Backpacking Trip:
Roan Highlands, Cherokee & Pisgah National Forests, Tennessee & North
Carolina
Dayhike:
Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia
Dates:
June 16 to 22,
2013 - Sun to Sat
Location:
Cherokee & Pisgah National Forests, Tennessee & North Carolina
Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia (on the way home)
Motel for first night:
To be determined
Carpool meeting time & place:
To be determined
Motel estimated cost:
To be determined
Trip Description:
This 42 mile, 12,500' elevation gain
backpack on the Appalachian Trail (AT) from Rt. 395 at Indian Grave Gap to Rt.
19E Bear Branch Rd. traverses some of the most beautiful areas of the AT. This
section of the AT traverses the longest stretch of Balds, 7 miles, in the world.
It also traverses the largest Catawba Rhododendron garden in the world. This is a strenuous trip
on rugged trails suitable for experienced,
physically fit
backpackers, and strong dayhikers (who have prior backpacking
experience) only. There is a seven (7) hour drive
each way to get to this area.
Each participant is required to provide their own gear and food. Plan
on carrying food for Monday lunch to
Friday lunch, plus snacks. Assume that fires are not
permitted and that all cooking will be done on backpacking stoves. People who do not have
the necessary equipment can rent the large items (tent, backpack, sleeping bag, stove)
from some of the local backpacking stores. We will carpool to and from
this area, and I will provide
a list of participants. Trip size is limited to a maximum of
ten people.
We will also spend one day exploring
Grayson Highlands in VA on the way home. This is geographically similar to the
Balds in the Roan Highlands and also has wild ponies.
Some Necessary Items
- sturdy, waterproof, broken in hiking boots
that fit you properly
- Teva's or equivalent
for stream / river crossing and around camp
- two sets of socks
- properly fitted and adjusted backpack,
4500 to 6000
cubic inches
- pack rain cover
- small lightweight tent
- sleeping bag plus pad,
rated to +35º
F
- light weight backpacking stove & fuel
- personal first aid items
(no scented toiletries)
- water purifier/filter
and/or water purification tablets
- rain suit
- ponchos are not allowed it's potentially too windy above treeline, they can
act like a sail blowing you off a cliff
- extra clothes (include long sleeve shirt and long pants as well as
shorts and T shirt), synthetic only
- base wicking layers, synthetic
only
- insulation layer can be fleece,
wool, or down
- swim suit
(optional)
- sunscreen, sunglasses, hat with visor or brim
- light but warm knit hat
- headlamp, extra bulb and batteries
or two lights
- baseplate compass readable to one or two degrees - declination
correction strongly preferred - mirror for emergency signaling
to aircraft
- topographic map
- toilet paper + trowel
- matches in waterproof container,
fire starter for emergencies
- pocket knife
- whistle
- unscented biodegradable soap, wash cloth, backpacker towel
- backpacking food
- see details below
- 2 quarts or liters of water
or energy drink
- insect repellant
- mosquito headnet (optional)
- 40' of 1/8" nylon line for hanging
things (optional)
- dry waterproof bags for your sleeping bag, clothing,
camera, film, electronics (sleeping
bag required, the rest is optional)
- drivers license, health insurance card
- sufficient cash and credit cards for gas, meals, and other expenses
Common Items
If people want to share tents, water filters, first aid
kits, stoves, or meals, you can work
that out for yourselves from the participant list which will be emailed. We
really only need one stove, first aid kit, and water purifier for every two or
three people. I will try to coordinate this somewhat.
Guidebook & Maps
Appalachian Trails Conservancy,
Tennessee - North Carolina, Maps 1 & 2
Their Guidebook for this section of the AT
Health Problems
If anyone has a health problem that I should know about, please tell
me before you pass out.
Food
Bring more food than you would normally eat. As a backpacker, you
will appreciate the concept of food as fuel. Bring things that are lightweight, tasty, and nutritious
but also easy to prepare, cook, and clean up after. Also bring foods that will not spoil in the
heat. Plan a menu from Monday lunch to
Friday lunch plus
energy snacks. Extra points for meals that pass the
"Lick Test". Don't know what the "Lick Test" is? Shame on you, go back to square
one, do not pass go, do not collect $200.00, and read Colin Fletchers book "The
Complete Walker" before the trip.
Water
Each person
should carry at least two quarts or liters of water per day and replenish as
necessary. The region is currently +15" of rain for the season so there will be
plenty of water at the springs.
Leave No Trace
We will practice "Leave No Trace" backcountry ethics.
This means that we pack out all of our trash and garbage. It also means that we
do not use soap or shampoo to wash in mountain lakes or streams. Just swimming
in the water without using soap works pretty well all by itself for getting clean. Use a folding
basin and/or wash cloth and soap/shampoo a reasonable distance away from lakes or streams to wash more
thoroughly. It's okay to use a tiny amount of biodegradable soap
directly in the
lake or stream just to wash your hands and face.
Cost
To be
determined
Trip Leader:
Ted Fryberger
6259 Deep River Canyon
Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 443-917-2902Cell: 410-428-1868
Email: ted.fryberger@backpackskidive.org
Website: BackpackSkiDive.org
Driving Directions
to Carpool Location:
To be determined
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