Virginia Outdoor Adventures | backpack, hike, paddle & more

After too much snow and ice this year, I’m taking advantage of the forecasted ‘heat wave’ for this weekend! This is Ice Queen’s redemption at its finest! And it’s my birthday 😊

* LOCATION PIN - Meetup has changed functionality for 'out of area' events. The map pin in the event listing is correctly displayed at Hog Camp Gap, but the address is a nearby grocery store. * Use "Hog Camp Gap" in your mapping system to find our trailhead meet point. Do not use the Lexington Turnpike street address listed here on Meetup.

• 21 miles round trip – split evenly among both days.
• Participants are responsible for their own gear and food.
• Primitive camping, no shelter, no amenities.
• Pace = HYOH. Everyone is welcome to their own vibe on pace and stopping to smell the roses. Should you find yourself hiking alone, the AT is easy to follow.

SATURDAY
Hog Camp Gap @ 815.7 to Spy Rock @ 826.2
10.5 miles @ 2175 ft gain, 1870 ft loss

• Beautiful campsite with plenty of tent/hammock space & fire pit at the base of Spy Rock.
• A very short spur trail leads to the summit of Spy Rock with 360 views!

SUNDAY

• Repeat of Saturday in the opposite direction.
• Don’t forget daylight savings – “spring forward”.

EXTRA OPTIONS
* Optional * Friday night ADD-ON @ Hog Camp Gap trailhead (AT crossing)

• Arrive early on Friday to hike Cole Mtn and/or Mt Pleasant loops…or just enjoy overnight camping to avoid a Saturday morning drive to the trailhead. (I’m arriving for Friday night camping only – not sure what time.)

* Optional * Sunday POST-HIKE MEAL on the way home.

• Location TBD

Save the date for May'26 AT backpacking section hike. Updates will be added to this posting & more information regarding the itinerary will follow ASAP.

● AT Section: Deep Gap, NC to Fontana Dam, NC

● Mileage expected: About 81 miles is expected, ~13.5 average miles per day, which is roughly about the average total mileage for this group's week-long hikes that also include hostel stay(s) &/or time in one or more trail towns like this trip.

● Hike about 6 near-full hiking days: Sat-Thu 5/9-5/14. Travel back home on the 14th or go to Trail Days in Damascus, VA like Boujee & I & other hikers are doing.

● Initial idea for itinerary (subject to change as additional research is performed):
Per FarOut (Android version; Apple will differ):
◇ Deep Gap (NC) at mile 85.2 to
◇ Fontana Dam [shelter] at about mile 166.2 = ~81 miles

At-a-glance Itinerary [ Day / To / Miles ]
Day 1, Sat / Carter Gap Shelter / 8.5mi
Day 2, Sun / Tentsite NOBO mile 110.5 / ~16+-
Day 3, Mon / Cold Spring Shelter / ~14.9+-
Day 4, Tue / The NOC / 11.5
Day 5, Wed / Brown Fork Gap Shelter / 16.2
Day 6, Thu / Fontana Dam / 13.3

Direction: Northbound (NOBO)

Day: 1 | Date: Sat, 5/9:
■ Meet at Fontana Dam Visitors Center & park cars (it is ok to park there for 6 days)
■ Meet time: TBD
■ Shuttle from Fontana Dam to Deep Gap in the AM / shuttle drive time ~2 hours
· Mileage: 8.5
· Start: Deep Gap (GA) Parking Area @ mile 85.2
· End: Carter Gap Shelter @ mile 93.7, el. 4518'
· Elevation total gain/loss: 1670'/1463'
· Water: yes, downhill from old shelter site
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: yes, "8 petson"
· Tent sites: yes, "plenty of campsites"
· Trees for hammocks: yes
· Bear protection: none mentioned
· Note(s): some cell service

Day: 2 | Date: Sun, 5/10
· Mileage: ~16+-
· Elevation total gain/loss: ~3209'/3740'
· Start: Carter Gap Shelter / mile 93.7
· End: The Grove Hostel in Franklin, NC @ mi. 109.6
***OR, end at: "Tentsite & Stream" @ mi. 110.5, el. 3990';
· Water: yes, branch of Moore Creek
· Privy: no
· Shelter: no
· Tent sites: yes, "about 5"
· Trees for hammocks: yes
· Bear protection: no
· Note(s): seems like a decent amount of dead trees (Aug. '25)

