Adventure Trek

When and Where

When: Week of August 23, 2026 (tentative)

Adventure Trek is Troop 23's flagship high adventure — a week-long expedition that pushes scouts beyond weekend camping into serious backcountry territory. This year, we're heading to Maine to take on Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in the state and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

The plan is coming together around a multi-sport format: three days of mountain backpacking in and around Baxter State Park, plus two days of cycling and/or paddling elsewhere in Maine. Combined, the trek is designed to qualify for the 50 Miler Award — five consecutive days, 50+ miles under your own power, and 10 hours of service along the way.

Dates are tentative — we're looking at late August 2026, with the exact departure day still to be determined. The drive from Brooklyn to northern Maine is a full day on the road, so we'll build travel into the schedule.

About Mount Katahdin

Mount Katahdin rises to 5,267 feet in the heart of Baxter State Park — a 209,000-acre wilderness preserve in northern Maine with no paved roads, no electricity, and no cell service. The mountain is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, the endpoint that thousands of thru-hikers dream about for months on the trail. For our scouts, it's a chance to stand on that same summit.

The climb is serious. The most popular route, the Hunt Trail (which follows the AT), covers 5.2 miles with over 4,100 feet of elevation gain. Round trips typically take 8 to 12 hours. Above treeline, the terrain turns to exposed rock scrambles and boulder fields — there's nothing casual about the final push to Baxter Peak.

For those ready for it, the Knife Edge is one of the most famous ridge walks in the eastern United States — a narrow arête connecting Pamola Peak to Baxter Peak with steep drops on both sides. Whether the group takes that route will depend on conditions and experience levels.

Baxter State Park enforces strict group rules: maximum 12 people, with at least one adult for every five youth. Parking reservations are required for all Katahdin trailheads, and everything in the park operates on a reservation system — planning ahead is not optional.

What the Week Looks Like

We're building the trek as a multi-discipline expedition — not five straight days of mountain backpacking, but a mix that plays to different strengths and keeps the adventure varied:

• 3 days of mountain backpacking — including the Katahdin summit push and trail camping in Baxter State Park
• 2 days of cycling and/or paddling — the exact activity and location are still being worked out, but Maine has no shortage of rivers, lakes, and quiet roads to explore

The combination is designed to hit the 50 Miler Award requirements: at least 50 miles over 5 consecutive days of wilderness travel by nonmotorized means (hiking, biking, or paddling all count), plus 10 hours of community service during the trek.

This will be one of the most physically demanding Adventure Treks we've done. The Backpacking Prep Trip earlier in the season is the place to build the fitness and skills you'll need up here.

Adventure Trek History

Every year, the Trek takes a different form — a different discipline, a different landscape, a different kind of challenge. Here's where we've been:

• 2025: Empire State Trail Bikepacking — 220 miles by bicycle from Buffalo to Syracuse along the Erie Canal. Five days in the saddle, camping at a new spot every night.
• 2024: James River Canoe Trek — 63 miles paddling the Upper James River in Virginia, through Class I–III rapids, earning the 50 Miler Award.
• 2023: Whiteface Mountain — A backpacking expedition into the Adirondack High Peaks, taking on the fifth-highest summit in New York.
• 2022: C&O Canal Trail — Cycling the historic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath.
• 2021: 5-Day Canoe — A multi-day paddling expedition that helped launch the modern Adventure Trek tradition.

The 2026 trek to Katahdin marks the first time we're combining disciplines in a single expedition — backpacking and cycling or paddling in one week.

On the Horizon

Before we settled on Maine, the planning conversations went big — and some of those ideas are worth keeping on the radar for future years:

• Alaska — the dramatic peaks, glaciers, and true wilderness scale of the Last Frontier
• Canada — serene lakes and backcountry canoeing in Ontario or Quebec
• The Camino de Santiago — an ancient European pilgrimage route across northern Spain

None of these are off the table — they're the kind of ambitious goals that keep the Adventure Trek program evolving. For now, Katahdin is the mission. But the conversation about what comes next is always open.

Details Coming

We're still in the early planning stages. As the trip takes shape, this page will be updated with:

• Exact dates and travel logistics
• Detailed itinerary and route maps
• Packing list and gear requirements
• Fees, deposits, and deadlines
• Physical fitness recommendations
• Required forms and medical clearance

In the meantime — block your calendars for the last week of August and start building your trail legs. This one is going to be worth it.