Winter Backpacking (Daniel Boone Loop) in Pisgah

OVERVIEW

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. 🙁

Join me on a weekend backpacking trip to Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina to enjoy one of the best winter backpacking loops in North Carolina. The Daniel Boone loop starts near Lake Logan and passes Shining Rock (5940′)- a quartz outcrop, and great ridgeline views. 16.8 mi total.
Weather this weekend is looking good considering it’s the middle of January. Highs in the 50s, lows in the high 20s/30s.

ITINERARY:
Friday 1/18:
9:30am: Meet at Echols. Repack packs with group gear and food. Load packs into car.
10:00am: Leave Charlottesville!
4:30: Arrive at trailhead. 3.7 mile hike in. Camp the night at Deep Gap.
Saturday 1/19:
Leave campsite and do 1.4 mile day hike up to Cold Mountain (lots of elevation gain!) if desired. Return to camp and grab packs– 3.7 mile hike across Shining Rock Ledge. Expect some scrambling– then be rewarded with flat ridgeline hiking. Supposed to be great views on a clear winter day. Set up camp at Shining Rock Gap and spend rest of the day playing and scrambling on Shining Rock. White quartz! Good place for watching the sunset.
Sunday 1/20:
6.6 mile hike– mainly downhill! Last 3 miles parallel to to the Pigeon River. We should see some good waterfalls. After we finish hiking, we will drive into Asheville and get dinner somewhere (pizza?!) to celebrate and spend the night at a hostel (TBD- Asheville Hostel & Guest House?) (NOTE: pending group wants/needs and backcountry availability along the trail we could potentially camp this night too.)
Monday 1/21:
Option (Depending on what group wants to do)
Looking Glass Rock day hike in the AM and then drive back to Charlottesville. OR… just drive back to Charlottesville. (Looking Glass Rock is famous! See here for info: http://www.romanticasheville.com/looking_glass.htm)

* PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUS BACKPACKING/COLD WEATHER EXPERIENCE! This is because it is going to be cold. You must know how to take care of yourself in the cold to attend this adventure. *

YOU PROVIDE:
Appropriate backpacking / winter gear. You must go to gear room yourself to get anything you do not have.
You need from gear room: a pack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag (GET A ZERO DEGREE (or warmer) BAG!), head lamp
You need to provide on your own: WARM LAYERS. Synthetic shirt and long underwear, a fleece AND a winter jacket, as well as a hat, warm gloves and wool socks are necessary. No cotton! Despite the forecast, at high elevations it could get very cold.
RAIN GEAR.
DON’T FORGET YOUR BOWL AND SPOON. 🙂
2 liters of water bottle storage space
Money– for if we stay at a hostel, and for dinner Sunday night, and for any emergencies.

WE PROVIDE:
Tents, stoves & pots for cooking.
Ride in a car
Gas reimbursement if you drive
Food
1st Aid Kit