The Priest – WTF (Women, Trans, Femme) Hike

OVERVIEW

Welcome to the fall season in Charlottesville! The leaves are starting to change colors, classes are getting harder, and the air is getting crisper, and it’s time to do some hiking! We (Elli and Victor) are alumni who love the club and want to spend some time this season looking at leaves and getting to know some new (or old) ODC friends.

The Priest is a notorious section of the AT known for its unrelenting 4-mile uphill segment and beautiful scenery along the way. While 4 miles of straight uphill may sound intimidating, it really is quite doable, and we will be sure to take all the breaks we need. We will hike the Priest as an out-and-back for 8.5 miles total (~3300 ft of elevation gain). We will take shorter breaks along the way as needed and a longer rest at the top to eat snacks and enjoy the view.

This is a beginner trip, so we will be taking a relaxed pace with ample rest/water/snack breaks along the way. If there are a few folks who would like to take a faster pace, we will have rocky talkies and can have a faster group go ahead.

This is a WTF affinity trip! That means that this trip is made to create space for those who identify as a woman/female, transgender/nonbinary (of any gender), or femme. We will take people off the waitlist in the order they signed up with slight preference given to those who have not gotten off the waitlist for previous trips this semester. We will also give preference to an additional driver.

Timeline
– 1pm: leave from Echols
– 2pm: arrive at the trailhead and start hiking
– ~4:30 or 5pm: summit, snack, enjoy views
– ~7 or 8pm: back at trailhead
– 9pm: back at Echols

Packing List
– at least 2L of water
– snacks (bonus points if you bring some to share)
– shoes to hike in
– jacket or other weather-appropriate layers
– headlamp just in case we’re on the slower side and get caught in the dark
– backpack to hold all the things
– trekking poles for the downhill section if you have bad knees like me (optional)

Preference will be given to an additional driver. Drivers get gas reimbursed + 50% tip.