Day: 3 | Date: Mon, 5/11
· Mileage: ~14.9+-
· Start: Depends (see above)
· End: Cold Spring Shelter @ mi. 125.4, el. 4920'
· Elevation total gain/loss: 4268'/3031'
· Water: yes, piped spring
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: yes, "6 person"
· Tent sites: yes, "about 6"
· Trees for hammocks: yes
· Bear protection: Food hanging cables but one commenter was not able to find them in '23
· Note(s): no mention of cell service or not

Day: 4 | Date: Tue, 5/12
· Mileage: 11.5
· Start: Cold Spring Shelter @ mi. 125.4
· End: Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) @ mi. 136.9
· Elevation total gain/loss: 1844'/5039'
· Note(s): Assume reservations needed in-advance. Alternative: Rufus Morgan Shelter (stream & provy) before the NOC @ mi. 136.1 or after the NOC at Wright Gap @ mi. 138.5 (no privy or water)

Day: 5 | Date: Wed, 5/13
Mileage: 16.2
Start: NOC @ mi. 136.9
End: Brown Fork Gap Shelter @ mi. 153.1, el. 3761'
· Elevation total gain/loss: 5787'/3753'
· Water: yes, piped spring
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: yes, "6 person"
· Tent sites: yes
· Trees for hammocks: yrs
· Bear protection: none mentioned
· Note(s): "~0.1 off the AT"; some cell service per FarOut comments

Day: 6 | Date: Thu, 5/14
· Mileage: 13.2 back to cars
· Start: Brown Fork Gap Shelter @ mi. 153.1
· End: Fontana Dam @ mi. 166.2
· Elevation total gain/loss: 2310'/4291'
· Then, head home, or, if additional hiking-related vacay preferred, on Fri-Sun, 5/15-5/17, Chris (Pyro), Pam (Boujee) & friends will be attending Trail Days! (Everyone is on their own for accommodations.)

● Shuttles, Re-Supply possibility, & Food-related: Re-supply shuttle may be an option. Those interested can split-up their food-carry & leave with at a designated service-provider/location. Any re-supply staging cost is to be split evenly among those participating; same for shuttles to start/finish. Food options in trail towns being explored.

● For each night: General intention is to sleep at relatively established areas (existing tent-sites, flowing water source, & shelters where possible) each evening large enough for a group of perhaps 10 or fewer when on-trail & one or more hostel-stays sprinkled in.

● Taking suggestions & feedback if you have anything you prefer to share as the itinerary is being crafted.

● All are at their own risk and are expected to be aware of their own capabilities for a section hike like this one. Make sure you know all of your gear, navigation, food needs, etc, and provide for yourself accordingly.

● We will need to connect with new faces to make sure they have had prior experience a section hike like this requires and is comfortable with the itinerary, etc.

● Please let us know if you have any questions.

Updates will be added to this posting & the itinerary will follow ASAP.

● AT Section: NY Route 22, Pawling, NY to NY Route 17A, Greenwood Lake, NY (SOBO)

● Mileage expected: About 78 miles is expected, ~11 average miles per day, which is roughly about the average total mileage for this group's week-long hikes that also include hostel stay(s) &/or time in one or more trail towns like this trip.

● Hike about 7 days: Sun-Sat 6/14-6/21. Travel to on 6/13, where needed, & travel back home on the 20th or 21st depending on overnight stay preference on last day.

● Shuttles, Re-Supply possibility, & Food-related: Re-supply shuttle may be an option. Those interested can split-up their food-carry & leave with a designated service-provider driver. Any re-supply staging cost is to be split evenly among those participating; same for shuttles to start/finish. Food options in trail towns being explored.

● For each night: General intention is to sleep at relatively established areas (existing tent-sites, flowing water source, and shelters where possible) each evening large enough for a group of perhaps 10 when on-trail & one or more hostel-stays sprinkled in.

● Taking suggestions & feedback if you have anything you prefer to share as the itinerary is being crafted &/or please ask any questions.

● All are at their own risk and are expected to be aware of their own capabilities for a section hike like this one. Make sure you know all of your gear, navigation, food needs, etc, and provide for yourself accordingly.

● We will need to connect with new faces to make sure they have had prior experience a section hike like this requires and is comfortable with the itinerary, etc.

● Please let us know if you have any questions.