Spruce sKnob Snowy Stargazing & sBackpacking

OVERVIEW

Hi all! Join me for a quick overnight getaway to the highest point in West Virginia! The new moon is next Wednesday so it should still be pretty dark out there and I’m hoping for some nice stargazing conditions. The hike itself is about 5 miles there and 5 back so it’ll be a pretty relaxed beginner backpacking opportunity — no prior backpacking experience necessary. There’s also a cool fire tower at the top.

Here’s some more info on the hike if you’d like to check it out: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/spruce-knob-via-huckleberry-trail

The plan:
10:00 am Saturday: Depart Charlottesville and drive to trailhead (~2.5 hrs)
1:00 pm: Hike ~4 miles along Huckleberry trail
4:00 pm: Set up camp
5:00: Cook dinner, eat
7:00 pm: Hike about a mile to summit
8:00 pm: Stargaze!
9:00 pm: Hike back and hang out around campsite
Sunday: Less structured, but the plan is to tear down camp, hike back to the car, & drive home ideally leaving around 1pm and getting back around 4pm

What to bring:
– Backpack
– Tent
– Sleeping bag and pad
– Hiking shoes
– 2 lunches, 1 breakfast, and snacks
– Bowl & utensils
– Camp entertainment (book, journal, etc.)
– Headlamp
– WATER and LAYERS

What I’ll also bring:
– First aid kit
– Bear bag
– Communal dinner supplies

Drivers are needed and will be prioritized off of the waitlist! If multiple drivers sign up, I’ll open up more spots.