Virginia Hiking and Survival 101

Find your bold on a Women’s weekend hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Slay the most iconic summits on the Appalachian Trail – Dragon’s Tooth, Tinker Cliffs, McAfee Knob – as you earn your survivor badge in Catawba, Virginia. Between hikes, you’ll learn basic hands-on wilderness skills from emergency bug-hunting to fire-building in the rain.

You’ll kick off your adventure on Thursday arriving to our lodge in the woods in the late afternoon. Your feet won’t be settled for long as we gear up to tick off the first jewel in the crown: Dragon’s Tooth. It’s the shortest of the three hikes, but the most exciting as you scramble up rocks and via ferrata-type ladders to reach the summit and the huge monolith stretching to the sky on the summit.

The next morning, you’ll embark on your hike with the most elevation gain – Tinker Cliffs. It’s a beautiful hike that takes you a across a field where you’ll be able to stare way up to our goal. It’s a lovely hike through the “Green Tunnel” with a gnarly steep section before you connect with the Appalachian Trail to reach the summit. Then you get to kick back, break out that sandwich, and bask in the view of the next day’s summit: McAfee Knob.

On Saturday morning, we’ll take a short hike to our outdoor classroom where we’ll spend the day learning and practicing wilderness survival skills.Throughout the day you’ll learn a variety of knots, how to construct a few types of wilderness shelters, how to start and feed a fire even in the rain, and which bugs are the tastiest for eating! 🦗 Yes, it is completely hands-on. You will be building fires and shelters all with a supportive group of like-minded, fun women

In the evening, we’ll hit a mall walker’s stride as we jump on the trail to catch one of the best sunsets. The hustle up the mountain is totally worth the burning quads as you rest your hiker booty and kick your legs off the edge of the world on McAfee’s Knob. There’s a reason why it’s one of the most photographed spots on the Appalachian Trail. (And, one of our favorites!).

On your final day in wilderness paradise you’ll learn hands on Backcountry Personal Self Protection. During this hands-on course you’ll gain the necessary skills to break free from a stranger’s hold, recognize the signs of threatening behavior, and objects that you carry in your day pack that can be used as a weapon. You’ll be able to practice in a supportive environment with a “Red-Man Suit” while learning a proper palm strike, finger fan, knee jab, knee strike, and blocking moves. KA-POW!!! We’ll say goodbye Sunday afternoon, after refueling our bodies during one last delicious lunch at our Mountain Lodge.

Each night, you’ll be resting your head at a beautiful lodge nestled in Catawba,Virginia. You’ll call the place home with freedom to stretch your legs on the lawn soaking up the sun after hiking, sharing stories around a campfire, or knocking back a few beers in the communal area. And, food! Your dinners and breakfasts will be home-cooked goodness served up on a plate! (Don’t worry! Bugs are optional and not on the menu!)

It’s a wonderfully wild weekend with a small group of women hiking the Appalachian Trail and learning wilderness survival tactics. Over the course of a long weekend you’ll quickly grow close with your posse of Explorer Chicks as you hike the trails and share memories of of summits. Join us to experience this small-group women’s only hiking weekend yourself!

See website for full details and to book.

https://explorerchick.com/adventures/virginia-hiking-survival-101/

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