POSTPONED! GetBackpacking! Shining Rock Wilderness

POSTPONED! We hope to reschedule this trip in late May. We will post new dates once we get the all-clear.

Over the years, when hikers mention Shining Rock they're generally referring to the vast area north of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Graveyard Fields to the east and N.C. 215 to the west, an area of more than 50,000 acres. In fact, the Shining Rock Wilderness itself accounts for just under 18,500 acres. Our trip, a base-camp trip, will concentrate on those 18,500 acres. Our agenda:

Friday: From the Black Balsam Trailhead off the Blue Ridge Parkway, we will hike in 4 miles to our base camp at Shining Rock. We should arrive by 4 p.m., plenty of time to set up camp, have dinner and enjoy a spectacular sunset from atop Shining Rock.

Saturday: In day packs, we will hike north for 3.3 miles on the Shining Rock Ledge, with great views east and west, to Deep Gap. From there, it's less than a mile to the summit of 6,030-foot Cold Mountain. We'll have lunch atop Cold Mountain, then return along the Ledge to base camp. About a 9-mile day.

Sunday: We'll break camp and hike 4 miles back to the trailhead. From there, we'll don day packs again for a 3-mile loop taking in 6,050-foot Sam Knob and more great 360-degree views.

Fee for this trip is $115 and includes:

• Trip planning seminar focusing on logistics for this trip and for exploring a wilderness. Includes handouts, which will be supplied upon signing up.
• Detailed eguide for the trip, including custom maps and route descriptions of each day's hiking.
• High-energy gorp mix, designed specifically with this trip in mind.
• Bear canisters. Bear canisters are required for this trip. If you don't have one, we will provide one.

Note: The planning seminar for this trip will be on Monday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m., at the Great Outdoor Provision Co. in Chapel Hill.

A Second Note: Starting in 2020, all of our trips will be non-smoking. This is in part due to growing concern about wildfires, but largely out of concern for the heath and wellbeing off all of our hikers. Thanks!