Solar Eclipse Backpacking Trip
April 8-9, 2024
Includes lodging at the Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse on April 7, 2024
Experience the 2024 solar eclipse from the backcountry! You'll hike into one of our favorite parts of the Appalachian Trail and set up camp before continuing to Max Patch, a 360 degree bald, to watch the eclipse. This itinerary is considered easy to moderate difficulty, approximately 10 miles over 2 days. It is a good first backpacking trip for people with some hiking experience or a regular fitness routine. It is also tons of fun for people with backpacking experience to see this natural phenomenon. All hikers will be provided with a pair of eclipse glasses to wear to protect their eyes during the eclipse.
Please note: Western NC is not in the path of totality for the solar eclipse! We'll be witnessing a partial solar eclipse on this trip. Participants are expected to wear the provided eclipse glasses for the duration of the eclipse in order to protect their vision.
Spring weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. Hikers should be prepared for the chance of cold temperatures overnight. Temperatures on trail can be 10-15 degrees cooler than in Asheville.
"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:
$530 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 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 pair of eclipse glasses. 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 (April 8, 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 8am on Monday April 8 in Hot Springs, NC.
You will meet your guide at the Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse (200 Lance Ave, Hot Springs, NC). 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 9:30am, you'll head to the trailhead to begin your hike. Hike from the trailhead to a campsite (up to 2 miles) before returning to Max Patch in time to watch the eclipse. After the eclipse, return to your campsite. The second day, hike to Lemon Gap before shuttling back to Hot Springs. This is a relaxed itinerary with relatively low mileage to provide plenty of time to set up camp and hike to the viewing location in time for the eclipse to begin. Total trip mileage will be approximately 10 miles over 2 days.
Hike generally finishes early afternoon the last day. Itinerary is subject to change based on a variety of factors, including weather, trail conditions, and participant 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.
Trip Difficulty Rating:
Participants on this trip should have a minimum fitness level of 3 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 4 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:
The guide for this trip will be Melissa Watkins. Melissa grew up in Florida where she spent many hours watching wildlife and guiding kayak tours. She has also guided many backpacking, canoeing, and rafting trips in Western North Carolina and loves nothing more than sharing the outdoors with new friends. A former college professor, she is an educator at heart. When not at work, she loves to paddle, bake, teach her young son about the outdoors, and bask in the sunshine.
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 a two-person tent if you are sharing with a hiking partner.
- Sleeping Bags - We use 20 degree sleeping bags with sleeping bag liners. In particularly cold weather, we can provide 0 degree bags.
- 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 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:
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. 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 a rescheduling fee.
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 our office by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.