SPRING Out of the Semester: Dolly Sods Backpacking!!!

OVERVIEW

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 foliage is sure to be absolutely breathtaking too (last time we were here we munched on wild blackberries and blueberries on the trail!)

Feel free to sign up even if you are a beginner/never backpacked before- if you are confident you can manage the distance while carrying a heavy pack then you’ll be absolutely fine! We’re thinking about a 23-mile loop total over three days depending on how we’re feeling and how much moseying and view-taking-in-ing we want to do. This would translate to about 5ish miles day 1, 9/10 miles day 2, and 8ish miles day 3 (roughly following a loop we did with Mateo) but again it depends on the vibes and we could end up going longer/shorter. Again don’t be afraid of the distance- I did this loop for my first time backpacking and it was definitely doable and incredible!!
ALSO: we have a car that fits 5 people including the 2 of us and ben’s truck that fits 2 (unless it’s broken.) That being said we would absolutely love another driver: gas is reimbursed and the drive is lovely and scenic and ~3hrs!

THE (tentative) PLAN:
FRIDAY: 5ish miles
~2 or 3: head out! (could also be earlier depending on when peoples’ classes end) (or later if you’re like me and don’t start packing until ~30 mins before departure time)
~5: arrive in land of splendor, hit the trail
~7 or 7:30: arrive at 1st campsite & munch dinner, fire + storytelling + shenanigans + smores
SATURDAY: ~10ish miles
Wake up
eat brek
hike!
eat lunch
arrive at campsite and have COMMUNAL DINNER of excellence! (details about what we want/if you want to participate below!)
more smores + storytelling + shenangians
NOTE: if we follow the same mateo loop we could camp on a clifftop overlooking a valley!! (it was splendid and i 10/10 recommend)
SUNDAY: ~8 miles
8ish: wake up, take in the mountain morning
9ish: eat brek, start the return journey
2ish: reach cars and depart magical dolly sods wonderland
5ish: return to cville feeling enlightened & refreshed!
NOTE: optional stop at Lost River Cafe en route home which has incredible ice cream 🙂

PACKING LIST!!
YOU BRING:
– good vibes!
– backpacking backpack!
-shoes (optional) (ben is opting out)
– sleeping bag + sleeping pad
– trash bag to rainproof clothes and gear
-tent or friend with tent (unless it’s beautiful out and we cowboy camp!)
-14 gallons of water
– just kidding bring enough for 3 days: around 6 liters! (we can bring extra gallons for the car)
– food! we can do a communal dinner + smores + fire etc on Saturday night! we’ll can figure out details + allergy info as we go 🙂
otherwise food-wise: 1 dinner for Friday, 1 breakfast + 1 lunch for Saturday, 1 breakfast + lunch Sunday. we will have camp stoves so you can bring things that need cooking- we will probably be on the trails for lunches though which means no-cook lunches (ben recommends cold can of beans.)
– bowl and utensils
-warm layers!! (base layers, puffy / warm jacket, gloves and a hat) dolly sods is a similar ecosystem + environment to the canadian tundra so it still gets chilly in April (lows can be in the 40s!)
– rain jacket / poncho
-headlamp
-moleskin + band aids (optional- no need to bring if you don’t injure yourself)
– hand sanitizer
-tp
– instruments (optional) (kazoos encouraged)
-camera!

WE PROVIDE:
– camp stove
– water filters (feel free to bring your own as well!)
-bear bag + rope
-shovel
– cars
– first aid kit
-spring frolicking vibes!

that is all please text me (434 987 1433) or ben (434 987 9468) with any questions!! hope to see yall there 🙂