Mini-Backpacking Trip & Riprap Hike

This Meetup is being posted in 2 PATC Meetup Groups:

1. PATC Hikes & Events (please sign up here!)
2. Charlottesville PATC Hiking (we’d love to have you, but please sign up on PATC Hikes)

This trip is a warm weather mini-backpacking and a day hike including the popular Riprap Trail in the South District of Shenandoah National Park. Riprap has great panoramic views, streams, a swimming hole and follows the AT for a bit. I’ve wanted to do it for years but hate the idea of driving 3-hrs each way in the same day. Solution? Combine it with some backpacking!
We will meet along Skyline Drive and backpack 1.2 miles to an AT shelter. We can then camp there and not have to worry about being lightweight as it is such a short hike. The following morning, we will return to our cars, ditch the backpacking gear and drive 5 miles North and then hike Riprap as a day hike.

Maximum Group Size: 8

Backpacking Section

• Rating: VERY EASY 
• Pace: whatever works
• Mileage: 2.4 miles (1.2 each direction)
• Elevation Gain: 420 ft, all on the 1st day.
• Estimated time backpacking: 30 minutes
• There is a spring near the shelter

Hiking Section

• Rating: Moderately Difficult
• Pace: 2.25-2.50 mph
• Miles: 9.4
• Elevation: 2,100ft
• "Feels Like": 11.5 miles
• Estimated time hiking: 5 hours

Notes

• When you RSVP, you are taking one of the slots. It is understood that plans change and people’s tolerance to weather differs, so if you aren’t going to be able to attend, please update your RSVP as early as possible.
• If you have no-showed on a previous hike, you may be moved to the Waitlist until the end, allowing others to join first.
• The PATC requires each hiker to sign a liability waiver, which will be available at the trailhead.
• Please check Meetup the night before. I will cancel a hike due to unsafe conditions.
• Attendance is limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. PATC rules do not permit children under 18 years to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present.
• Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Club volunteers maintain over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, including 240 miles of AT (and the section we will hike!). For more information about PATC, please visit https://www.patc.net/
• No dogs.

Items to Bring

• Backpack for Saturday with Dinner & Breakfast
• Daypack for Sunday with Lunch & Bathing Suit and Towel for swimming holes
• Clean clothes for drive home and plastic bag to store your wet clothes.

Parking and Meeting Time
Saturday

• 4:00pm Meet at Parking Lot off Skyline Drive, Bucks Elbow Road, GPS 38.097723, -78.780991. Shows on Google Maps as “Jarman Gaps Road”
• Backpack 1.2 miles to Calf Mountain Shelter

Sunday

• Backpack to cars, store backpacks
• Drive 4.7 miles to Wildcat Ridge Trail, GPS 38.153107, -78.772543
• Hike the Riprap Trail and enjoy some swimming holes along the way

Backpacking Trip Essential Requirements & Expectations
These items outline specific requirements and expectations for all participants on our backpacking trips. These are in addition to the PATC Liability Waiver and are crucial for ensuring the safety and enjoyment of everyone, especially given the remote nature of these trips.
Please read carefully. By registering up for a backpacking trip, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to adhere to these requirements.
1. Self-Sufficiency & Responsibility:
* This is a group trip, but we operate on a self-sufficient model. You are responsible for your own well-being and preparedness throughout the trip.
* You must carry all your essential equipment, including shelter, food, a first-aid kit, water, and water purification supplies. Sharing some items with a partner is acceptable.
2. Navigation & Preparedness:
* You are expected to understand the trip's difficulty, including total mileage, elevation gains and declines, type of terrain, and daily splits.
* You must be in good physical shape and capable of completing the planned itinerary.
* You are required to have your own printed maps, as well as a compass and/or GPS, and know how to navigate. This is particularly important if you miss the group's morning departure.
* If you have a medical condition that could become relevant during the trip (e.g., carrying an EpiPen or inhalers), you must inform the hike leader in advance.
3. Leave No Trace & Wildlife Safety:
* All participants must follow Leave No Trace (LNT) principles.
* You must have an established method for securing your food from bears at night.
4. Group Dynamics & Punctuality:
* Leave your dog at home for backpacking trips.
* If carpooling, please bring cash or use Venmo to offset the driver's gas expenses.
* Punctuality is essential. Be on time for carpool departures and be ready to leave campsites at the agreed-upon times.
* If you tend to move slowly in the mornings, please allow extra time to be ready for departure.
* Bring a great sense of humor – it's an essential piece of gear!
5. Communication:
* We will be in a remote area that may be out of cell service.
* If you have any questions or concerns before or during the trip, please ask the hike leader.
Understanding the Risks:
Please be aware that backpacking in a remote area, potentially out of cell service, involves inherent dangers and risks. Your preparedness and adherence to these guidelines are vital for the safety of yourself and the entire group.

Questions
David M (“Square Feet”) is leading this hike and is a PATC certified Hike Leader, member of PATC Trail Patrol and Backpacking Committee Chair. David is certified in Wilderness First Aid. PATC’s goal is to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, so if you have any questions or need assistance along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out!