About us
Rising up like the mythical Phoenix, this group has been organized to replace the former Northeast Ohio Backpacking Club, which helped many in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere get out on trail more often, and to make new friends who share a passion for trail time. If you like to backpack, and don't like to go out by yourself, and especially if you are a former member of NEOH Backpacking Club, this club is for you. The legend of the phoenix inspired the name for the new club. Our mission will be to allow club members to plan trips, to sign up members to participate, and to share discussions about backpacking. Most trips are likely to be within a few hours drive of NE Ohio, but some will be to destinations much farther away in the USA or even international.
Featured event
Backpacking the Grayson Highlands of Virginia
As promised, I am posting the additional trip details by 3/1. Due to a conflict, the dates have shifted by three days. Please review the new dates and all details below before signing up. Group size is limited to ten and a Meetup wait-list queue has been enabled. Please only take a spot if you fully expect to attend.
I consider the Grayson Highlands to be a magical place and invite you to join this backpacking trip in September. We’ll also plan to summit Mount Rogers (the highest point in Virginia) and get a group “boot shot” photo by the USGS benchmark, as is my tradition.
Trip days:
9/20/26 – (Sun) – Drive to Virginia
- George Washington/Jefferson National Forest)
- Car campground (first night) planned to be Grindstone Campground
- 1946 Laurel Valley Road Troutdale, VA
- This camp location availability will be confirmed in May (due to recent past closures)
- An alternate location nearby will be identified, if needed
- Expect to pay/share camp-site fees (parking fee during backpacking to be confirmed)
9/21/26 – (Mon) – Packs on at ~9:00am and backpack/hike to campsite ~10 miles
9/22/26 – (Tue) – Backpack/hike ~10 miles to new campsite
9/23/26 – (Wed) – Backpack/hike out ~4-6 miles
- Group lunch option in Marion, VA)
- Return home
More details on the exact route will be shared after the Sunday night car-camping location is confirmed. The route will be part Appalachian Trail (AT) … the Grayson Highlands / Mount Rogers… and the loop necessary to return.
I’ll post a pre-trip meeting (option, likely June) to review details, answer questions and consider car-pool options.
By signing up for this trip you acknowledge and agree:
Fitness and route difficulty:
- You are physically capable of completing a strenuous hike, including a net elevation gain of over 2,000 feet, a pace of 2.0-2.5 MPH, and negotiating difficult terrain.
Acknowledgement of risks:
- You acknowledge that serious injury or death may occur due to factors including but not limited to physical exertion, weather conditions, falling trees, water crossings, and falls.
- You agree to carry your own map, familiarize yourself with the route, and be aware of bail-out or exit points in case of emergency.
- This trip is intended for participants aged 18 and older. Contact the organizer for exceptions and requirements for parental consent.
- You voluntarily assume all risks associated with traveling to and participating in this event.
- You agree to sign a waiver acknowledging and accepting full responsibility for all risks.
Please leave civic matters at home. This trip runs on campfires, conversation, camaraderie, and cheer.
I’m looking forward to getting back to see my good friend, the AT, and seeing you there!
Details on the area:
Grayson Highlands State Park
Upcoming events
5
Archer’s Fork Loop, Fri Evening or Sat AM arrival option
Archers Fork Trailhead, T411, Matamoras, OH, USI’ve now hiked the Archers Fork Loop Trail a bunch of times and really enjoyed it. Time for an encore. The Archer’s Fork Loop features a Natural Bridge, a cave, and numerous huge rock outcroppings.
This will be a two-day, one-night trip (with the option to do it as a three-day, two-night trip if you join the Friday night camping near the Jackson Run Trailhead). The loop is about 15 miles with about 2,000 feet elevation gain.
This trip will be a bit of a challenge for beginners. The trail is rated as "Hard" at Alltrails.com: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ohio/archers-fork-trail. There is a boots off stream crossing and a need to carry water or leave it (a water cache) to be retreived close to Saturday camp (see below).
A nice map and description are available. You can access it at https://www.dropbox.com/s/awuvqvvtmrgcmgj/TrailMap.pdf?dl=0
Friday arrival (recomended): Leave home as early as you can on Friday, after work or other activities... get to Jackson Run Trailhead (GPS coordinates: 39.51401, -81.15132) and camp overnight near that trailhead (follow trail from parking area south about a tenth of a mile). This may require setting up camp at dusk or in the dark, but we'll be not far from our vehicles. The best way to get to the Jackson Run trailhead is to take Rt 260 from either the west or east and then turn south on County Nine Rd for a bit before turning onto Jackson Run Road. Google maps may give you different directions for the last few miles, but don’t follow them.
For those who camp Friday night as above, it will be easy to cache water on Saturday morning near where we will camp Saturday night before heading to the main Archers Fork Trailhead. Intended Saturday night camp: GPS coordinates 39.50521, -81.16181. The best water cache for this campsite is along Jackson Run Rd where a forest road comes in from the south: GPS coordinates 39.50575, -81.16167. The drive to the Main Trailhead at the St. Patrick’s cemetery is about 25 minutes from there. Again, the best way to go is to retrace our route back to Rt 260.
The reason to cache water is that the forest service advises not to drink water from streams in the Wayne National Forest (due to mining activities that have taken place in or near the Forest in a number of areas). So its either cache water near our intended Saturday night camp, or carry it all with you.
Saturday: After caching our water, we will head to the main Archers Fork Trail Head at St. Patrick’s Cemetery arriving at 10:00 AM and be on the trail at 10:30 AM or sooner if everyone is there and ready. If you arrive after 10:30 you can hike to catch up and join us. On Saturday, we will hike the Yellow diamonds blazed backpacking trail counterclockwise from the Trailhead, and set up camp a bit more than halfway around the loop. The hiking distance for the day would be about 8 miles. Intended Saturday night camp: 39.50521, -81.16181. Water cache along Jackson Run Rd: 39.50575, -81.16167.
Sunday: Hike about 7.5 miles more to complete the loop and arrive back at our vehicles parked at the Main Trailhead.
Each participant agrees by signing up to be completely responsible for their own safety, nutrition, hydration, navigation, and shelter while on the trail and while traveling to and from the trail. Participants may decide to hike slower or faster than the rest of the group and take fewer or more days to complete the trail. If participants decide not to finish the hike, they will be responsible for getting back to their vehicle at the Trailhead.
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As usual, each participant needs to submit a signed Phoenix BCP Waiver Form, if you do not already have one on file with the group:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qqqxdduose9y33l/Phoenix%20BPC%20Waiver.pdf?dl=0And as always, please observe the Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles while in the woods and on the trails. Refresh yourself here:
https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles8 attendees
Past events
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