James Peak Wilderness Backpacking Expedition

July 23, 2020 Webmaster Update

This past week, a few families from Troop 72 set out on an exciting backpacking adventure to the James Peak Wilderness. After about an hour and a half drive, we all met at the trailhead to begin our journey. Before hitting the trail, we took some time to repack and redistribute the weight in our backpacks to make sure everything fit properly and was comfortable to carry.

Our first hike was about 3 to 4 miles, and it was a challenge—almost entirely uphill. Despite the tough climb, the group stayed motivated and worked together to reach our first destination: Crater Lake. Once we arrived at our campsite, we took a well-earned break to eat lunch and rest.

Later that afternoon, feeling recharged, we decided to hike up to the Continental Divide, this time without our heavy backpacks. The trail was steep with a significant elevation gain, but the effort was more than worth it. At the top—nearly 13,000 feet above sea level—we were rewarded with incredible views that stretched for miles in every direction. It was a tough but memorable climb, and we returned to camp a bit late, tired but proud.

The next morning, we packed up and set out early for the next leg of our journey. Two more people joined our group that day as we hiked another 3.5 miles, again mostly uphill, to our second campsite near Heart Lake. After setting up camp, we took a short hike to see the lake itself. Surrounded by alpine beauty, Heart Lake was calm, clear, and incredibly scenic—a highlight of the trip. We turned in early that night, ready for the long hike ahead.

On our final morning, we woke up early and began the trek back down the trail the same way we had come up. This was our longest hike of the trip—about 5.5 miles—but since it was downhill, it was much more manageable. It felt great to finally arrive back at the trailhead, tired but with a strong sense of accomplishment.

Overall, the trip was a fun and adventurous experience. For many in the troop, it was their first time backpacking, and it sparked a lot of excitement about doing more trips like this in the future. There’s a good chance this could become a new tradition for Troop 72!