Mini Backpacking at Calf Mountain

OVERVIEW

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 I’ll cancel/postpone because being cold, wet, and then not getting to see the sunset/sunrise would suck. Sadly, there’s not another easy weekend day for me to do this trip, so it’d need to be a weekday backpacking if we need to postpone.)

DRIVERS NEEDED – if you get to echols with a full tank gas is reimbursed + a 50% tip up to 20$. Drivers will get priority off the waitlist!

The plan:
saturday
4:00 – meet at Echols and head out to the trail once everyone’s arrived
4:45 – get to the trailhead and start hiking
around 6:00 – Get to the top and set up camp
6:30 – dinner and hang out
7:45 – watch a beautiful sunset
whenever – head to bed

sunday
around 6:15 – wake up and watch the sunrise
7:00 – pack up and head back down the mountain
8:00 – back at the car
before 9 – back at cville!

you bring:
food (snacks, dinner, and breakfast)
water (quite a bit as this is a dry campsite preferably ~3 L per person, and more if you want oatmeal/something requiring water for breakfast)
layers (depending on the forecast you might want a raincoat/multiple jackets/thermal leggings ect.)
this list (w/ the cold weather items!)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b7pkxckbPRRok72xpcN-KGproZ8DBZiw2JQULhc16mA/edit?tab=t.0
(if you don’t have anything on the list lmk or head to one of the gear rooms that week!)

i bring:
same as y’all
first aid kit
bear canister
water filter
stove and fuel

text me (434-607-3322) if you have any questions/concerns about the trip! I’m happy to go with anyone to the gear room/make suggestions about stuff to bring backpacking if needed!
alltrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/calf-mountain-trail