- Burch Reserve Trail Evening HikeBurch Reserve Trailhead, Nashville, TN
Looking to get in better shape for backpacking? Missing the Backpacker Meetup group but don't have time for a trip? Then join us for a 3.0 mile hike in Edwin Warner Park!
This moderate hike typically takes about an hour with the pace set by the group. No one is left behind.
Alltrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/burch-reserve-trail?sh=rwslffHeadlamps/lights are required for this hike. Water, snacks, and appropriate layers for the weather are recommended.
We will start from the parking lot of the Burch Reserve Trail. This park is easy to access at the intersection of Highway 100 and Old Hickory Boulevard and offers paved parking. Please give yourself enough time to find parking and get to the trailhead – we will start promptly to respect everyone's time. Message me if you're running late!
I will keep an eye on the weather and may cancel for rain, thunderstorms, or windy conditions.
Dogs are not allowed on the Burch Reserve Trail, so please leave them at home.
- Overnight Backpack: Possum Creek Gorge Section, March 23-24, 2024Retro Hughes Trailhead, Graysville, TN
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION BEFORE YOU RSVP
Let's go hike the Possum Creek Gorge Section of the Cumberland Trail. This 9 mile section of the trail boasts beautiful views, gorgeous rock formations, and waterfalls. We will be doing this as a point to point hike, starting at the Heiss Mountain Road trailhead, and ending at the Retro Hughes Trailhead, doing our own shuttling.
*ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL TIME*
Saturday: We will meet at the Retro Hughes Trailhead at 9:00 AM. We will use a few cars to shuttle to the Heiss Mountain Trailhead, and start our hike at 10:00 AM. We will hike 7.1 miles to the Little Possum North campsite. We will pass Little Possum Falls (aka Immodium Falls) around the 5-mile mark.
Sunday: We will hike 2.4 miles to the Retro Hughes Trailhead, and shuttle whoever needs it back to their car at the Heiss Mountain Trailhead.
This hike is open to all skill levels, but parts of this hike will be very strenuous and/or technical. Please be sure you are comfortable with the terrain and elevation before you RSVP. It will be a "go at your own pace" hike, so please have a map and some knowledge of the route.
Weather: The hike will take place rain or shine, unless dangerous storms are in the forecast. Weather conditions will be updated closer to the date of the hike.
Water: We will be camped right next to water, and there will be some water availability along the route. Please familiarize yourself with the route and plan water carrying accordingly.
Food Storage: A bear hang bag, Ursack, or canister is recommended.
Cumberland Trail Conference Description
This is a pup-friendly trip, so your well-behaved doggo is welcome. The trip will be limited to 10 people due to the logistics involved. There is no permit fee for this trip. If you have any questions, contact me at 931-267-9378.
Important Stuff:
1. RSVP will open Sunday, February 18 at 6:00 PM CDT.
2. Text me within 24 hours of RSVP to confirm your attendance, or I will move you back to the waitlist.
3. If you RSVP to the waitlist, text me to ensure you get a shot at a spot should someone cancel. - Mossy Ridge Trail Evening Hike at Percy Warner ParkDeep Well Trailhead - Warner Park, Nashville, TN
Looking to get in better shape for backpacking? Missing the Backpacker Meetup group but don't have time for a trip? Then join us for a 5.0 mile loop through Percy Warner Park!
We'll meet at the Deep Well Trail Head at 6:00 pm and spend the next 2+ hours on this challenging trail with frequent elevation gain. The pace is set by the group and no one is left behind.
Headlamps/lights are required for this hike. Water, snacks, and appropriate layers for the weather are recommended. I will keep an eye on the weather and may cancel for rain, thunderstorms, or windy conditions.
Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/mossy-ridge-trail
Please give yourself enough time to find parking and get to the trailhead – we will start promptly to respect everyone's time. Message me if you're running late!
Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.
- Burch Reserve Trail Evening HikeBurch Reserve Trailhead, Nashville, TN
Looking to get in better shape for backpacking? Missing the Backpacker Meetup group but don't have time for a trip? Then join us for a 3.0 mile hike in Edwin Warner Park!
This moderate hike typically takes about an hour with the pace set by the group. No one is left behind.
Alltrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/burch-reserve-trail?sh=rwslffHeadlamps/lights are required for this hike. Water, snacks, and appropriate layers for the weather are recommended.
We will start from the parking lot of the Burch Reserve Trail. This park is easy to access at the intersection of Highway 100 and Old Hickory Boulevard and offers paved parking. Please give yourself enough time to find parking and get to the trailhead – we will start promptly to respect everyone's time. Message me if you're running late!
I will keep an eye on the weather and may cancel for rain, thunderstorms, or windy conditions.
Dogs are not allowed on the Burch Reserve Trail, so please leave them at home.
- Beginner's Overnight: Virgin Falls Martha's Pretty Point April 6-7, 2024Virgin Falls Trailhead Parking, Sparta, TN$5.00
Please read the entire description before RSVP'ing.
Saturday: We will meet at 11:00 AM central time at the Virgin Falls State Natural Area. I will lead a group down the 2.5 mile Upland Trail to the Martha's Pretty Point campsite. Please bring a map and familiarize yourself with the trail beforehand. From Martha's, those who want to can explore the area. It's about a 3 mile round trip hike to Big Laurel Falls, and about a 5 mile round trip to Virgin Falls. (NOTE: The hike down to the falls is quite strenuous, and optional)
Sunday: We will take the same route back out to the trailhead.
