Smokies AT Backpacking Trip

September 19 - September 26, 2024

Trip includes a complimentary stay at the "Appalachian Trail-er" bunkhouse on September 19, 2024 and September 26, 2024.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country's most visited, boasts some of the highest mountain peaks in eastern North America and a fascinating forest ecosystem. It is home to hundreds of miles of world class hiking trails, including 72 miles of the famed 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail.

This trip's planned itinerary is a guided section hike of the Appalachian Trail through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 74 miles from Fontana Dam to I40 Underpass. Please note, this itinerary is dependent on Blue Ridge Hiking Company's ability to acquire the appropriate backcountry camping permits 25 days before the trip. The itinerary is not guaranteed. Should BRHC need to modify the itinerary, the hike may include portions on the Benton MacKaye Trail (The AT's sister trail) or other trails in GSMNP.

This is a challenging trip with approximately 21,000 ft of total elevation gain over 7 days of hiking, ideal for those with a high level of fitness and previous hiking experience.

"I just returned from my 3rd trip with Blue Ridge Hiking Company. I can't say enough great things about this company. From the excellent equipment they provide, the amazing experience, to the highly knowledgeable and caring guides....our guide made the trip fun, met us at the level of our skills and showed us some of the most beautiful sites that we may have never found on our own." - T.C., Intermediate Backpacking Trip, September 2022

Cost:

$1695 per person
Scholarships and Sliding Scale Fees are available for this trip.  Please contact us at trips@blueridgehikingco.com for more information.

This trip will run if there are a minimum of 2 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 1/14/24, this trip has met its minimum and will run!  The maximum group size is 5 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, the price includes backpacking gear for the trip, all on-trail food, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, any necessary backcountry permits, and lodging the night before the trip.  Price also includes a branded trail gift for each hiker.  It does not include personal items 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 (September 19).  You will find the trip listed there. 

Before the start of the trip, we will be in contact via email with an information packet and a form for you to fill out.  This form includes a waiver, health form, and information about gear needs and dietary restrictions.  Please complete and return this form at your earliest convenience.  The information packet also includes an itinerary of your trip and a packing list.
 

Itinerary:

Trip meets at 4pm on Thursday September 19 in Hot Springs, NC.

You will meet your guide at the Appalachian Trail-er for a pack shakedown. Your guide will hand out your gear, go over necessary packing items, and discuss safety, weather, and logistics for the trip. They'll 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. You will also pack your resupply bag with food and a change of clothes for the second half of your trip. The group will enjoy dinner in Hot Springs, NC and stay overnight at the Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse.

At 8am on Friday, you will take a shuttle to Fontana Dam where you will start your hike.  The shuttle time is 2-2.5 hours.  Daily mileage averages 9-13 miles; total mileage is approximately 74 miles.  At Newfound Gap (midway through your trip), your group will meet a resupply vehicle to bring food and a change of clothes for the second half of your trip.  You'll finish your hike at the I40 Underpass just past Davenport Gap, where you'll be shuttled an hour back to Hot Springs.  Expect a total elevation gain of approximately 21,000ft, passing iconic viewpoints like Charlie's Bunion and Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. This itinerary is as rewarding as it is challenging.

UPDATE 9/4: We acquired permits to run this trip in reverse, from I40 Underpass to Fontana Dam.

This hike generally finished around mid-afternoon the last day.  Itinerary is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to weather, trail conditions, campsite availability in the National Park, and participants needs and abilities. The shuttle back to Hot Springs is about 1 hour. Please inform our admin team or your guide ahead of time if you have a time constraints 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 6 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 7-8 out of 10.  This is considered an Advanced trip. Hikers should have some previous backpacking experience and be prepared to spend 7 days in the backcountry. For more information about our difficulty and experience level ratings, please see Trip Difficulty Page.
 

Travel:

If you plan to fly, we recommend flying into the Asheville, NC airport.  It is about a 45 minute drive or cab ride south of Hot Springs, NC.  Other nearby airports are Knoxville, TN (about an hour away), Charlotte, NC (about two hours away) and Greenville, SC (about two hours away).  If you plan to drive or rent a car, free parking is provided for the duration of the trip.
 

Guide:

Your guide for this trip is Heidi "Sketch" Nisbett. Heidi grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is proud to call North Carolina home.  After graduating from Winthrop University with a BFA in Painting and Printmaking, she found herself falling in love with hiking and the outdoors.  She thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018 and kept a detailed sketchbook of watercolor paintings to document her travels.  She has since hiked a number of shorter trails and enjoys finding new ways to incorporate her creative practice into hiking.
 

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.

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 before the trip. You are expected to bring your own clothing, personal gear (such as headlamps and water bottles), medications, and approved optional items. We will send a detailed packing list with your trip information packet after you book. Generally, comfortable walking 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 are a good option. You will need only one outfit to hike in and one outfit to sleep in, plus a raincoat, and a warm layer. You will not need a new set of clean clothes each day. We recommend bringing at least 1 hard-sided plastic water bottle (ex: Nalgene) to use as a hot water bottle in your tent/sleeping bag if overnight temperatures are cold. 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 25 lbs (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 15-20% of trip price.

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