We’ve got a lot going on this winter, for hikers and backpackers.

Hiking

We hike throughout the year, winter is no exception. You can find our regular GetHiking! hikes offered through our five Meetup affiliates in North Carolina and two in Virginia. Find them here:

Since its launch in 2014, GetBackpacking!’s Intro to Backpacking program has minted more than 225 backpackers. With all those backpackers, we eventually had to offer more advanced skills classes and trips. So, if you’re already a backpacker, if you want to be a backpacker — even if you just think you want to be a backpacker, we’ve got something for you this fall.

Intro to Backpacking, March session. Our comprehensive learn-to-backpack program includes a two-hour session on gear and how to pack a backpack; a five-hour session at Morrow Mountain State Park where we go over everything from finding and setting up camp, to cooking, to hanging food, to breaking down camp; and, finally, a weekend graduation trip to South Mountains State Park. Learn more and sign up here.

GetBackpacking! Overnight Sampler, April 4-5, Eno River State Park, Durham; April 18-19, Morrow Mountain State Park, Albemarle. You like the idea of backpacking, but you aren’t ready to make a full-on commitment — you’d like to take a test-drive first. That’s what our Overnight Sampler is all about: we provide the key backpacking gear and food, you get to see what it’s like to hike in a full pack and camp in the backcountry overnight. Learn more and sign up here for Eno River State Park, here for Morrow Mountain State Park.

GetBackpacking! Intermediate Skills: Going Solo, May 1-3, Wilson Creek area of Pisgah National Forest. You’ve been backpacking, but always with a group. You’d love to try going solo, but find the prospect a little intimidating. In this two-night class, we spend the first night as a group, then split up the second night into solo campsites, with your instructor nearby. Learn more and sign up here.

GetBackpacking! Trips

GetBackpacking! Winter Series: AT from Max Patch to Hot Springs, Jan. 17-19, Hot Springs, NC. Test your winter skills on this 21-mile two-nighter that starts with one of the best views on the Appalachian Trail and ends hiking into burger joint in downtown Hot Springs. Learn more and sign up here.

GetBackpacking! Winter Series: Merchants Millpond State Park, Feb. 7-9, Gatesville, NC. We hike in 3 miles Friday in full pack, set up base camp, do a 10-mile day-hike Saturday, hike out 3 miles on Sunday. The best — and only! — time to explore a coastal swam. Learn more and sign up here.

GetBackpacking! Winter Series: The Neusiok Trail, March 6-8, Croatan National Forest near Havelock. In full pack, we hike in two miles late Friday afternoon, spend about 8 miles on the trail Saturday, hike out the remaining 11.3 miles on Sunday. Coastal forest hiking at its best. Learn more and sign up here.

GetBackpacking! AT from Carvers Gap to 19E, April 3-5, North Carolina/Tennessee line. A two-night, three-day 14-mile trip that may be the most scenically spectacular run of trail in North Carolina. We start at Carvers Gap and top Jane and Round balds right off the bat, meander through forests of mountain ash, then encounter more stunning views from atop Little Hump and Hump mountains. Learn more and sign up here.

GetBackpacking! Shining Rock Wilderness, April 24-26, Pisgah National Forest. We hike in 4 miles Friday from the Black Balsam trailhead and set up base camp near Shining Rock. Saturday, we don day packs for 9 miles of hiking on Shining Rock Ledge out to Cold Mountain and back. We hike out Sunday and also do a 3-mile loop to Sam Knob. Learn more and sign up here.