Come on out and meet other local Cary hiking enthusiasts who are dedicated to excursions near and far, with a focus on leaving no trace of litter on our lands! All levels of experience welcome. Dogs are welcome if friendly and on a leash (1 dog per person).

Be cognizant that organizers and event hosts may, at their discretion, exclude members who have a history of repeated "No Shows" from participating in events they are hosting. Egregious offenders will be banned from the group.

Meetup Headquarters considers members active if they visit this website once every 90 days. Meetup does not require that you participate in any posted events to be active. Members inactive over 12 months may be removed but will be allowed to rejoin if they so desire.

Please be aware that we expect you to take responsibility for your safety while we are out on the trails. This means arriving prepared, remaining aware, and participating with the other really wonderful folks who are part of the group on hike day. We understand that your "Yes RSVP" to any event means you accept this condition.

Carolina Trekkers will post regional and overnight adventures supported by an RV / class c motorhome with one slide-out. Our Coachmen Concord is by no means a "big rig" (24' overall length) and will not be too big for most campgrounds. Many excursions will be weekend getaways except the AT slackpacking hikes in GA, NC, & VA which will be 4 days max; e.g., Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (weekend plus 2 weekdays).

The RV accommodations will be used on alternate days/nights by the female hikers and then by the male hikers unless special circumstances are taken into consideration, e.g., an excursion limited only to couples. On alternate nights the hikers will camp in tents or hard shells. In case of heavy rain the tents can be setup beneath the RV awning (no longer attached to motorhome - similar to using a giant tarp) or we will stay in a lodge or cabin during a severe thunderstorm with many lightning strikes and possible hail or flooding.

So as to be prepared for the unexpected a vehicle which can accommodate 4 riders will be towed behind the RV in case anyone needs to be extracted from the hike or leave prematurely due to unforeseen circumstances, and will also be used to store equipment and supplies if not needed for an emergency. The vehicle will also be an integral part of our shuttle system. A Honda Pilot 4x4 will serve as a secondary vehicle with a capacity for 8 hikers and hiking gear which can be stored on the roof in a Yakima skybox and behind the 3rd row of seats. The Honda Pilot will prove very useful in reaching sections of the AT not accessible by RV. Also, a mattress from a sofa bed (folds nicely) and necessary bedding will be used to convert the Honda Pilot into a hard shell shelter.

At times we may have the RV drop us off at the trailheads and pick us up at the road crossings instead of setting up a base of operations at an RV campground. The Honda Pilot would serve as a support vehicle for scouting/reconnoitering. This option may require a trekker dedicated to only driving and securing the RV. The advantages of setting up a base camp at an RV campground (2nd & best option) are the full hook-up RV sites (unlimited water for showering), laundry facilities (RV does not have washer & dryer), night security so the RV can be left unattended but locked, Wi-Fi, swimming pool and club house, and some grocery items.

While I do not expect any financial help with the cost of gasoline (unless it hits $4.50 a gallon or higher), I would appreciate dividing equally amongst the hikers the cost of tent site rentals at an RV campground (some campgrounds have designated pads for tents). Everyone is responsible for their own food and beverages, though at times we can eat communally.

I will be using almost exclusively the book "Exploring the Appalachian Trail by RV, Sort of..." ( http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Appalachian-Trail-Sort/dp/1441425799) for guidance on how to plan this trip, "DeLorme Atlas and Gazatteer" for the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and numerous guidebooks and trail maps from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC): ( http://www.appalachiantrail.org/).

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As I visualize the trips to the Appalachian Trail hikers will not be required to drive their personally owned vehicles (POVs) unless they wish to do so. The RV will have a vehicle in tow and my Honda Pilot 4X4 will be part of the convey -- that's 3 vehicles altogether, enough to accommodate 4 - 6 hikers and all their gear, and with more than enough flexibility to react to any eventuality, e.g., some hikers may have time constraints.

The plan is for all hikers to meet at ___ Windbyrne Drive, Cary, NC 27513 (exact address will be delivered via email to all participating hikers). This is a townhouse with plenty of off-street parking in front of the home. The Windbrooke subdivision of the Silverton community in Cary, NC, where the townhouse is located, is not a gated community but still has only one way in and one way out and consists of two cul-de-sacs, so it is very safe with no thru traffic whatsoever (no need to worry about car break-ins).

All hikers that feel comfortable with this type of excursion (not your typical AT section hike) and that can devote an appropriate amount of time to the hike are welcome ( early departures are okay if you make prior arrangements; may require additional vehicles --> including your own ). This is a goal oriented trek --> in other words, to count the miles and not the days.