I have reserved all of the sites at Martha's Pretty Point. I am holding some spots for beginners who have taken (or are enrolled in) one of my Intro to Backpacking Classes, but haven't had their free trip yet. If this applies to you, the trip is included in your class fee. It will be $5 per person for everyone else. I accept Venmo, Paypal, or CashApp. Please contact me as soon as you RSVP , or you will be moved back to the waitlist.
Super Important Info:
- Whether you are a free or paid attendee, please contact me within 24 hours of your RSVP to a) confirm your attendance and b) make payment (where applicable). If I do not already have your contact information, please send it at that time. If you're not sure, send it anyway. If you do not contact me when you RSVP, I will move you back to the waitlist.
- Just because the waitlist is full doesn't automatically mean the trip is full. Go ahead and contact me when you RSVP, even if you're on the waitlist. You might be pleasantly surprised.
- Payment info:
Venmo - @BackpackerWill
Paypal - @aretebackpacking
CashApp - $BackpackerWill- Refunds: Up until 7 days before the trip, if you cancel AND someone takes your spot and pays, I will refund your fee. Within 7 days of the trip, there will be no refunds.
Weather - We will go rain or shine, unless there are dangerous storms in the forecast. It could be quite cold, so please let me know if you have any concerns or questions about your gear, or if you need to borrow anything.
Water - There is a stream near camp, but it's seasonal. The most reliable source is about 0.5 miles from camp, so you may have to carry water a short distance. Please have a filter, or some other way to purify your water.
Food Storage - There are no bears at Virgin Falls, so special food storage is not required. I do recommend some basic means to protect your food from rodnets, etc.This will be a pup- and kid-friendly trip. Feel free to bring your well-behaved doggos and kids. If you have any questions about this hike, please let me know. My phone number is 931-267-9378. Please RSVP with integrity....canceling at the last minute keeps someone else from attending.
- 3 Day/2-night Smoky Mountains Backpack - Icewater Springs and Mt. LeconteAlum Cave Trail, Gatlinburg, TN$20.00
Come get "high" with me on 4-20!! Mt. Leconte has some of the most breathtaking views in the Smokies. At 6,593 feet, it is the third highest peak in the Smokies.
Friday: We will meet at the Alum Cave parking area at 1:00 PM Eastern time (12:00 PM Central). We will leave most of our cars there and shuttle ourselves to the Newfound Gap trailhead. We will then take the Appalachian Trail to Icewater Springs Shelter, approximately 3 miles with 1200' elevation gain. Those that want to can slackpack to Charlies Bunion for even more stunning views (less than 3 miles round trip).
Saturday: We'll hike up the Boulevard Trail to Mt. Leconte, approximately 7 miles, mostly uphill, but overall lots of up and down. We should arrive in time to see a stunning sunset from Cliff Tops.
Sunday: If we get up early enough, we can go see the sunrise from Myrtle point, about 0.5 miles hike. Then we will hike approximately 5 miles down Alum Cave Trail back to our cars and shuttle those that need it back to their cars at Newfound Gap.
The total route (not including side hikes) will be about 13 miles with around 4000' of total elevation gain.
Weather: We will go regardless of the weather, unless there or dangerous storms or shelter closures. See the links below for weather and trail conditions. If there is ice on the trails, traction devices are recommended.
High on Leconte Blog (for up to date weather and trail conditions)
Mountain ForecastWater: There is a Spring near each shelter. Please have a filter or some other way to purify your water.
Food Storage: GSMNP recommends hanging at least your food bag (entire pack recommended) on the supplied cables. No canister, Ursack, or bear hang is required.
I will reserve 8 permits at each shelter. Permits for those dates will be available on March 20. I will obtain permits only for those who have paid before that date. Please note that you are ALLOWED, but not REQUIRED, to stay IN the shelter with a valid permit. Tenting or hammocking around the shelter is allowed. The total cost per person for the reservation fees will be $20.00. I accept Venmo, Paypal, or CashApp. Please note that GSMNP backcountry permits are not refundable. If you have to cancel for any reason, up to 7 days before the trip, you will only get a refund if someone else takes your spot and pays. Cancellations within 7 days of the trip will not receive a refund. If the trip has to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, shelter closure, or road closures, I will do my best to reschedule the trip and transfer the permits to the new date.
IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!!
Please contact me within 24 hours of signing up and make payment arrangements in order to reserve your spot. Otherwise, I will have to move on to the next person on the waitlist.
IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE READ THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH AGAIN!!!
This trip is for experienced backpackers familiar with the distance and elevation gain involved. This will be a "go at your own pace" hike, so come prepared with a map and an understanding of the route.
If I haven't hiked with you previously, please send me a Meetup message with your phone number when you rsvp for this trip. If I don't receive your contact info within 24 hours of when you sign up, your spot will go to the next person on the waitlist.
If you have any questions about this hike, please let me know. My phone number is 931-267-9378. Please RSVP with integrity....canceling at the last minute keeps someone else from attending.
Note: Please contact me about options for staying somewhere in the park or nearby Thursday night if you are interested. Also, if you don't already have a parking pass, you will need one, unless you are carpooling with someone who has one. GSMNP Parking Pass info and ordering.