If you've been hankering to hike Western North Carolina since Hurricane Helene all but shut down the mountains last September, take heart! Hiking -- and everything else you love about the mountains -- is returning!
The first weekend in May marks the official reopening of Hot Springs, a true trail town if ever there was one. ReBuild Hot Springs, a non-profit formed to aid in the rebirth of this popular trail town, is sponsoring the two-day Town & Trail Festival. On Friday, May 2, there will be volunteer opportunities aplenty -- there's still plenty of recovery work to be done -- plus storytelling in the evening. Saturday is the festival, featuring live music, vendors, arts & crafts, and more.
More?
Hiking, of course! Four guided hikes are part of the weekend, all lead by the Asheville-based Blue Ridge Hiking Co., which also has a bunkhouse in Hot Springs. Here's the hiking lineup:
**Friday, May 2**
9 a.m. -- Appalachian Trail: Garenflo Gap into Hot Springs. 7 miles, moderately challenging
2 p.m. -- Big Laurel River Trail, 5.6 miles, moderate difficulty
**Saturday, May 3**
9 a.m. -- Appalachian Trail: Tanyard Gap into Hot Springs, 5.6 miles, moderately challenging
1 p.m. -- Lover's Leap on the Appalachian Trail, 2 miles, moderately challenging.

There is a $50 donation to secure one of the 8 available slots for each hike ($25 for the Lover's Leap hike). There is an additional $5 fee to cover Blue Ridge's Forest Service fee, plus $5 for shuttles. And, again, the hikes are being lead by Blue Ridge Hiking Co., and will be swept by Joe Miller with the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources' Hometown Strong Division, as well as GetHiking!

To learn more about the hikes and to register, go [here](https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/celebrate-the-reopening-of-hot-springs-with-a-hike-4191933).

GetHiking! Triad

Joe Miller

Tami Wooten

Western NC is back! Hike the AT at Hot Springs

Blue Ridge Hiking Co. Bunkhouse

It's been a while since we've been to Panthertown Valley in Western North Carolina, but we're making up for our absence with a three-day visit in May.
Help the Friends of Panthertown Valley celebrate the end of their month-long BioBlitz, by attending their BioBlitz Celebration and spending the weekend hiking and camping in Panthertown Valley.
There are three hiking options for this weekend:

* **Basecamp Backpack exploration.** Arrive Friday, May 16 at 4 p.m. and hike, in full pack, a mile to our basecamp for the weekend. Enjoy a short night-hike that weekend, then 5-mile day-hikes on both Saturday and Sunday. This trip is limited to 8 hikers.
* **Saturday day hike.** At 9 a.m. we'll set off on a 5-mile day-hike utilizing various trails, taking in numerous waterfalls and scenic views. We'll be back in time to drive to nearby Cashiers for the presentation of findings from BioBlitz. This hike is limited to 20 hikers.
* **Sunday day hike**. At 9 a.m. we'll set off on a 5-mile day-hike utilizing various trails, taking in numerous waterfalls and scenic views. We'll be back in time to drive to nearby Cashiers for the presentation of findings from BioBlitz. This hike is limited to 20 hikers.

To learn more about these events and sign up, go [here](https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/return-to-western-nc-explore-panthertown-valley-4255493).

GetHiking! Triangle

Carol R

Lorenzo 

Western NC is Back! Explore Panthertown Valley

GetHiking! Charlotte

Tito Menjivar

Western NC is back: Explore Panthertown Valley

In your own home, at your own leisure (anytime -- not just the date of this event): now you can learn a ton in the online portion of Disaster + Travel + Wilderness First Aid! COURSE TOPICS VIDEOS are almost exactly as MEDIC SOLO always presents them with the latest on disaster and wilderness medical science. Intermixed at several points we guide you to practice various skills.

Choose one of two ways to learn:
a) Take the self-guided course (no certification) $99.
b) Take the self-guided online course and attend a skills scenarios workshop (one day on-line) and get certified $249 (Early Bird).
Register here: [https://solowfa.com/register-online-SOLO-disaster-wilderness-first-aid-course.html](https://solowfa.com/register-online-SOLO-disaster-wilderness-first-aid-course.html)
In order to get certified, you will start watching our highly-rated, self-paced videos one month prior to your Skills Scenarios Workshop date and:

* Practice skills at home before your Workshop date, send us photographs and our Instructors will provide you with kudos and constructive ideas.
* Pass the multiple-choice quiz and test is what verifies that you're ready for your workshop day with an instructor.
* Attend your online Skills Scenarios Workshop full day with a live instructor and a live human patient. Use a unique software which nearly replicates the in-person learning experience.
* Gain as much to more hands-on learning experience as compared to an in-person course.
* Instructors give individual live feedback to students while you perform hands-on skills in your own home.
* Graduates receive the internationally-renowned SOLO 2-year WFA Certification.

Upcoming online **Skills Scenario Workshop** dates:
May 3, 2025
May 31, 2025
and June 14 2025.

Sneak peek at the course:
[https://www.solowfa.com/online-sample.htm](https://www.solowfa.com/online-sample.htm)

Email us at [courses@solowfa.com](mailto:courses@solowfa.com) with questions.

GetHiking! Virginia Beach! (Virginia Beach, VA)

Matthew Rosefsky

Josh Warner

ONLINE (self-paced) Wilderness First Aid available ALL DAYS NOW until May 31st

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