Riprap and Wildcat Overnight

OVERVIEW

Channel your inner Zac Efron and become a Wildcat during this overnight, 9.5 mile backpacking trip. We’ll do a circuit on the Riprap and Wildcat Ridge trails, see some great views and cascades, and overall have a gosh-darn good time. This trip is open to beginners but some backpacking experience might be helpful.

For more info about the route check this link:
https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/SHEN_BCTrip-Riprap_and_Wildcat_E033-508.pdf

The plan:

Saturday, 11/9:
12:30pm: Leave from Echols Dorm & drive 1 hour to Riprap Parking Lot
Hike ~4 miles total on the AT, Riprap Trail, and Wildcat Ridge Trail
Make camp, hang, bond, etc (sunset at 5:07 pm)

Sunday, 11/10:
Early-ish: Hike ~5 miles on Wildcat Ridge Trail and the AT
Drive 1 hour back to Cville, hopefully getting back by 1pm so that there’s still time to study/grind/cry because the trip is over

To bring:
*Backpacking backpack (NOT a school bag)
*Sleep system (sleeping bag & pad or eno) – we’ll also bring tents to share
*Food – 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, snacks. For breakfast think bars, instant oatmeal, stuff like that. For lunch pick foods that don’t need to be cooked (sandwiches, bars, etc) and for dinner instant stuff that only needs boiling water tends to work best (pasta, ramen, dehydrated meals, instant soups, etc).
*Stuff sack to put your food in
*3-4 L water & stuff to eat with – try to bring as much as you can, as we may have a water source near camp but it’s not guaranteed
*Clothing – up to you , but the following should be a good starting point:
*1 shirt
*1 pair shorts/hiking pants
*Sleep clothes if you want
*2 pairs socks
*Warm layers – hat, gloves, jacket(s), etc – being cold is no fun & we won’t have a fire rip :/
*Rain gear (definitely a jacket and also pants if you want)
*Headlamp
*Sturdy shoes, camp shoes if you want
*AVOID COTTON!!!
*Pocket knife, lighter, etc if you have them
*Hat/sunglasses/sunscreen
*Book/cards/instrument/sense of whimsy
*Trash bags (2-3, for trash and for keeping things dry if it rains)
*SNP pass if you have it, $5 in case no one does

I will bring stuff like a water filter & iodine, stoves & cooking instruments, and tents. We will spread this out across everyone so leave some room in your pack!

*DRIVERS NEEDED*
-drivers will get priority off the waitlist
-drivers need to show up to Echols with a full tank of gas. club pays for gas + you get a 50% tip!