Appalachian Trail Backpacking at Max Patch

October 4-6, 2024

Includes a stay at the Appalachian Trail-er on October 3, 2024

Enjoy one of our favorite sections of the Appalachian Trail on this 3 day, 2 night backpacking trip!  The goal of this trip is provide a supportive environment for anyone to experience backpacking, whether it is your first trip or your 100th!  This hike is approximately 20 miles over mostly rolling terrain, with a couple of challenging uphill sections.  Participants will learn all necessary skills to complete a backpacking trip, and will leave empowered to hit the trail again soon.  Because this itinerary is considered moderate difficulty, it is a good first backpacking trip for people with hiking experience or a regular fitness routine.  It is also tons of fun for people with backpacking experience to share their love for the trail with others.

Fall weather in the mountains can be unpredictable.  Hikers should be prepared for cold temperatures overnight, especially at higher elevations.  Temperatures on trail can be 15-20 degrees cooler than in Hot Springs, NC.

"We came back tired but immensely happy with the memories we built on our trip. We are already planning our next backpacking trip!" - M.G., October 2023

Cost:

$680 per person
Payment Plans, Scholarships, and Sliding Scale Fees are available for this trip.  Please email our office at trips@blueridgehikingco.com for more information.

This trip will run if there are a minimum of 3 participants signed up.  If the minimum has not yet been met, we'll contact participants two weeks before the trip to discuss options.  As of 6/22/24, this trip has met its minimum and will run!  The maximum group size is 7 participants.  If you are traveling in a party of 4 or more hikers, we encourage you to consider a private backpacking trip.  You can find more information about our private trip offerings by sending us an email.

In addition to your guide, this price includes backpacking gear for the trip, all on-trail food, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, and a thank you gift for each hiker.  It does not include personal items (clothing, shoes, toiletries, etc) or gratuity for your guide.
 

Sign-Up Details:

In order to sign up for this trip, please go to our Trip Calendar and select the trip start date (October 4, 2024).  You will find the trip listed there. 

A few weeks before the start of the trip, we will be in contact via email with an information packet for you to fill out.  This includes a waiver, health form, and gear request form.  At that time we will also send a detailed packing list and any trip-specific information.
 

Itinerary:

This trip meets at 9am on Friday October 4 in Hot Springs, NC.

You will meet your guide at our basecamp and bunkhouse, the Appalachian Trail-er (200 Lance Ave, Hot Springs, NC 28743).  Your guide will hand out your gear and food, go over necessary packing items, and discuss safety, weather, and logistics for the trip. They will walk you through how to properly pack your pack, and may look in detail at the items you've packed to make sure you're not carrying too many extra items. 

Around 11am, you'll head to Max Patch, where you will start your hike!  After 3 days of hiking, you'll make your way 20 miles back to Hot Springs.  Daily mileage ranges from 3 to 10 miles per day, with 3 moderate climbs throughout the duration of the trip (the most challenging climbs are Walnut Mountain at the end of Day 1, Bluff Mountain at the beginning of Day 2, and Deer Park Mountain at the end of Day 2). 

Hike generally finishes around lunchtime the last day.  Itinerary is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including weather, trail conditions, and participants needs and abilities.  Please inform our admin team or your guide ahead of time if you have a time constraint the last day of your trip.

Elevation profile created with Gaia GPS.
 

Trip Difficulty Rating:

Participants on this trip should have a minimum fitness level of 4 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 5-6 out of 10.  This is a Novice trip, meaning hikers should have some previous hiking experience, but may or may not have backpacked or camped before.  For more information about our difficulty and experience level ratings, please see our Trip Difficulty Page.
 

Guide:

Your guide for this trip is Matt "Gnome" Dobson. Having moved around the world pursuing other professional interests, Matt has decided Western North Carolina is the place for him and helping to expose others to our natural world is the perfect way to spend his time. A Triple Crowner, with thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail, he has over 16,000 miles on those legs. Matt has a Plant Sciences degree from the University of Tennessee and has spent many of his hours in nature studying its science and history.
 

What we Provide:

Food: BRHC provides all on-trail food. You will have the ability to choose your own food from our wide selection, and you will carry your own food during the trip. We do our best to cater to requests, though it is important to keep to lightweight foods appropriate for backpacking. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform our team in your pre-trip paperwork.

Individual Use Gear: BRHC provides high quality, ultralight, cottage industry backpacking gear to make your experience as comfortable as possible.  We offer the following five pieces of gear at no additional cost:
Backpacks - We use a lightweight 60L pack. We will ask for your height and weight in order to fit the pack appropriately to you.
Tents - We provide a one-person tent, or and two-person tent if you are sharing with a partner or friend.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag with sleeping bag liners.
Sleeping Pads - We provide hikers with a closed-cell foam pad, for its excellent combination of weight and durability. Inflatable sleeping pads are available for an additional rental fee.
Trekking Poles - These will provide you with some added stability while hiking, and may be used to set up your tent.
If you prefer to provide your own gear, that's totally fine!

Community Gear: BRHC provides all community gear for the trip, including water filters, camping stoves and fuel, bowls, utensils and cups; trowels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer; first aid kit; and navigational aids.
 

What to Bring:

We will send all participants a detailed packing list a few weeks before the trip. You are expected to bring your own clothing/footwear, personal gear (such as headlamps and water bottles), medications, and approved optional items. Generally, comfortable trail shoes are better than heavy hiking boots. Please do not pack any cotton - if it gets wet, it does not dry quickly and will not keep you warm. Athletic clothes (synthetic or wool) are a good option. You will need only one outfit to hike in, one outfit to sleep in, a raincoat, and a warm layer. You will not need a new set of clean clothes each day. Because temperatures in early May can be cool, you should also pack a set of baselayers, a hat, and a pair of gloves. We recommend bringing two 1-liter water bottles. A Nalgene or disposable Smart Water bottle are good option You will not need any make-up, hair products, scented products or deodorant. Just bring a toothbrush and toothpaste and enjoy going all natural for the trip!
 

Cancellation Policy:

Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hikes may be cancelled up to 1 month before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% admin fee). Within 1 month, a 50% refund will be offered. Within 1 week, a refund will only be offered if Blue Ridge Hiking Company cancels the trip due to severe weather. We are unable to offer exceptions to this policy due to extenuating circumstances; we strongly recommend all hikers purchase travel insurance to cover their trip.

Hikers may reschedule their trip once (at least 2 weeks before their trip) free of charge. Additional changes to their reservation date may result in rescheduling fees.

We hike rain or shine!  While it is incredibly rewarding, backpacking is an endurance sport, and it can be challenging and/or uncomfortable at times.  Maintaining a positive mindset, even when it is uncomfortable, is key to enjoying your time in the wilderness.  With our focus on lightweight gear, our goal is for your pack to weigh around 25lbs (or no more than 25% of your body weight).

If your guide does an exceptional job, please show your appreciation with a tip.  Our team of highly trained professional guides never expects but always appreciates a tip.  Industry standard gratuity for a guided backpacking trip is 15-25% of trip price.

If you have any questions regarding this trip, you can reach our office by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.