On the first weekend in November we will gather in Hot Springs for two days of hiking and enjoying the ambience of downtown Hot Springs (through which the Appalachian Trail passes).

This year’s event is particularly special: Last September, Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina wrecking havoc throughout the region. Hot Springs, on the French Broad River, was especially hard hit — but the town has bounced back and is again a vibrant hiking hub.

Our plan for the weekend

Friday: Arrive after 4 p.m. From 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.  we will have a campfire welcome with cheese, crackers, little round meats and beer.

Saturday: Pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. We will catch the shuttle to Garenflo Gap on the AT at 9:30 a.m., arriving by 10 a.m. for our 7.4-mile hike on the AT that will bring us back into town that afternoon. We will provide lunch; dinner is in town, on your own.

Sunday: Continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. At 9, we will drive a short distance to Tanyard Gap for the 5.5-mile, mostly downhill hike on the AT back into town.

This trip includes

• 2 breakfasts (Saturday and Sunday mornings)
• 2 lunches (build-your-own lunch buffet)
• Trail snacks
• 2 hikes
• Saturday shuttle to Tanyard Gap
• eguide for both hikes and for the weekend in general (including information on restaurants in Hot Springs)

The hikes

Saturday: Garenflo Gap into Hot Springs on the AT is 7.4 miles. There’s some climbing in the first 3 miles, the last 4 are downhill. The trail is in good shape and easy to follow. We will stop for lunch at the Deer Park Mountain Shelter, where there is water to filter (I will bring a filter). Moderate difficulty.

Sunday: This 5.5-mile hike starts high at Tanyard Gap, ends low back in Hot Springs, and offers a long downhill passage through a hardwood forest that should have good color. Moderate difficulty.

Lodging

Lodging is not provided on this trip. Our base camp will be at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa, which offers a range of accommodations, including camping, small cabins, bigger cabins, two houses and rooms in the lodge. Campsites start at $45 a night, cabins start at $125 a night. Provided meals will be served at a campsite to be identified upon registration. The resort is just across the railroad tracks from downtown Hot Springs, a 5-minute walk, tops.

You can make reservations  by either visiting the website or calling 828-622-7676. You may find other lodging options in Hot Springs here.

Fee

Fee for the trip, excluding lodging: $295. Though Hot Springs has made considerable progress and is again a viable trail town, recovery from Helene continues. Of your fee, 20 percent will go to ReBuild Hot Springs, a local non-profit created to aid in the recovery. Check it out here.

Refund policy

Full refund for cancelations made up to 7 days in advance of the trip’s start; credit give for cancelations made 1 to 6 days before the trip; no refund for cancelations made less than 24 hours in advance.

Questions?

Contact Joe at joe@getgoingnc.com

The post GetHiking! Fall 2025 Weekend Escape: the Appalachian Trail at Hot Springs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

On the first weekend in November we will gather in Hot Springs for two days of hiking and enjoying the ambience of downtown Hot Springs (through which the Appalachian Trail passes). Our agenda for the weekend:

Friday: Arrive after 4 p.m. From 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.  we will have a campfire welcome with cheese, crackers, little round meats and beer.

Saturday: Pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. We will catch the shuttle to Garenflo Gap on the AT at 9:30 a.m., arriving by 10 p.m. for our 7.2-mile hike on the AT and on a U.S. Forest Service Trail that will bring us back into town that afternoon. We will provide lunch; dinner is in town, on your own.

Sunday: Continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. At 9, we will drive a short distance to Tanyard Gap for the 5-mile hike on the AT back into town.

This trip includes

• 2 breakfasts (Saturday and Sunday mornings)
• 2 lunches (build-your-own lunch buffet)
• Trail snacks
• 2 hikes
• Saturday shuttle to Tanyard Gap
• eguide for both hikes and for the weekend in general (including information on restaurants in Hot Springs)

The hikes

Saturday: Garenflo Gap into Hot Springs on the AT is 7.4 miles. There’s some climbing in the first 3 miles, the last 4 are downhill. The trail is in good shape and easy to follow. We will stop for lunch at the Deer Park Mountain Shelter, where there is water to filter; I will bring a filter.

Sunday: This 5.5-mile hike starts high at Tanyard Gap, ends low back in Hot Springs, and offers a long downhill passage through a hardwood forest that should have good color. Moderate difficulty.

Lodging

Lodging is not provided on this trip. Our base camp will be at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa, which offers a range of accommodations, including camping, small cabins, bigger cabins, two houses and rooms in the lodge. Campsites start at $45 a night, cabins start at $75 a night, rooms in the lodge start at $165 a night. Meals will be served at a campsite to be identified upon registration. The resort is just across the railroad tracks from downtown Hot Springs, a 5-minute walk, tops.

You can make reservations  by either visiting the website or calling 828-622-7676.

Fee for the trip, excluding lodging: $295

Refund policy: Full refund for cancelations made 7 to 14 days in advance of the trip’s start; credit give for cancelations made 1 to 6 days before the trip; no refund for cancelations made less than 24 hours in advance.

