LGBTQ+ Pride Backpacking on the Appalachian Trail

June 21-23, 2024

Includes an overnight stay at the Appalachian Trail-er on June 20, 2024

Enjoy one of our favorite sections of the Appalachian Trail on this 3 day, 2 night backpacking trip! This hike is approximately 20 miles over mostly rolling terrain, with a couple of challenging uphill sections. Participants will learn all necessary skills to complete a backpacking trip, and will leave empowered to hit the trail again soon. The goal of this trip is to experience backpacking within an inclusive community. No previous backpacking experience is required, though participants should be comfortable on trail.

This trip is designed for hikers who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Friends/family/allies are welcome too!

This trip may be joined by a queer journalist who covers hiking and backpacking destinations. Any participant who is included in coverage will need to opt it. More information on that to come later.

"They made sure we knew what we needed to bring and then provided a significant amount of the gear we did not have. They
arranged all the food which was a big deal... We had a GREAT 3 days and 2 nights in the woods." - JJ, Pride Backpacking, October 2019

Cost:

$550, $680, or $800 per person sliding scale
This trip has sliding scale pricing. The suggested of this trip is $680 per person. If you're unable to afford this price, pay $550 per person with code "lgbtq550". If you can afford a higher price and would like to offer assistance to another hiker, pay $800 per person with code "lgbtq800". For payment plans or to inquire about additional financial assistance, please email 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, transportation between the meet-up location and the trailhead, and any necessary backcountry permits.  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 (June 21, 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 9am on Friday, June 21 in Hot Springs, NC.

You will meet your guide at our basecamp and bunkhouse, the Appalachian Trail-er (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 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 11am, you'll head to Max Patch, where you will start your hike!  After 3 days of hiking, you'll make your way 20 miles back to Hot Springs.  Daily mileage ranges from 3 to 10 miles per day, with 3 moderate climbs throughout the duration of the trip (the most challenging climbs are Walnut Mountain at the end of Day 1, Bluff Mountain at the beginning of Day 2, and Deer Park Mountain at the end of Day 2). 

Hike generally finishes around lunchtime 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 4 out of 10, and this trip is ideally suited for hikers with a fitness level of 5-6 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:

Your guide for this trip will be Jenna "Mittens" Carroll. Jenna discovered a love for the mountains when she spent six months hiking the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail in 2021. More than a break from a high-stress corporate career, the trail transformed her sense of self and gave her a place to call home. She has since backpacked several shorter trails and enjoys completing local endurance hiking challenges. When she's not in the woods, you can find her near a basketball court, reading poetry, or playing with her goldendoodle Blueberry. Jenna uses she/her pronouns and identifies as a queer woman.

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 and two-person tent if you are sharing with a partner or friend.
Sleeping Bags - We use a 20 degree synthetic sleeping bag with sleeping bag liners.
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, a headlamp, two 1-L water bottles (Nalgene or disposable Smart Water bottles are good options), personal medications/toiletries, and approved optional items. Generally, comfortable trail shoes are better than heavy hiking boots. Please pack synthetic or wool athletic clothing rather than cotton. Cotton does not dry quickly and will not keep you warm when wet.  For most trips you will need only one outfit to hike in, one outfit to sleep in, a raincoat, and a warm layer.  A beanie and lightweight gloves are appropriate in most seasons as temperatures cool down in the mountains at night. You will not need a new set of clean clothes for each day, 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.