Great Smoky Mountains Family Backpacking Trip

April 24-25, 2021

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Bring the kid in your life and join us for a weekend in the Smokies!  This trip will be in the historic Elkmont section of the park, featuring waterfalls, wildflowers, riverside hiking, and terrain that is perfect for younger backpackers.  Elkmont was once a bustling logging community and the adjacent Daisy Town was a popular tourist destination for wealthy families - you can still see evidence of both near the trailhead.  The first day, hike up a moderate incline along the Little River (and past Huskey Branch Falls) to your campsite.  The second day, you'll hike past Avent Cabin (built in 1845) on your way back to the trailhead.  This area is known for its spring wildflowers - including spring beauty, trout lily, bloodroot, and trillium.  Total distance will be approximately 6-8 miles over 2 days.  This trip is perfect for kids or beginner backpackers, or anyone who wants to enjoy a leisurely paced weekend of backpacking.

"I knew I wanted to get myself and my two boys back out in the woods but also knew there was much I needed to learn for us to be safe. 
Blue Ridge Hiking Company and our guide helped us do that.  They made sure we knew what we eeded to bring and provided a significant
amount of the gear we did not have... We had a GREAT 3 days and 2 nights in the woods." - J.J., Private Backpacking Trip, June 2019

Cost:

$380 per person
Includes lodging at the Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse on Friday April 23, 2021.

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 (April 10) 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 (Saturday lunch through Sunday lunch), 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 (April 24th).  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 includes a stay at the Appalachian Trail-er bunkhouse the night before the trip (Friday April 23).  Check-in time is 3pm - 8pm.

Meet-up: This trip meets at 8am on Saturday April 24 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. 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.

Around 10am, you'll head to Elkmont for your hike!  Drive time is approximately 2 hours.  You'll have the option of riding in our shuttle vehicle, or caravaning to the trailhead.  This hike is a loop, so it begins and ends at the same location.

Saturday:  Hike from Elkmont along the Little River Trail, approximately 3-4 miles
Sunday:  Return to the trailhead along the Cucumber Gap Trail and past Avent Cabin, approximately 3-4 miles

Hike generally finishes early afternoon the last day.  Campsites in the Smokies must be reserved in advaced, so the hiking distance will be determined about a month before the trip, when campsites are finalized.  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.

Guide:

Your guide for this trip has not yet been determined.  All of our guides have extensive backcountry experience, and are passionate about sharing the outdoors with others.  They may specialize in topics such as flora and fauna, local history, geology, or the Appalachian Trail.  Our guides all carry CPR and Wilderness First Aid (or higher) medical certifications.

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 exerience as comfortable as possible.  We offer the following five pieces of gear at no additional cost:

1. Backpacks - We use a lightweight 60L pack. We will ask for your height and weight in order to fit the pack appropriately to you.
2. Tents - We have one-person tents and two-person tents available. Please let us know if you would like to share with a friend.
3. Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag. We also have sleeping bag liners available.
4. 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 excellent combination of weight and durability.
5. 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. Because temperatures in April can be cool, you should also pack a set of baselayers, a hat, and a pair of gloves. 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!

COVID Safety Information:

Due to NC's mask mandate, all participants over the age of 11 are required to wear face coverings during pack shakedown and in our shuttle vehicle.  We also ask that you wear a mask any time you are within 6ft of your guide or another participant.  We provide each hiker with a neck gaiters that can be used as a face covering.  We have added extra gear cleaning steps between trips.  Additionally, we will be providing individually packaged food when possible and have single person tents available for all participants (although you still can request two person tents).  If you have additional questions about the safety precautions for your trip, please contact us via phone or email.

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, whichever is less).

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.