Appalachian trail section hike – Rockfish gap to Pinefield Hut

OVERVIEW

Have you ever thought about hiking the Appalachian trail? Well have I got great news for you! I’m going to attempt to finish the Virginia section this school year and I want you to join!! As of now I have hiked about 75 miles of the 544 in the Virginia section of the trail, and this trip will add another 33. Although I put the rating as intermediate, you don’t really need any backpacking experience, as we will have quite a while to walk the 10ish miles each day and the elevation of this section doesn’t look too bad. There will also be plenty of time for snack breaks and photos.

The section we will be doing is from Rockfish gap to Pinefield hut. I don’t have AllTrails, but here are the locations in google maps (ignore the path, we won’t be walking along the highway): https://maps.app.goo.gl/aif6YZcbtnzpr28d9

I don’t have a car and we will need at least one, but preferably two, to be able to drop on either end of where we hike, so anyone with a car gets immediate waitlist priority. ODC will reimburse whatever you pay for gas as long as you fill up your tank before and after the trip and submit proof of your fill charge.

Timeline
-2pm* Friday: We will meet up at Echols and drive over to the trail
-3: Leave a vehicle on the northern end of the section we will walk
-3:30: Arrive at southern end of the section and start walking north
-Friday night: We’ll get to Calf Mountain shelter after 7 miles, I’m estimating a little before 8, but that depends on pace/starting time
-All of Saturday: Wake up and hike to Blackrock hut shelter, 13 miles
-Sunday: Wake up early again and hike to the Pinefield Hut parking, 13 miles
-Sunday afternoon: Hop in dropped car and go pick up the car on the other end
-Arrive back at grounds maybe 5ish? Again, it entirely depends on our pace
-Maybe group dinner to celebrate hike

*Subject to change depending on when everyone is free to get out of class on Friday, my last class ends at 1. Text me if you want to come but have a later class

What I bring
-First aid kit
-Food (We’ll convene for meal preference)
-Water filter
-Stove/Cooking stuff
-TP

What you bring
-Backpack big enough to fit a bunch of heavy junk
-Preferably not a bunch of heavy junk
-Also nothing with a scent, attracts too many bugs
-Snacks
-Water bag
-Hiking poles
-Headlamp
-A nice pair of waterproof shoes and socks
-A set of clothes to walk in
-A set of clothes to sleep in
-Sleeping mat + maybe sleeping bag?
-Willingness to tolerate sore feet and sweat for a weekend

We will be staying in the shelters along the AT maintained by the PATC, so no need for tents or anything. I recommend everyone has a sleeping mat and maybe a sleeping bag depending on the weather.