Why backpack?

Here’s why, as documented in this three-and-a-half-minute video we shot during our June 24-27 GetBackpacking! trip exploring Virginia’s Triple Crown. Four days, three nights, 35 miles, three major climbs, three iconic views and great scenery throughout. Challenging? Yup. But oh so worth it.

We’ll let the video make our case. Then, when you’re done and you’re thinking, How come I’m not a backpacker? check the links below for descriptions of our upcoming classes in September and to sign up. Each class consists of an introductory gear session, a five-hour in-field training session and a two-night weekend graduation trip to South Mountains State Park. 

• GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking! (Charlotte and Triad)
• GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking! (Triangle)

Already a backpacker? Then join us on one of our upcoming trips:

• Appalachian Trail: Carvers Gap to US 19E, July 16-18
• Wilson Creek area of the Pisgah National Forest (basecamp trip), Aug. 6-8
• Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Creek/Citico Creek Wilderness (basecamp trip), Sept. 16-19

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You watch a video of a spellbinding adventure. You think, “Man, I would love to do that … .” 

And it doesn’t happen.

It doesn’t happen for any number of reasons. More often than not, though, it falls victim to overthinking the logistics: What kind of preparation do I need? How will I get there? How will I know what to do when I do get there? Before you know it, you’re mentally exhausted and have moved on to the next video.

Well not this time.

Watch this video: it’s of our latest GetBackpacking! trip on the Appalachian Trail between Carvers Gap and US 19E. It’s a 14-mile stretch that winds through a ribbon of Appalachian paradise straddling the North Carolina/Tennessee line. It starts with two balds and views you don’t think could possibly be surpassed — until you come upon Little Hump and Hump mountains two-thirds of the way in. To the west, you can see seven ridges fade into Tennessee. To the east is a view of Grandfather Mountain that looks like a chunk of the Alps has been deposited among our Appalachians. Separating the views on this hike is passage through some of the healthiest, most diverse and lush Southern Appalachian forest you can imagine. 

It’s the best weekend backpack trip in the region, and you could do it end of September — even if you’ve never backpacked. Here’s the plan.

First, enroll in our GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking class that begins next week. You’re commitment is as such:

• July 9, 10 or 11 (depending upon where you live): a two-hour evening Gear Get-together in which we go over all the gear required for backpacking. We go over a variety of options with the budget-conscious first-timer in mind. In fact, you don’t even need to buy some of the bigger-ticket items; we have loaner backpacks, tents and cooking gear you can use. 
• July 13: A five-hour training session at Morrow Mountain State Park. We go over everything, from how to properly load your pack, to dialing in the fit, to hiking up to 4 miles in full pack, to scouting camp, setting up camp, breaking camp, to cooking meals … everything you need to know to be a backpacker.
• July 26-28: Three-day, two-night graduation trip to South Mountains State Park. By the time you emerge around noon on Sunday the 28th, you’ll be a confident, competent backpacker.

You’ll also be ready for our next visit to Carvers Gap, on Sept. 27-29, where you’ll be the first to see fall color begin unfolding throughout the Southeast.

As further enticement, sign up by July 8 for Intro to Backpacking and you’ll not only get 15 percent off that class, you’ll get 15 percent off the AT trip as well. And you’ll also have the rest of fall before you to enjoy as a bonafide backpacker. You get a discount on the class and the trip, you keep the cost low, too, with loaner gear, plus a 20 percent discount on one backpacking item from Great Outdoor Provision Co. 

Best of all? For once, instead of just mooning over a video, you’ll be living it.

Live the video!

It’s never been easier to live an adventure video! Whether you’re an experienced backpacker and would like to join us at Carvers Gap Sept. 27-29, or a novice who needs to learn the basics first, here’s how to make this adventure happen.

• Experienced backpacker? Learn more about our Sept. 27-29 trip on the AT at Carvers Gap here.
• Need to learn the basics? Learn more about our Intro to Backpacking! class and sign up here.

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We’re here to help you realize that vision. We’ve been working on ways to help you spend more time outdoors in a variety of ways. Last week we talked about some of the more straightforward hiking programs we have planned for the new year (for those of you newish to the trail). Today, we look at two programs that let you spend the day and night on your adventure. And in the next couple of weeks, we’ll be unveiling even more programs.

GetBackpacking! 

Maybe you once thought that backpacking is only for the hardcore. And maybe you’re not feeling so hardcore. But backpacking can fit into your life, no matter what your age or current fitness level. We can help you get started or keep going on the trail.

• Intro to Backpacking: Folks who have never backpacked or haven’t in a while—say, since the days of the external frame canvas pack—are advised to start with our Intro to Backpacking class: three training sessions, followed by a weekend graduation trip to the mountains. Each training session focuses on a key element of backpacking: gear and proper packing; setting up and breaking down camp; food and its preparation. By the end of the course, you’ll be a confident backpacker.
• Intermediate Skills courses: Maybe you’ve done some backpacking but would like to be more confident in the backcountry. We have a series of Intermediate Skills courses that will build your skills in the areas of wilderness navigation, river crossings, solo backpacking, hiking and camp set-up at night, and winter backpacking.
• Trips: In 2018, we plan to do a trip a month. Some will be three-day weekend excursions, some will be longer. Most are great opportunities for both beginners, who can to hike with and learn from more experienced backpackers, and more seasoned backpackers, who can not only mentor newbies but also discover new places.

