Extended Intro to Backpacking Trip

July 7-9, 2023

This extended Intro trip is a great way to learn how to backpack on your own!  You'll hike 18 miles over 3 days, with only 2,500ft of elevation change, and along the way you'll learn how to read a trail map, how to carry a pack, how to hike with trekking poles, how to set up a tent, how to cook and properly sore your food, and more - with a focus on lightweight techniques.  All while being surrounded by some of the best views in the Southern Appalachian mountains!  This trip is a great option for hikers who are looking for something that falls in between our 2-day Intro trip and our popular 3-day Appalachian Trail trip in length and difficulty.  You'll leave empowered to hit the trail again soon!

This trip stays over 6,000ft for the majority of the trip.  Hikers should expect temperatures to be about 20 degrees cooler than in Asheville.  It can get near freezing overnight even in July!

"This was our first time on the trail and we definitely plan on coming back. The perfect balance
between education, fitness and beauty." - L.M., Women's AT Backpacking Trip, August 2022

Cost:

$670 per person
Payment Plans, Scholarships, and Sliding Scale Fees are available for this trip.  Please contact 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.  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 (Friday lunch through Sunday lunch), transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, any necessary backcountry permits, and lodging the night before the trip.  Price also includes a copy of Wildflowers of the Smokies field guide and an insulated mug.  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 (July 7, 2023).  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 Friday July 7 in Asheville, 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'll walk you through how to properly pack your backpack, 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 the trailhead where you will start your hike!  Drive time is just over an hour.  Your trip is a loop near Sam's Knob, covering 18 miles in 3 days with only 2,500ft elevation gain and loss throughout the trip.  Each day of hiking is 5-8 miles.  The first day, you'll hike along Flat Laurel Creek to your campsite.  Once camp is set up, hike to Sam's Knob and return to camp.  The second day, hike a loop up Tennent Mountain and Black Balsam Knob, then return to camp.  Because you'll be at the same campsite two nights in a row, hikers have the option of taking their pack with just the essentials for the day (layers, food, water, etc) or practicing carrying their full pack.  The last day of the trip, leave the campsite and hike to Devils Courthouse, then follow the MST to the trailhead where you'll finish your hike.  This itinerary is slightly more challenging than our 2-day Intro to Backpacking Trip, but is not as challenging as our 3-day Appalachian Trail trips.  Hikers wishing to join this trip should be should be able to complete a 10-mile day hike with a regular daypack.

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 3 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 4-5 out of 10.  This is a Beginner trip, meaning hikers don't need to have any previous hiking, camping, or backpacking experience.  For more information about our difficulty and experience level ratings, please see our Trip Difficulty Page.
 

Guide:

Your guide for this trip will be Traci Mohl.  Hailing from the Appalachian mountains in Pennsylvania, Traci grew up fostering a special relationship with the woods, which has led to a love and passion for all things outdoors. She loves to take her time exploring ecologically diverse trails with stunning vistas, mighty waterfalls and hopefully a toad or two! Traci loves connecting folks with the spirit of the land and helping them cultivate a love for the natural world. When she's not chasing scenic trails in Western North Carolina, you can find her rock climbing, paddling, practicing historical combat or with her nose in a good fantasy novel.
 

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 excellent 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. 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!
 

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 you are 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.