The Priest — Intermediate Backpacking

OVERVIEW

It’s time for me to lead a backpacking trip!! I’ve always wanted to do the priest… so let’s do it (with ED!!!!)

We will hike up 4.5ish miles to the Priest where there’s a shelter, and then go back down the next day.  The trail can be found here:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/appalachian-trail-tye-river-to-priest-shelter

the itinerary:
Jan 20
130: meet @ echols + leave cville
230/245: arrive @ trail head
5/530: reach the Priest, set up camp, eat, chill, exist, shlump
Jan 21
730/8: wake up n eat breakfast
9: start hiking back down
1130ish: reach car and drive back
1:00ish back to Cville

I rated this as an intermediate backpacking trip because the trail is rated as hard (we will of course take plenty of breaks!), and the weather!! It may (hopefully not) be icy.

There’s a water source at the shelter, and I will bring tablets to filter (but just bring 2L of water)

Since it is January…it will be COLD at night!!!  It is important that you have the gear for this.  Make sure you have one of the 0 degree sleeping bags.  and BASE LAYERS!!  Do not wear cotton!  WOOL!!! Make sure you have wool socks and gloves.  We will sleep in a tent since that’ll be warmer than the shelter with the wind etc. [[I will figure out/get us the tents]]

TO BRING:
–backpacking backpack
–sleeping pad
–rain jacket
–hiking shoes
— WARM GEAR:
base layers, jacket, HAT, GLOVES, wool socks, CHANGE OF WOOL SOCKS, other warm articles of clothing!!
— sleeping bag
–toiletries
— FOOD:
snacks/dinner for day 1 and breakfast/lunch + snacks for day 2.  I’ll bring a camp stove and fuel.  Feel free to bring one if you have one.
–headlamps/lights
–2 L of water minimum (I’ll bring a way to filter water)
— anything else you want!  something to share? read? cards?

also DRIVERS!!11!!****
we need 2 drivers for this trip — you will get priority off the waitlist + reimbursed for gas & 50% tip (come will a full tank of gas!!!)
yay thanks.

feel free to text me or Ed with any questions 🙂