Learn more about these programs here.

GetHiking! Classic Escapes

Our Classic Escapes explore some of the best trails in the region. In spring and fall, the hikes, about 6-8 miles long, are usually limited to a day. Once the weather warms, we do weekend camping trips, establishing a base camp for two days of great hiking, about 10-12 miles total over the two days. On tap for 2018 are trips to Pilot Mountain, Rock Castle Gorge, Black Mountains, Linville Gorge/Wilson Creek, Mount Rogers, Grandfather Mountain, Peaks of Otter.

Learn more about these programs here.

We look forward to helping you make 2018 your year of adventure!

Happy trails

Joe

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Fall in North Carolina is the time to go backpacking. Daytime highs gradually dip and overnight lows are perfect for snugging into a down bag and getting a long night’s rest. From Shining Rock to the Smokies, the AT to the MST, the woods beckon for an extended stay. The glorious yellows, reds and oranges of leaves changing color is but one sign of the natural world slowing down for winter; you can experience also the stillness and the dwindling yet increasingly brilliant sunlight knifing through the woods.

You backpackers know what I’m talking about; you non-backpackers might be wishing you did. And you can.

If you’re not a backpacker today, you can be one by the time fall kicks in. We have two GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking classes scheduled for fall. The first starts this Sunday and the second on Oct. 15. Both consist of three training sessions, each focused on a  specific skill, each including increasingly longer hikes in full pack. We start with gear and packing a pack, move on to setting up and breaking down camp, then get out our spork and camp stove with a session on trail food.

We end with a trip, a two-night, three-day visit to South Mountains State Park. Here, you’ll put your newfound skills to the test, and experience autumn like you’ve not experienced it before.

Ready to start? Check it out here:

• GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking: September session
• GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking: October session

If you’re already a backpacker, we’re thinking of you as well. While this is the time to be out and about savoring the trail, it’s also the time to be planning ahead — for that epic hike that’s been on your mind. The 77-mile Foothills Trail. The 1,175-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The Long Trail. The John Muir. The AT.

This fall, in conjunction with our friends at Great Outdoor Provision Co., we’re holding a series of Pints & Paths sessions on Tuesday nights (to keep your weekends free for backpacking!). From 5:30 to 6:30 we’ll enjoy a local craft beer, then settle in and listen to folks who’ve been there talk about their experiences on America’s premier trails. You’ll have first-hand access to hikers who have done the planning, worked out the the logistics, hiked the trail. Stay tuned for more details.

Finally, for active backpackers itching to get out on the trail, our friends at the LandTrust for Central North Carolina are planning a four-day, 40-mile Uwharrie Trail Thru-Hike. There are 13 slots left for this 70-person event. For more details, check out the Uwharrie Trail Thru-Hike.

Happy trails!

Joe

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So, you’ve been enjoying your walks in the woods and maybe you’re wondering what it might be like to stay a bit longer—overnight, even.

We can help you.

Ever since I wrote Backpacking North Carolina in 2011, I’ve been on a mission to dispel the myths of backpacking. Like the idea that you have to sleep on the cold, hard ground, eat beans out of a can, and hike 20 miles a day with 60-pound pack on your back.

The experience we teach with our GetBackpacking! Intro to Backpacking program introduces you to lighter equipment, advances in food-preparations, and reasonable mileage goals. This four-week program is designed to turn the backpacker-wanna-be into a confident, competent backcountry explorer. Here’s how the program works:

Class One: We discuss gear and how to properly pack a pack. We then strap on our properly packed pack and hike two miles to get a feel for hiking with weight (about half that 60 pounds!) on your back.

Class Two: In full pack, we hike two miles, scout good campsites, and set up camp. We discuss what to look for in a good campsite and what to avoid. Then, we break down camp and hike two miles out.

Class Three: In full pack, we hike in about three miles and cook a meal, going over the different types of stove and food options. We pack up, discussing Leave No Trace ethics, and hike three miles out.

Graduation Weekend: The fourth week, we hold a Wednesday planning meeting to go over our graduation weekend — the route, logistics, the weather, special equipment we may need. Then, on Friday we leave for a two-night trip to South Mountains State Park, where you’ll get a chance to practice your newfound skills.

About the gear: If you don’t have everything, don’t worry. We have a limited number of loaner tents and backpacks. Not having a cookset isn’t a deal-breaker, either. The main gear you’ll need are a good pair of hiking shoes or boots and trail-friendly clothes — basically, what you wear to hike.

To ensure that everyone gets individual attention, each session is limited to 12 participants.

We have three sessions scheduled for fall, two in the Triangle and one in the Triad.

Triangle

Session 1: Training, Sept. 10, 17 and 24; graduation trip Oct. 6-8. Learn more and sign up here.

Session 2: Training, Oct. 15, 22 and 29; graduation trip Nov. 3-5. Learn more and sign up here.

Triad

Details to be posted soon. Keep an eye on GetHiking! Triad for details.

* * *

Backpacking North Carolina

Backpacking North Carolina covers 43 backpack trips throughout the state, including the Piedmont and the coast. Most of the trips are beginner friendly, and many embrace the “base camp” concept: hike in a relatively short distance (usually less than 5 miles), set up base camp, do day hikes from there. Learn more about the book here.

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