LGBTQ Pride Backpacking Trip

June 3-4, 2023

Join us in Pisgah National Forest near Asheville for a 2-day, 1-night backpacking trip celebrating hikers of all stripes. This trip is a great way to experience backpacking with an inclusive community.  No previous backpacking experience is required, and all members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies are welcome.

This ~9-mile trip features waterfalls, lush green forests with mountain laurel tunnels, and open blue ridge mountain views. And time for fun around the campfire! This is a basecamp-style trip, meaning the majority of the hiking can be done with only a day pack. 

"The communication about plans was flawless, the gear provided was top-notch, and the
guides were so fun and encouraging!" - A.T., Intro to Backpacking Trip, October 2023

Cost:

$495 per person
Payment Plans, Scholarships, and Sliding Scale Fees are available for this trip.  Please reach out to 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.  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, and any necessary backcountry permits.  Price also includes an insulated mug for each hiker.  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 3).  You will find the trip listed there. 

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.  We will also send a detailed packing list, and any specific information for your trip.
 

Itinerary:

This trip meets at 9am on Saturday June 3 at Sycamore Flats Picnic Area in Pisgah National Forest.

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 11am, you'll head to the trailhead at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education (a short 10 minute drive) and start your hike. On the first day, participants will hike a total of 6 miles. After setting up camp near Cedar Rock Falls, you'll face a challenging (and rewarding!) 2.5-mile uphill section to the stunning summit of Cedar Rock Mountain. The second day will be all leisure, with 2-mile out-and-back stroll through the mountain laurel tunnel of Butter Gap Trail to Grogan Creek Falls, and back out to your car.

Hike generally finishes early afternoon on the second 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.
 

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 5 out of 10.  This is a Novice trip, meaning hikers should have 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 blog - we've written posts explaining how we describe fitness levels, experience levels, and how to tell if a trip distance is right for you.
 

Guide:

Your guide for this trip will be Jenna Carroll. She is a queer-identifying, formerly Washington DC-based corporate queen turned artsy outdoor enthusiast. She completed a northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2021, and it totally changed her life. For her, hiking is one of the most joyful ways to gain confidence, channel creativity, and build community with other people. When she's not in the woods, you can find her hanging at a coffee shop in West Asheville or performing spoken word poetry at a local open mic. She is so jazzed to go hiking with you!!
 

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; 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 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. 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 our office by phone at 828-713-5451 or by email at trips@blueridgehikingco.com.