's F. at night to the upper 80's. Most of the trail is shaded.
| Saturday | 6:30 a.m. | Depart from Chapel of the Cross |
| 10:00 a.m. | Meet at the Wilson Creek Visitors Center. | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Move about a mile by car to trailhead on Brown Mountain Road | |
| 12:00 noon | Lunch at the junction of the Raider's Camp Creek trail and Harper Creek Trail Side trip to South Harper Creek Falls |
|
| (evening) | Overnight at a campsite at Harper Creek. | |
| Sunday | 1:00 p.m. | Return to cars; depart for Chapel Hill |
| 5:00 p.m. | Arrive in Chapel Hill, Chapel of the Cross |
Telephone contact may be tried; call 593-0290 (Mr. Filpus) or 740-4351 (Mr. Hock). Cell phone coverage is spotty. Leave a message.
See the troop's personal equipment list for details. Assume extremes of weather; i.e., pack clothes for 25oF to 85oF. Bring a separate pair of light shoes for camp and extra socks.
Food (except Saturday lunch) and equipment will be coordinated at the troop meetings by patrol. Meals include a bag lunch for Saturday, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast and Sunday lunch at the cars.
Estimated travel time is three and a half hours from Chapel Hill.
I40, US 64, NC181, Brown Mountain Beach Road to Wilson Creek Visitor Center
Drivers will leave Chapel Hill Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. We will rendezvous at the Wilson Creek Visitor about 10 a.m.
There is not much parking at the trail head. One or two cars park on Brown Mountain Road at the trail head. Other cars are shuttled back to the Visitor Center and parked there, letting them know that we are leaving cars there.
Reliable water is available at camp and along most of the trail. Come with full canteens for lunch Saturday and the trail afterwards.
Pack a complete change of clothes, shoes, and a towel to leave in the car at the trail head.
The following book and maps were used in the preparation of this material and are relevant to the trip but are not required: