I am writing this well before finals with the knowledge that they WILL be painful and I WILL get through them (and so will you). That being said, I also have the foresight to know that the first thing I am going to want to do when they’re over is touch grass, sleep outside, and romp around in the wilderness. …
When I was but a wide-eyed first year, I led a Grayson Highlands backpacking trip, and despite it being mid April it dumped 6 inches of snow on us. Side note: an elaborate backcountry-burrito dinner kept us warm so we’ve got a high bar for backcountry chef skills. And complaints aside, Jill kept joining me for very questionable trips (see: …
let’s go backpacking in the rain on Friday! It will not stop us. I want to practice making backcountry bread. I want to camp by a river. I’m also hoping to incorporate some nature connection activities! This will not be super physically strenuous, but it’s a good time to hone skills like setting up tarps, backcountry cooking, and keeping your …
Come on a mini backpacking trip in Shenandoah this weekend! It’s a 3 mile out and back in the southern corner of the park (so not too far from Grounds!) There’s some awesome views and it’s not a challenging route so it’s pretty beginner backpacking trip! (It looks like it may be cold and rainy this weekend, and if so …
Picture yourself moseying along a trail in the Virginia mountains at sunset. You’re surrounded by spring flowers and balmy air and oh also WILD PONIES. (and cows too.) this magical dream landscape is none other than GRAYSON HIGHLANDS and this is where you could be next weekend!!!! nathaniel & i plan to do a beginner loop at a slowish pace …
What’s up y’all, I’m back to lead another PATC Cabin backpacking trip. Sadly my beloved Jones Mountain cabin is closed for renovations so I’ve been forced to close up shop and move somewhere else. I’ve decided to try out Range View cabin also in Shenandoah; I figured seeing as I’ll be applying to live on the Range on April 1 …
Looming midterms? Other various obligations? ✨Escape them all by running away into the woods✨! Shocking as it may be with this winter weather, spring is a mere month away 😱 Come celebrate with us by spending a weekend backpacking!! 3 ridges is a 13 mile loop along the AT with some fantastic scenery. It’s a pretty strenuous hike, but INCREDIBLY …
Learn about all that NOLS has to offer YOU, a UVA student, an Outdoors Club member, someone hankering to learn new skills and grow their leadership. NOLS stands for the National Outdoor Leadership school and they run courses over the summer and even semester-long ones. They do backpacking, climbing, rafting, skiing, kayaking, sailing and mountaineering all over the place (Alaska, …
Bears are real…right? I’m pretty sure they are. Anyway, when we go backpacking, we must protect the bears from our food and smellables so they don’t get habituated. One of the ways to do this is a bear hang. There’s the PCT bear hang, the critter hang, the two-tree bear hang, and even the bearritto. We’ll talk through and experiment …
Hello prospective potatopackers! This is take two after my last House Mountain trip had to be canceled… this time, join me and Loreley on an adventure like no other. There will be trees. There will be rocks. And most importantly, there. will. be. mashed potatoes. That’s right, for dinner I will have vegan, gluten free, instant mashed potatoes for all!!! …
If your favorite way to spend a friday night is sleeping out under the stars come backpacking with us in Shenandoah! We’ll be doing a 9 mile loop over two days which includes the beautiful Blackrock Summit. It’s a steep trail in places with long uphills, and a fair amount of miles, but we can definitely go at a slower …
Look, I’m not saying you’re going to find the love of your life on this trip. But I’m not NOT saying you’re going to meet the love of your life. Might as well join the trip to find out. This is an lgbtq affinity trip, meant to create a safe space for our lgbtq club members! Here’s the plan: Meet …
hello yall! Join me as I embark to Blackrock Gap/Trayfoot mountain trail for a short overnight backpacking trip. it’s a 9.5 ish mile hike with one overnight. We will hike 6 miles the first day, and 3 miles the second day! At night, we will also brew and enjoy some hot chocolate, so please Bring Your Own Cup (BYOC), or …
ONE MORE backpacking trip coming atCHA. But it’s on Friday. Also, I’m pretty flexible with the departure time. Basically, I just want to get outside and sleep outside. That’s the dream. Anyone is welcome on this trip and please reach out with questions. My number is listed at the bottom. Hike details: river crossing! wilderness! peaks! all trails says it’s …
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Wow! I am in my last semester at UVA, and, as such, this is the 3rd and final (and most brutal. and most spectacular.) installment of my spring break backpacking extravaganza (I wasn’t going to post one this year… here we are). We will start at the iconic Nantahala Outdoor Center (“the NOC”) and traverse the length of the Great …
Have you been CRAVING the cold air? All I want to do is sleep outside!!! So let’s do it. This Saturday night, I am going to go camp off skyline drive and YOU should come with me! I want this to be a fun introduction to backpacking, or a really chill time for the experts. Here’s the plan: 3:30 pm …
Who’s Elliott? And *what* exactly are we climbing? Great questions! We’ll find out together when we climb Elliott’s Knob. What I do know for sure is that we’ll be hiking 10ish miles (4.6 a day) and gaining over 2000 feet of elevation to reach the top, where there’s (allegedly) a 40-ft fire tower with a panoramic view of the Shenandoah. …
Hi all! Join me for a quick overnight getaway to the highest point in West Virginia! The new moon is next Wednesday so it should still be pretty dark out there and I’m hoping for some nice stargazing conditions. The hike itself is about 5 miles there and 5 back so it’ll be a pretty relaxed beginner backpacking opportunity — …
It’s chilly outside so let’s stay inside and LEARN about all the cool things we can do when it’s warmer! Come join me this Tuesday in the basement of New Cabell Hall (CAB 036) for an ol’ fashioned slide presentation and demonstration and elucidation. This would be a lovely compliment to a beginner backpacking trip and will provide you with …
Ski bums, dirtbag climbers, river rats, and trail blazers: this is what you’ve been waiting for all semester. Behold, the most EPIC, only ONCE-in-a-trip-around-the-sun GNAR JOURNEY. We’re awakening from our East Coast slumber, overstuffing cars with loose bagels, and migrating to the ultimate desert mecca: MOAB, UTAH. It’s time to venture into bottomless canyons, conquer slickrock playgrounds, and become one …
Hi yall!! Looking to get one last trip in before heading home? We have the perfect one for you! Join us for an overnight backpacking trip to three ridges! Here, we will hike half of the 13.6 miles loop, camp out overnight, finish the rest in the morning, before heading back to cville. Schedule: Saturday: ~8 miles 11am: Leave from …
After the next three of days of exam hell, I really can’t wait to take a break from everything, and what better way to do that than some light backpacking! And since it’s the weekend before Thanksgiving break, it’s gonna be Thanksgiving themed – which means we’re gonna be bringing as much of a Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy in the …
Please, please, please join Charlotte and I on this short n’ sweet backpacking trip this Saturday. The plan is to hike up Crabtree falls to the Priest, camp there and then hike back down in the AM! Either way it’s about 8 miles total with a good amount of elevation gain (it will leave quite an impression, 2,400 feet to …
I love Halloweekend as much as the next guy, but I love the woods too. I’m hoping to rassle up a band of adventurers who want to go backpacking Saturday afternoon to Sunday midday. The plan is to hike up Crabtree Falls to the Priest or do it as a point-to-point if we can get 2 cars and enough people. …
Late-October, Virginia’s scenic canopy of late fall, cool mountain breezes to counteract the horrid midday heat, eating some gourmet jet-boil pasta while watching the vibrant sun dip slowly behind our beautiful Virginia mountains from a little fire tower nestled atop Elliot Knob. If you imagine this to be your ideal Friday night after a long week of being in the …
Late-October, Virginia’s scenic canopy of late fall, cool mountain breezes to counteract the horrid midday heat, eating some gourmet jet-boil pasta while watching the vibrant sun dip slowly behind our beautiful Virginia mountains from a little fire tower nestled atop Elliot Knob. If you imagine this to be your ideal Friday night after a long week of being in the …
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Hey y’all! I’m… exhausted. And my weekends have been soooo booked lately (and will be for the foreseeable future), but I have some new gear I want to try out (before my next free weekend, which is in December ),,,: Solution: the world’s shortest backpacking trip. We’ll only be hiking 2 miles in/out to Maupin Field Shelter on the AT, …
Pack your bags for the perfect fall break getaway—let’s explore Dolly Sods together! 🍂 Join me for a three-day backpacking adventure in Dolly Sods, West Virginia! From the stunning arctic tundra-like landscapes to the high plateaus and stunted red spruce trees, this place promises incredible beauty. I’ve heard amazing things from friends, and I can’t wait for us to explore …
Helloooo outdoorslings! Ben has returned from the magical mystical land of acadia to lead ONE MORE sibling duo dolly sods backpacking trip!!! We were moseying through dolly sods this summer and stumbled upon yet ANOTHER magical mystical CLIFFTOP CAMPSITE that overlooks Canaan Valley and is gorgeous!! And we realized we could COMBINE this campsite cowboy camping c-experience with the first …
Well, on this week’s installment of my biweekly hiking trips, I’m trying to do something a little bit more ambitious. The plan is to backpack a ~16 mile loop at Spruce Knob, West Virginia, which is the highest point in WV. Along the way there’s also a 50 year old plane crash and a couple cool waterfalls. I have a …
I wanted to lead a backpacking trip this weekend so I found a route. Should be totally doable for beginners (as long as you are comfortable with about 12 miles and 2500ft incline over two days). Anyway here is an itinerary that will probably not be followed super closely but it is good to kind of have a plan. https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/BrownsHollow/ …
Hellllo outdoorslings! Did you miss out on beach this summer? or are you experiencing beach withdrawal? or do you want to learn how to backpack… AT BEACH??? If so, join sophie & evelyn as we gander down to False Cape next weekend for beach backpacking!! Come soak in the ocean and salt air and sand with us!! also, NO EXPERIENCE …
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This isn’t just any backpacking trip. This is a testament to our creative forces, the magical creatures that live in the woods, and all things natural beauty. That’s right – a fairy house building x backpacking collaboration, where we enjoy nature while also building homes for our friendly fairy neighbors along the way. To join this trip, you must believe …
CALLING ALL NEW MEMBERS! Join Ed and Bex on an epic New Member Beginner Backpacking trip filled with group games, happy hiking, and a little swim mayhaps. Our hike is approx 10 miles total. Waitlist priority to those who attend the FIRST ODC PARTY on Friday! (Jk jk … unless) Here’s the alltrails link to check out the trail: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/virginia/riprap-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map …
Hello my fellow outdoor friends!! I hope everyone’s first week of classes went well (and more importantly that no one was swamped with too much homework this early in the semester). This weekend Nathan and I will be leading a beginner backpacking trip down to Mt. Pleasant. This trip is designed for people who have never been backpacking before and …
It’s TIME for the first backpacking workshop of the year! YEEHAW Take advantage of this magnificent opportunity to discover the ✨art of backpacking✨. This Tuesday we’ll learn all about backpacking gear and skills in this specially made workshop for NEW MEMBERS and BEGINNERS. After this workshop you will know the basics of … – packing a backpack – setting up …
Hey folks! Come backpack to celebrate the beginning of the school year. We will be hiking the iconic three ridges loop (roughly 13-14 miles and 4k ft of elevation) over two days and camping at the Harper’s Creek Shelter/nearby campsites. I listed this as intermediate because I do tend to walk at a clip but will happily wait up for …
