Trip Name: 2025-09 Black Balsam Knob
Dates: September 19-21, 2026
Cost: $ 0.00*
*Attendees will be providing their own backpacking meals:
-- Saturday breakfast
-- Saturday trail lunch
-- Saturday dinner
-- Sunday breakfast
Itinerary:
Friday, 9/19/2025
Meet at Matthews Presbyterian Church (MPC) at 5:30 pm to load vehicles. This is a backpacking trip, so nothing but backpacks, tents, backpacking meals. We'll also bring four of the Igloo water buckets since water is not easily obtained here. We'd like to depart by 6:00 pm.
We'll camp Friday night at the trailhead and after breakfast we'll top off all water bottles and depart for the summit of Tennent Mountain (6063 ft.) where we'll break for a trail lunch, then head out for the summit of Black Balsam Knob (6,240 ft.). We'll have dinner and camp on the summit on Saturday. The crew will be treated to spectacular 360-degree views from the mountain top with awesome sunsets and sunrises.
On Sunday morning, we'll break camp, have a quick breakfast, hike back down to the trailhead, pack up and depart, aiming for a 12:30 pm arrival time back at MPC.
IMPORTANT:
It can get very windy at the summit ad it is critical to pack layers in addition to rain gear.
Attendees need to plan on carrying a minimum of three 1-liter water bottles as water is scarce along the trail.
Signup Link: https://forms.gle/54H42vz3KydHbQ5g9
NOTE: The signup closes on 9/16/2025. This is the Tuesday meeting prior to the event.
Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Hethcote
Scoutmaster | 704-877-9109 | scoutmaster@matthewstroop46.org
Matthews Troop 46 Blog
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
September 2025 Camping Signup
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Class A Uniforms Back on September 2, 2025
Greetings Troop 46 Scouts, Parents and Leaders,
This a reminder that we will start wearing our Class A uniforms to meetings beginning on September 2, 2025.
I know it's been a while, so please take the time to locate all the components:
- Class A uniform shirt with:
- Green epaulettes
- Tan/Dark green troop numerals
- Dark green shorts/pants
- Neckerchief and slide
- Closed-toed shoes (sneakers are fine)
- No Crocs
- No slides
- No sandals
- Merit Badge Sash
Important: We will have a uniform inspection on September 2.
Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Hethcote
Scoutmaster | 704-877-9109 | scoutmaster@matthewstroop46.org
Friday, August 15, 2025
Fw: Troop 46 - August 2025 Camping Trip (signup correction)
IMPORTANT: I was made aware that I had forgotten to include a question on the signup form to allow a trek to be selected.
That has been corrected, and the signup form is ready go. The same link below is still valid.
The August Camping Trip takes us to Stone Mountain State Park (NC) for a basecamping experience.
There will be two Day Hike options:
Trek A:
This trek will be for older/stronger scouts and will be approximately 4.5 miles along the Stone Mountain Loop trail. This trail is classified as Strenuous. After completing the loop, everyone will return to the campsite to relax a little and work on dinner.
Trek B:
This trek will be a shorter, less difficult trek, and will take the Stone Mountain Loop trail from the trailhead to the Stone Mountain summit, and the return to the trailhead, and then back to camp. We'll work on skills and requirements, have a little time to relax, and then work on dinner.
Singnup Link: https://forms.gle/Je8n3nfW1s84xWS68
Trip Cost: $30.00
Signup Deadline: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Itinerary
We will meet at Matthews Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 6:00 pm
We'll load up the trailer and try to depart by 6:30 pm.
We will return to Matthews Presbyterian Church at approximately 12:30 pm on Sunday, August 17, 2025
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Hethcote
Scoutmaster | 704-877-9109 | scoutmaster@matthewstroop46.org
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Troop 46 - August 2025 Camping Trip (signup correction)
IMPORTANT: I was made aware that I had forgotten to include a question on the signup form to allow a trek to be selected.
That has been corrected, and the signup form is ready go. The same link below is still valid.
The August Camping Trip takes us to Stone Mountain State Park (NC) for a basecamping experience.