Questions? Contact Joe at joe@getgoingnc.com

The post GetHiking! Fall Weekend Escape: the Appalachian Trail at Hot Springs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

The post GetBackpacking! AT: Carver’s Gap to US 19E appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Key information

October 24-27  (Thursday through Sunday)

Distance: 35 miles

Difficulty: Strenuous. This trip has a total elevation gain of 8,185 feet and four major climbs (see below)

Hike plan 

4-day, 3-night trip

Thursday. Begin at 1 p.m. from the AT trailhead at VA 311 northwest of Roanoke, Va. (about 2 hours from both the Triad and Triangle, a little more than 3 hours from Charlotte). Hiking the loop counterclockwise, we will visit McAfee Knob and camp for the evening at the Campbell Shelter on the AT. Distance: about 5 miles.

Friday. Begin at 9 a.m. We hit Tinker Cliffs mid-day, do a solid climb up North Mountain to the ridge, camping for the evening near the summit. Distance: 10 miles.

Saturday: Begin at 9 a.m. We spend much off the day — about 10 miles — on the ridge of North Mountain. We camp for the evening at about the 11-mile mark. We’ll set up camp and do a 3-mile out-and-back to Dragon’s Tooth. Distance: 11 miles in full pack, 3 miles in day pack.

Sunday: Begin at 9 a.m. The hike out is just under 7 miles, with one climb near the beginning, then a relatively mellow hike back to the trailhead.

This is a challenging hike. There are four significant climbs on this trip:

• Day 1: 1,234-foot vertical gain in less than 3 miles, beginning at mile 1.0.
• Day 2: 683-foot vertical gain in 1.4 miles, followed by a 1,200-foot vertical gain in 2.3 miles
• Day 3: 1,145-foot vertical gain in 2 miles

Additional details

You will need to be in good backpacking condition for this trip, and we plan to help with that in two ways:

• Recommended training hikes. Upon signing up, you will receive a list of recommended training hikes that, hopefully, aren’t far from where you live that will give you the elevation training you will need for this trip.
• Zoom hike preparation meeting on Wednesday, July 24, at 6 p.m. We will discuss the trip and how to prepare for it, especially how to prepare for those challenging climbs using the resources at your disposal and your available time.

This event also includes

• eguide for the hike, including an overview map and maps for each day, route guide for each day, tips on what to pack for this hike, overview of the hike and more.
• GetHiking! Tips: Finding Your Way, a quick-tips guide for hiking off-trail (this trip is entirely on trail, but way-finding skills are vital on a long backpack trip)
• GetHiking! Tips: Water Crossings
• GetHiking! Tips: Hiking in the Rain
• GetHiking! Tips: Night Hiking
• Zoom trip planning meeting on Monday, October 21, at 6 p.m. 
• Guided trip, with two guides, one in the lead, one sweeping so you’re never the last hiker.

Dates to remember

April 17 (Wednesday), 6 p.m.: Zoom hike preparation meeting

June 17 (Monday), 6 p.m.: Zoom trip planning meeting

June 20-23 (Thursday thru Sunday): The Trip

Refund policy

Full refunds will be offered for cancellations made 14 days or more prior to the event. Credit will be give for cancellations made 3 to 13 days before the event. No refunds for cancelations made 2 days or less before the start of the event.

The post GetBackpacking! Virginia’s Triple Crown (4 days, 35 miles) appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Veteran’s Day  weekend — Nov.  10-12  — we will gather in Hot Springs for two days of hiking and enjoying the ambience of downtown Hot Springs (through which the Appalachian Trail passes). Our agenda for the weekend:

Friday: Arrive after 4 p.m. From 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.  We will assemble in town for a welcome libation.

Saturday: Continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m.. We will catch the shuttle to Tanyard Gap on the AT at 9:30, arriving by 9:45 for our 7.2-mile hike on the AT and on a U.S. Forest Service Trail that will bring us back into town that afternoon. We will provide lunch; dinner is in town, on your own.

Sunday: Continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. At 9, we will drive a short distance to Tanyard Gap for the 5-mile hike on the AT back into town.

This trip includes

• 2 breakfasts (Saturday and Sunday mornings)
• 2 lunches (build-your-own lunch buffet)
• Trail snacks
• 2 hikes
• Saturday shuttle to Tanyard Gap
• eguide for both hikes and for the weekend in general (including information on restaurants in Hot Springs)

The hikes

Saturday: the 7.2-mile hike from Tanyard Gap to Rich Mountain, then back to Hot Springs trends downhill after reaching the Rich Mountain fire tower.. Should be some good lingering fall color. Moderate difficulty.

Sunday: This 5.5-mile hike starts high, ends low, and offers a long downhill passage through a hardwood forest that should have good color. Moderate difficulty.

Lodging

Lodging is not provided on this trip. Our base camp will be at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa, which offers a range of accommodations, including camping, small cabins, bigger cabins, two houses and rooms in the lodge. Campsites start at $45 a night, cabins start at $110 a night, rooms in the lodge start at $145 a night. Meals will be served at a campsite to be identified upon registration. The resort is just across the railroad tracks from downtown Hot Springs, a 5-minute walk, tops.

You can make reservations  by either visiting the website or calling 828-622-7676.

Fee: $275

Questions? Contact Joe at joe@getgoingnc.com

The post GetHiking! Fall Weekend Escape: the Appalachian Trail at Hot Springs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.