Spring Break Great Smoky Mtns Backpacking Extravanganza!!!

OVERVIEW

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 Smoky Mountains National Park on the Appalachian Trail. We will feast on candy bars, we will crush some trail miles, and we will embrace the brutality, joy, laughter, curiosity, and awe that is in store for us. This is going to be a lengthy trip description (complete w an inordinate amount of trip questions, sry), so buckle up!

First of all, this is an intermediate backpacking trip. It’s a week long, and we’ll be covering 105 miles, averaging 13 miles a day (w/ lots of 15s…) through the Great Smoky Mountains, which are known for being relatively difficult terrain. Some prior backpacking experience is expected; this is not a beginner trip and will be more exhausting than a beginner trip. Please make sure you’re in good health/relatively active leading up to the trip– if you’re not relatively active, it may be a good idea to do some training for the trip. Averaging 13 mpd for a week with lots of elevation gain/loss can feel like a lot. Prepare accordingly. And plz fill out the medical info question. Reach out to me if you’re not sure/have concerns!

Here are the budget considerations:
1) Shuttle money (I have to call, but I would guess it wouldn’t be more than ~$25 per person)
2) NOC bunkhouse money ($20) — this takes into account the $5 pp reimbursement ODC does for indoor lodging
3) Resupply in Fontana
4) Money for snacks & food on the road to/from the trip (optional, or just pack your own food)

Shuttle and bunkhouse money will be collected prior to the trip, as I will reserve them for the group.

Here’s the rough plan/itinerary:
**If people want to bump it up and leave on Friday, I’m totally down.

3/8 (“travel day”)
8AM: I’ll pick you up wherever you want to be picked up
~we drive for 5.5 hrs to Standing Bear Hostel, where we will leave the car(s?)~
Get an ~1.5 hr shuttle from Standing Bear to the NOC
Stay in a NOC bunkhouse for the night
3/9
Hike 16 miles to Brown Fork Gap Shelter (I’m not gonna lie… the first day is going to suck)
3/10
Hike 13 miles to the Fontana Dam Shelter (aka… “The Fontana Hilton”); Resupply in Fontana (ik its weird to resupply this early, but it’ll keep our packs light before until the last spot to resupply before the Smokies… and hopefully we can avoid a Gatlinburg side quest…)
3/11
Hike 15 miles to Russel Field Shelter
3/12
Hike 15 miles to Silers Bald Shelter
3/13
Hike 15 miles to Icewater Springs Shelter
3/14
Hike 13 miles to Tri Corner Knob Shelter
3/15
Hike 14 miles to Davenport Gap Shelter
3/16
Hike 5 miles to the car @ Standing Bear, drive back to Cville

Here’s the deal w/ gear:
**A lot of the club’s gear will be being used for Moab over Spring break. That’s ok, we have some options. I’ve put a question in the waitlist form to figure out what gear people have and what they need. For things you don’t have, consider first if you can borrow it from someone you know. Confirm w/ that person, then make sure that’s noted in your questions. From there, for gear people still don’t have, I’ll do some wizardry and make sure people have everything they need from a combo of: me having duplicates of certain gear items, whatever is leftover in the gear room not being taken to Moab, and a secret third gear source (ssssshhhh- it’s top secret).

Here’s what you need:
-sleeping bag (I recommend a 15-30 deg bag, it’s still early in the season)
-sleeping pad (inflatable or foam)
-backpacking pack w/ liner trash bag
-tent (I will also try to connect people in a group chat so tents can be shared)
-water bottles (or bladders) MINIMUM 2 Liters/64oz capacity (I usually do a little more, like 2.5L)
-headlamp
-small cook pot/bowl (usually a pot can be used as a bowl)
-utensil
layers (all layers should be non-cotton):
-1 shirt for hiking (can be long or short sleeve, depending on weather + personal preference)
-1 shirt for sleeping (long sleeve)
-1 shorts or pants for hiking
-1 leggings/warm pants for sleeping
-2 to 3 pairs hiking socks
-hiking shoes or boots (MUST be broken in. You should have already used both your socks + shoes on a long hike, to ensure you don’t get surprise blisters and we do backcountry foot surgery <3)
-camp shoes (optional: such as crocs, sandals, etc)
-fleece/intermediate layer
-puffy jacket
-hat
-gloves
-rain jacket
-rain pants (optional)
-underwear (u don’t need more than 2 pairs)
-power bank (optional)
-phone charger & phone & (if u want) earbuds
-extra ziploc bags (for trash)
-toothbrush/toothpaste
-try to minimize other hygeine items, like, tbh, deodorant is not going to really do anything. Embrace the hiker trash stench.
-TP (just tear some off and put it in a ziploc)
-any necessary medical stuff (prescription medication, OTC meds you regularly need. I will have a first aid kit tho)
-food for the first 2 days, see below:
-first day is non-hiking (driving + staying at the NOC), so it's up to you if you want to bring your own food and save $ or buy food along the way.
-2 trail breakfasts
-2 trail lunches
-2 trail dinners
-PLENTY OF SNACKS yum
Here is the link to a doc w/ suggestions for good backpacking options: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s7lCUJHsYKi5hyuoHnaEJS8eLnQ-a1vFpAe6wgG51s4/edit?usp=sharing
If you have questions/need more suggestions or guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out (OR if you have dietary restrictions… Fontana Dam, where we'll resupply is… limited)
-some kind of lightweight bag or stuff sack to hold your food (so we can bear hang it)
-the amount of $ laid out in the budget section. I recommend having at least some of it in cash. Most places take card, but every once in a while they don’t
-Some grit and a desire to enjoy a week of backpacking!
-PocketRocket stove, fuel, lighter (can be coordinated amongst the group, people can share the same one)
-water filtration/purification method (can be coordinated amongst the group/people can share)

I will bring for the group:
-First aid kit & my Wilderness First Responder knowledge
-Trowel for digging catholes
-Paracord to hang bear bags
-lots of experience as a trip leader (I’ve led a bunch of trips w/ ODC, as well as professionally leading trips, and I hiked the whole AT, so I’ve hiked the route we’re doing. basically, I’m biased, but I think you’re in good hands 🙂

Weather: The weather could be good, and the weather could be bad. In all likelihood, the lows will be below freezing (if I had to guess, likely in the high 20s?). We will likely at some point experience rain. I’ll update w/ actual forecasts as we get closer, so we can plan accordingly.

Here’s my contact info:
757-647-6745 or mxz2fc@virginia.edu
pleasepleaseplease do not hesitate to contact me with any questions/concerns/hesitations. I’ll reach out to anyone who puts any questions/concerns in their waitlist questions, but genuinely- I love talking abt backpacking so don’t hesitate.

SOOOO STOKED,
-Carson