There will be two Day Hike options:
Trek A:
This trek will be for older/stronger scouts and will be approximately 4.5 miles along the Stone Mountain Loop trail. This trail is classified as Strenuous. After completing the loop, everyone will return to the campsite to relax a little and work on dinner.
Trek B:
This trek will be a shorter, less difficult trek, and will take the Stone Mountain Loop trail from the trailhead to the Stone Mountain summit, and the return to the trailhead, and then back to camp. We'll work on skills and requirements, have a little time to relax, and then work on dinner.
Singnup Link: https://forms.gle/Je8n3nfW1s84xWS68
Trip Cost: $30.00
Signup Deadline: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Itinerary
We will meet at Matthews Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 6:00 pm
We'll load up the trailer and try to depart by 6:30 pm.
We will return to Matthews Presbyterian Church at approximately 12:30 pm on Sunday, August 17, 2025
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Hethcote
Scoutmaster | 704-877-9109 | scoutmaster@matthewstroop46.org
Troop 46 - August 2025 Camping Trip
The August Camping Trip takes us to Stone Mountain State Park (NC) for a basecamping experience.
There will be two Day Hike options:
Trek A:
This trek will be for older/stronger scouts and will be approximately 4.5 miles along the Stone Mountain Loop trail. This trail is classified as Strenuous. After completing the loop, everyone will return to the campsite to relax a little and work on dinner.
Trek B:
This trek will be a shorter, less difficult trek, and will take the Stone Mountain Loop trail from the trailhead to the Stone Mountain summit, and the return to the trailhead, and then back to camp. We'll work on skills and requirements, have a little time to relax, and then work on dinner.
Singnup Link: https://forms.gle/Je8n3nfW1s84xWS68
Trip Cost: $30.00
Signup Deadline: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Itinerary
We will meet at Matthews Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 15, 2025 at 6:00 pm
We'll load up the trailer and try to depart by 6:30 pm.
We will return to Matthews Presbyterian Church at approximately 12:30 pm on Sunday, August 17, 2025
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Hethcote
Scoutmaster | 704-877-9109 | scoutmaster@matthewstroop46.org
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Monday, July 28, 2025
August 2025 Camping Update
Hello, Troop 46!
The option to select which trek, A (Strenuous) or B (Moderate), to participate on. That has been corrected and the signup like (https://forms.gle/WRAA2XsjKEFXCDuY7) is still valid.
Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Hethcote
Scoutmaster | Troop 46 | 704-877-9109 | scoutmaster@matthewstroop46.org
Matthews Presbyterian Church | 207 W. John St., Matthews, NC 28105
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Troop 46 August 2025 Camping Trip
Greetings Troop 46 Scouts, Parents and Leaders,
The August Camping Trip takes us to [b]Stone Mountain State Park (NC)[/b] for a basecamping experience.
There will be two Day Hike options:
[b]Trek A:[/b]
This trek will be for older/stronger scouts and will be approximately 4.5 miles along the Stone Mountain Loop trail. This trail is classified as [b]Strenuous[/b]. After completing the loop, everyone will return to the campsite to relax a little and work on dinner.
[b]Trek B:[/b]
This trek will be a shorter, less difficult trek, and will take the Stone Mountain Loop trail from the trailhead to the Stone Mountain summit, and the return to the trailhead, and then back to camp. We'll work on skills and requirements, have a little time to relax, and then work on dinner.
[b]Singnup Link:[/b] https://forms.gle/Je8n3nfW1s84xWS68
[b]Trip Cost: $30.00[/b]
[b]Signup Deadline: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm[/b]
[b]Itinerary[/b]
We will meet at Matthews Presbyterian Church on [b]Friday, August 15, 2025 at 6:00 pm[/b]
We'll load up the trailer and try to depaart by [b]6:30 pm.[/b]
We will return to Matthews Presbyterian Church at approximately [b]12:30 pm on Sunday, August 17, 2025[/b]
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Hethcote
Scoutmaster | 704-877-9109 | scoutmaster@matthewstroop46.org