DALTON, Ga. — When Grant Allgood noticed there wasn’t a pavilion next to the disc golf course at Heritage Point Park, he decided to change that.

“I love playing disc golf and wanted to build a pavilion for my Eagle Scout project,” he said. “I thought it would be a good place to eat lunch before playing.”

John Barnes, assistant scout leader of First United Methodist Church Troop 60, said that’s the kind of scout Allgood is.

“He’s definitely a scout that works hard and put a lot of effort and time into achieving his Boy Scout ranks and Eagle,” Barnes said.

Allgood, 18, is a senior at Dalton High School. He has earned 22 required merit badges and officially reached the Eagle Scout rank. He joined Troop 60 last year after moving to Dalton from Cartersville where he was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church Troop 15. As a member of that troop, Allgood was the youngest scout in the troop to hike more than 500 miles.

In June he added another 150 miles while traveling to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, as a scout leader for Troop 15. The trip was Allgood’s third to Philmont. Russ Williams, the scout leader of Troop 15, said it’s the “biggest trip you can take in scouting.”

“It’s a scouting mecca,” Williams said. “A lot of scouts never take it.”

Williams said it’s been a busy year for Allgood.

“It’s the highlight of his (scouting) career, earning rank, going to Philmont, hiking over 500 miles and preparing for graduation,” he said.  

Allgood said he volunteered to go as an adult leader because the troop needed one. Twenty scouts and two adult leaders went on the trip.

“It’s quite an accomplishment because Philmont is supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip and to go three times is amazing,” he said.

Allgood said during the 12-day trip he lost 24 pounds.

“My backpack averaged 45 pounds daily,” he said. He carried a tent, sleeping bag, clothes, a gallon of water, compass map, pocket knife, rain gear and about three days worth of food.

“You carry between three and four days worth of food,” he said. “There are staff camps along the way for activities and to stock up on food.”

Allgood said typically scouts carry around 12 meals in their backpack.

“Staff camps have stuff you’d find at any grocery store,” he said. “It’s not anything disgusting, you get protein bars, granola bars, fruit, canned meat and dehydrated food.” 

Allgood said his favorite meal was beef stroganoff with noodles.

“It actually turns out really well, but you have to eat it before it gets cold,” he said. 

Williams said Allgood is missed in Cartersville.

“He’s a fine young man that’s always been involved,” he said.

Allgood, who started as a Cub Scout at age 7, said Boy Scouts has shown him “how to be a true man” and survive in the wilderness. “The Boy Scouts also give great moral advice about life in general and it looks great for college and job resumes,” he said.

After high school Allgood plans to attend Kennesaw State University or the University of Mississippi, majoring in business.

“I want to start my own outdoors company,” he said. 

Barnes said he believes Allgood will do well in life.

“Grant has lived up to the oath and law of the Boy Scouts,” he said. “We encourage all the scouts to live up to them, not just in Boy Scouts but through life.”