Backpacking Archives - GetGoing NC!

GetBackpacking! AT: Carver’s Gap to US 19E

JoeMiller — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 12:11:45 +0000

Welcome to the most scenic stretch of trail in North Carolina (and Tennessee). From the git-go at Carver’s Gap, the Appalachian Trail passes over Round and Jane balds (with a side trip to a third, Grassy Ridge, possible), offering sweeping views of the North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia mountains. There’s some intimate high-ridge hiking (the mountain ash should be coming into bloom), then more balds: Little Hump and Hump mountains. At this altitude, which flirts with 6,000 feet, we we will catch the onset of fall color from the Roan Mountains.

This three-day, two-night trip starts from Carvers Gap on the Appalachian Trail and heads north for 14 miles. Particularly stunning are the three balds in the first couple of miles and the famous Hump and Little Hump mountains about 10 miles later.
Day 1: We will set off from Carver’s Gap around 2 p.m., hike 5.5 miles and establish camping the meadow at the Overmountain Victory Shelter.
Day 2: We hike 5.3 miles, past Yellow Gap, over Little Hump to Hump Mountain and on to Doll Flats for camp on night 2..
Day 3: Hike out, a little more than 3 miles, to US 19E.

We will have a trip planning session on Zoom on Monday, Aug. 19, at 6:15 pm.

This trip includes:

Eguide with details on trip, including an overview and what to bring
Maps, both an overview map of the entire hike and maps of each day’s hike
Route descriptions, for each day
Zoom planning session on Monday, Aug. 19
Shuttle to Carvers Gap
Shower afterward, before heading home.

This is a challenging backpack trip. Though it trends downhill, there are good climbs along the way. You must be in good shape for this hike. We are a beginner-friendly bunch, but you will need to have some experience — and your own gear — for this hike. If we haven’t hiked with you, we will have a phone chat beforehand to make sure this trip is a good fit.

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GetBackpacking! 10 Great Backpacking Destinations

JoeMiller — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 14:42:55 +0000

Hiking north, from Hump Mountain, on the Appalachian Trail

We backpack — a lot. And while we love to explore new places, we’ve got our favorites we return to on a regular basis because they’re so dang awesome.

In “GetBackpacking! 10 Great Backpacking Destinations,” we highlight 10 of our favorites and quickly explain what we love about them. We also provide a link and additional resources that will help you plan a trip of your own.

Or, click on the GetGoingNC.com/shop link to see when our next scheduled trip is and join us!

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GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking (Triad/Charlotte)

JoeMiller — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 19:10:33 +0000

Hiking north, from Hump Mountain, on the Appalachian Trail

We launched our GetBackpacking! program in 2014; since then, we’ve graduated more than 240 new backpackers. Here’s the plan for our Spring 2021 session:

* Getting to know you, getting to know your gear. In this Zoom session we’ll spend a little time getting to know one another and learning why you’re interested in backpacking. Then, we’ll go over the different typed of gear, focusing on good options for beginners. 1.5 hours.

* Training Day. In full gear, we will meet at Morrow Mountain State Park for a day-long training session that will go over: Evaluating a campsite, setting up camp, breaking camp, meal preparation (including the various food and cooking options on the trail). Expect to hike about 5 miles in full pack, during which we will work on hiking technique (including the use of trekking poles), ensuring a good pack fit, adjusting your pack during the hike to make sure it continues to fit, and more. We will spend 5 hours on this session.

* Graduation hike. Three-day, two-night trip to South Mountains State Park, a great place for your first trip.

* Fee. Cost of the program is $195. In addition to the above, you’ll receive:

• Info packet, including:

- Class overview
- Gear list
- Tips for going lite
- 10 great places to backpack in North Carolina once you’ve graduated.

20 percent off coupon for one item of backpacking gear from Great Outdoor Provision Co.

• eguide outlining the program and covering what you’ll learn.

• Loaner gear. We have a limited number of backpacks and tents available on a first-requested, first-awarded basis, at no extra charge.’

Dates:

• Zoom Getting to know you, getting to know your gear: Wednesday, March 3, 6-8 p.m.

• Training Day: Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Morrow Mountain State Park

• Graduation trip: Friday afternoon thru Sunday, March 26-28, South Mountains State Park, Connelly Springs.

NOTE: Minimum age for the program is 13, ages 13 through 17 must be in the program with an adult (we define adult generously as anyone 18 or older).

This class is limited to 7 participants. Social distancing is enforced; in situations where we gather for discussion and instruction and social distancing isn’t practical, masks must be worn. We keep the class size small in part to accommodate social distancing.

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