GetHiking! Southeast's Classic Hikes: AT near Hot Springs Veterans Day Weekend

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Love to hike, but not camp? You'll be cheered to hear that our last weekend hike of the 2016 Southeast's Classic Hikes series will be based out of the Laughing Heart Lodge in Hot Springs. We've blocked out the lodge for Veterans Day Weekend, for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. First, about Laughing Heart ...

You will need to make your own reservations. The main lodge has 7 guest rooms, all with private baths. There's a cabin with kitchen, and, for the budget minded, there is a hostel with rates starting at $20 per night. Learn more about Laughing Heart, which is on the Appalachian Trail, and make reservations starting here (http://www.laughingheartlodge.com). Mention you are with GetHiking! when making your reservation. Laughing Heat can accommodate about 30 people.

The hiking:

Saturday, we will have two hikes. The longer hike, 14 miles, will begin at Max Patch and head north on the AT to Garenflo Gap. The shorter hike will begin at Lemon Gap and head north on the AT to Garenflo Gap. The Max Patch hike starts atop an impressive bald, meanders downhill and along creeks for 5 miles before a climb up Walter Mountain and a longer climb up Bluff Mountain, from there it's a 4-mile descent to Garenflo Gap. The shorter hike follows the same path from Lemon Gap to Garenflo Gap.

Sunday, we also have two hikes. The longer, 13 miles, heads north on the AT from Hot Springs up Lovers Leap Ridge (great views of the French Broad River and Hot Springs below), to Rich Mountain, then returns on the Roundtop Ridge Trail. The shorter hike, 6 miles, follows the same AT route up Lovers Leap Ridge and ends at Tanyard Gap, on US 25.

Monday, we will catch a shuttle up to Garenflo Gap on the AT and continue heading north for 7 miles back to the Laughing Heart Lodge.

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: the cost of this hike is $35 and includes a swag bag, our monthly emagazine, 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: 2 hours, 45 minutes; Greensboro: 3 hours; Raleigh: 4 hours, 20 minutes.

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