Available Mountain Blazer Trips
May 14th to 17th
3 days, 3 nights
This hike is designed to get into / stay in shape in anticipation of the 80-mile hike
32.5 / 15.8 Miles - Appalachian Trail
This is a SoBo hike on the AT. From Deep Gap, NC to Unicoi Gap, GA.
Friday evening we will meet at Unicoi Gap, preposition our vehicles, and then camp at Unicoi Gap, or nearby. Where we position our vehicles depends upon whether someone needs to come off the trail on Sunday. This could require a total of 3 vehicles.
The plan is to have a shuttle driver take us to Deep Gap early Saturday morning. For those of us doing the 32.5 miles, we will leave our cars at Unicoi. If you need to leave on Sunday, then we will position your vehicle at Dicks Creek Gap once we are all together at Unicoi Friday night.
If we are unable to secure a shuttle driver, then we will simply drive one car to Deep Gap early Saturday morning, and leave it there until Monday. Questions can be answered via email.
May 23rd - May 28th
6 days, 5 nights
80.6 Miles - Appalachian Trail
This is a NoBo hike on the Appalachian Trail. Davenport Gap (TN32) to Sam's Gap, NC.
Here is the tentative hiking plan (6 days, 5 nights). Starting Sunday, May 23rd.
Day 1 - 9.8 miles Groundhog Creek Shelter
Day 2 - 13.1 miles to Walnut Mtn Shelter
Day 3 - 13.1 miles to Hot Springs, NC (hostel)
Day 4 - 16.3 miles to Log Cabin Drive (Hemlock Inn or tent camp)
Day 5 - 16.0 miles to Flint Mtn Shelter
Day 6 - 11.2 miles to Sam's Gap, NC
- Note. We will not park at Sam's Gap, NC. We will likely park at a hostel. We already potentially have a ride to pick us up at this hostel near Sam's Gap, on Sunday.
June 11th - 14th
4 days, 3 nights
37.7 Miles - Appalachian Trail
This is a NoBo hike on the AT starting in Tennessee, finishing just inside Virginia in the town of Damascus. We will likely depart Chapin by 7:30 AM on the 11th, or earlier.
This is Jerry's return to the AT in Virginia. If possible, we will stay at a hostel Monday night upon completion of the hike to have a few beers in celebration.
Friday - on the trail by 1PM or earlier, hike 4.7 miles to a Vandeventer Shelter
Saturday - 10.6 miles
Sunday - 12.2 miles
Monday - 10.2 miles
We will park at a hostel on Friday and catch a shuttle ride to Wilbur Dam Rd, in Tennessee. If we stay Monday it will hopefully be the same hostel where we park. The two places I am considering are; Crazy Larry's B&B, or The Broken Fiddle hostel.
Late June, Early July
3 days, 2 nights
TBD
Maybe 4th of July weekend? A section in NC on the AT?
Or perhaps Mt. Mitchell?
Or this could be in late June
Mid July
3 nights, 4 days
41.2 Miles - Appalachian Trail
This will start in Damascus, and traverse the Grayson Highlands in Virginia. Most of this hike is high altitude, so it will be a fun hike, though a bit challenging. Camping temps should be cool enough for the altitudes on this route.
Day 1 - approx. 10 miles
Day 2 - 12 miles
Day 3 - 12 miles
Day 4 - 7 miles
* Let's Talk 2021 & 2022*
80.6 Mile Section Hike
Appalachian Trail (Davenport, TN to Sam's Gap, NC)
March / April 2021
This is an opportunity to test our abilities on two levels. Stringing together long days of hiking (13 miles or so), and performing a resupply in a town along the way (Hot Springs, NC). The resupply can occur in one of two ways; mailing a box to ourselves, or simply by purchasing our supplies in town.
Appalachian Trail Section Hikes
2021 and 2022
Jerry hopes to be north of Damascus, Virginia before the end of the 2021 hiking season, and will continue trekking north in 2022. Not to worry if you still want to hike Georgia or the lower portions of North Carolina. Those trips will continue to appear, and Jerry is willing to repeat some of those sections. By then there should be other Group Leaders to organize trips. There are 3 sections Jerry would repeat: Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap (Georgia), Deep Gap to Winding Stair Gap (North Carolina), and Winding Stair Gap to Wesser (North Carolina).
Introduction / Beginner Trips
Summer 2021
These trips will involve car camping with day hikes, or short easy trails to a campsite. The Black Balsam Knob area in Pisgah National Forest has been used for past Mountain Blazer introductory hikes. An area on the radar where we've never been is Doughton Park in North Carolina, up near the Virginia border off of Interstate 77.
Two Nights at Mt. Mitchell
July or August 2021
This is a beautiful area with great campsites, and an easy introduction to our club. This will be a Noon arrival for day one and hike about 2.5 miles to camp Maple Bald. Day two is a leisurely sleep-in morning, followed by 3 miles to Commissary Hill campsite, including a lunch stop. We will arrive at Commissary Hill early, so there will be opportunities for further day hiking on day two if desired. Day three is an easy 1.6 miles back to our vehicles.
Section Hike on the CDT
Rocky Mountains - Colorado
July 2021/2022 (TBD)
This will be an epic trip! CDT stands for Continental Divide Trail. The tentative plan is to hike 51 miles, which will include summiting two peaks above 14k.
Lots of planning to be done. Travel plans to and from Colorado. Total days spent in Colorado and total days hiking. Climate and altitude acclimatization, water sources, and campsite altitudes.
Ready for a Backpacking Trip?
You do not have to be a member of our club to go hiking with us.
Whether you have never been hiking, or are a member of the team, once you've decided on a scheduled trip listed on this page, simply select "Join us on a Hiking/Camping trip" below, or find your trip and select "Learn More", and then select "Join This Trip" in the drop down area. You will be taken to a form to complete. Soon after submitting your answers you will receive a personalized email from a group leader or hiking buddy. This email will be tailored to your level of hiking experience, and your contact will communicate with you all the way until meeting at the trailhead. At this point your backpacking experience has begun!