GetHiking! The Southeast's Classic Hikes: AT in Virginia

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Our first GetHiking! The Southeast's Classic Hikes (http://getgoingnc.com/2015/12/in-2016-gethiking-the-southeasts-classic-hikes/) outing outside the Tarheel state. We'll be heading to Virginia, just west of Lynchburg, to hike a 10-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail (http://www.appalachiantrail.org). The hike starts with two miles of climbing to Punchbowl and Bluff mountains from the Blue Ridge Parkway, we navigate a ridge for about 5 miles, taking in repeated views of the Piedmont to the east, the Shenandoah Valley and George Washington National Forest to the west. We drop off the mountain through a mature hardwood forest through Johns Hollow to trail's end, just shy of the James River. The climbing happens early on this hike, while your legs are fresh. Expect good spring wildflower viewing.

This hike is part of our 2016 GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes (http://getgoingnc.com/2015/12/in-2016-gethiking-the-southeasts-classic-hikes/) series, sequel to 2015’s inaugural GetHiking! North Carolina’s Classic Hikes series..

This is a fee program. Hikes are either $25 for a one-day hike, $35 for a weekend hike, with group camping included. Membership in the program is $75, which includes your first three hikes (if those hikes are all two-day, weekend hikes, you save $30). The fee also includes a joining gift (last year’s included GetHiking! T-shirts, hiking socks and camp towels), a swag bag for each hike, monthly emagazine with details of the upcoming hike and discounts on hiking gear at Great Outdoor Provision Co. You will be sent a PayPal invoice upon signing up for this hike.

Estimated drive time: Charlotte: 3 hours, 50 minutes; Greensboro: 2 hours, 30 minutes; Raleigh: 3 hours, 10 minutes.

For more information on the GetHiking! The Southeast’s Classic Hikes (http://getgoingnc.com/2015/12/in-2016-gethiking-the-southeasts-classic-hikes/) program and to sign up, visit GetGoingNC.com. You can also sign up and get more information by contacting Joe Miller at joe@getgoingnc.com.