Women's AT Backpacking Trip:
Extended Edition
June 29 - July 4, 2023
This trip includes lodging at the Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse on June 28, 2023
If you've joined us for a weekend trip in the past or have some backpacking experience under your belt, this trip is for you! On this trip, you'll build you backpacking skills by staying out longer and covering more mileage each day. This 6 day, 5 night trip will cover approximately 50 miles of trail over rolling terrain with several challenging uphill sections. Because this trip is considered moderate difficulty, participants should have some previous backpacking experience or a high level of fitness. It is a great trip to connect with other women who love the trail!
"I took an extended women's backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. Our guide brought tons of experience
and knowledge along with plenty of laughter to the trail. I learned so much, and I feel confident enough now
to go backpacking with my family." - T.T., Women's Extended Backpacking Trip, June 2020
Cost:
$1310 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 2 participants signed up. If the minimum has not yet been met, we'll contact participants two weeks before the trip to discuss options. The maximum group size is 6 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 out 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, any necessary backcountry permits, and lodging the night before the trip. It does not include 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 (June 29th). 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. Please complete and return this form at your earliest convenience. At that time we will also send a detailed packing list, and any trip-specific information.
Itinerary:
This trip meets at 9am on Thursday June 29 in Hot Springs, NC.
You will meet your guide at the Appalachian Trail-er in Hot Springs, NC (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. She'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.
Around 11am, you'll head to Davenport Gap (about an hour drive), where you will start your hike! After 4 days of hiking, you'll make your way back to Hot Springs to resupply, enjoy dinner in town and a comfy bed for the night. Then you'll continue hiking for two more days to reach Allen Gap. A shuttle (about 30 minutes) will bring you back to Hot Springs at the end of your trip. Daily mileage ranges from 7 to 11 miles over generally rolling terrain; there are several challenging uphill sections.
Hike generally finishes mid-afternoon 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 5 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 6-7. This is an intermediate trip, meaning hikers should have some previous backpacking experience, and are very comfortable on trail. For more information about our difficulty and experience level ratings, please see our Trip Difficulty page.
Guide:
Your Guide for this trip will be 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. Your guide will pass out the food for your trip on the first morning. You will be expected to carry your own individually packaged food (such as oatmeal packets) and some shared community items (such as a jar of peanut butter or a block of cheese). We do our best to cater to requests, but options are limited because it is important to keep food lightweight and fresh foods can be heavy and bulky. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please notify your guide or our admin team ahead of time.
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 have one-person tents and two-person tents available. Please let us know if you would like to share with a friend.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag. We also have sleeping bag liners available.
Sleeping Pads - These will insulate you from the ground and provide some cushion and comfort. We provide hikers with a closed-cell foam pad, for its combination of weight and durability.
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 and back-up chemical treatment; camping stoves and fuel; bowls, spoons, and cups; trowels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer; first aid kit; and map and compass.
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 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. 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:
Payment in full is required to register. Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hike may be cancelled up to 2 weeks before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% fee). Within 2 weeks, a 50% refund will be offered. Within 48 hours, a refund will only be offered if Blue Ridge Hiking Company cancels the trip due to severe weather.
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 15-20% 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.