Lets go romp around False Cape State Park! It’ll be super chill (4-5 miles each way with a sum total of 43 feet elevation gain) so mostly we’ll be just be swimming in the Atlantic or lounging on the beach. Timeline: Monday: 10:00 – Depart from Echols 13:30 – Arrive at False Cape 15:30 – Arrive at campsite and spend …
I still have never been on any ODC backpacking trip and realllllly want to! So come hang with me and come backpacking to Elliot’s Knob! Its an 8.3 out-and-back trail with some pretty good elevation gain of 2400 feet so it is no joke! But we will take our time and be fine 🙂 Itinerary: Thursday: 4:00- meet at Echols …
Mitch and I are about to graduate, and somehow neither of us have been to elliot’s knob? Also, I still have never been on any ODC backpacking trip! So come hang with us and come backpacking to Elliot’s Knob! Its an 8.3 out-and-back trail with some pretty good elevation gain of 2400 feet so it is no joke! But we …
Hey all! I’m headed to the Appalachian Trail Days Festival in a couple of weeks and I’m super stoked. I initially wasn’t sure if I would just go alone or post it as a trip, but might as well see if a few people are interested and hopefully bring a few of my ODC friends along to this wild & …
Hey y’all!! Anyone else love the song Sweet Virginia by The Rolling Stones??? If not, let me serenade you with my favorite lyric: “got to scrape that shit right off your shoes” Anyone else inspired to go backpacking because they want to scrape that metaphorical shit [exams/finals/school] right off your shoes [aka soul] ??? Come rejoice in the soul-cleansing powerwash …
HELLO ALL tik tok users, “Demon CopperHead” enjoyers, and foxfield avoiders. Join me and Ella on a backpacking/swimming trip to THE DEVIL’S BATHTUB. Devil’s Bathtub is a deep water hole in Scott County Virginia, right near the Tennessee border. Devil’s bathtub has crystal clear, aquamarine colored water, created by algae on the bottom. It is said that the water is …
Hellooooooooooooooo peoples! What better way to close out your semester than by frolicking in the spring west virginia wilderness?? Come join Ben & I for a three-day backpacking extravaganza at Dolly Sods!! This place is Ben’s and my absolute favorite spot to backpack: the landscape resembles the arctic tundra and has incredible mountain views and forests and fields. The spring …
Hello friends! We are assembling a group of high rollers to conquer not one, not two, but three whole ridges! And we want YOU there! Three Ridges is a cool backpacking circuit that has nice views within an hour of Charlottesville. Those new to backpacking are more than welcome. Hiking experience is valuable as we will rack up some hiking …
Friday March 29 – Saturday March 30 Do you hate spring and all that is green (except exuberant moss carpets, ferns, and spruces)? Did you miss out on some good-old-fashioned winter backpacking this season? Well I’ve got news for you – your last chance to experience all this has not yet evaded you. Join Chris and I on our journey …
Hello nitty gritty dirty little freaks, For those who do not know, a wildfire hit Matts Creek, near Big Island, VA back in November. Around 11,000 acres were affected, and as you could imagine, the area has dramatically changed. But in what ways?? Join us on this backpacking adventure of re-entering the area with respect and curiosity to see how …
So like I haven’t been on a backpacking trip since November which is just criminal so that paired with this semester flying by, I’m making things happen. I’m all about finding cool places to hike and backpack and I think I’ve found a good one; Roaring Plains which is actually just below Dolly Sods which if its even half as …
**Drivers get priority off the waitlist & gas reimbursement 🙂 Hey y’all It’s sooo hard to fit in the amount of backpacking I want to do when I’ve got this much HW… so… Friday night backpacking! This should be a fun trip. It’ll just be a 5 miles out-and-back type of deal, but we’ll stay at this cool shelter that …
This April (8th), coming to skies in a state near you, watch the sun goddamn disappear in the middle of the day! Want to see every animal freak out and feel the temperature drop ten degrees while watching the Sun’s magnetic field blazes above you for three minutes? Then join us as drive up to — well, we’ll get to …