Panthertown Valley: Waterfalls and Vistas - Fri, Jul 3 2015

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



Panthertown Valley: Waterfalls and Vistas


The Basics:
Event Type:Backpacking
Event Location: Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest, NC   Backpacking: Panthertown Valley: Waterfalls and Vistas  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Jul 3 2015  8:30 am >> Sun, Jul 5 2015 5:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 8:30 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Wed, Jun 24 2015 9:36 pm
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Jul 2 2015 12:12 am
Event Duration:2 Days 8 Hours 30 Minutes
Difficulty Rating:D3: Moderate
Distance:3.5 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Mark
Laura V
Eric P
Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:10
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 10 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: Yes

Itinerary:

What better way to celebrate our country's 239th birthday than with a backcountry trip to one of our beautiful National Forests. 

Known as “the Yosemite of the East,” Panthertown Valley offers many miles of trails and footpaths to waterfalls, gorges, rocky overlooks, and deep forests.

This will be a relaxing 2 night backpacking weekend to explore the natural beauty of this area.  On Friday, we will pack in and select a suitable campsite. Once we set up camp, your trip leaders plan to hike to many of the scenic overlooks and waterfalls. You are free to play all day on your own or hang with the group.  We may also do some challenging exploring off-trail or through rivers.

For those who wish to talk to the trees and experience a more relaxing weekend, you are free to read, nap, do yoga, or whatever makes you happy. Last year, we found a huge patch of ripe blueberries on Little Green. You may want to bring a container in case we find some this year. 

The sun will set at 8:49 on July 3rd & 4th and we will have a nearly full moon rising at 10PM. After dark, we may take a night hike to find a spot to lie on our backs for some stargazing. 

If you choose to explore the wilds of Panthertown Valley on your own, please bring your own map and GPS and let the trip leader know your destination and estimated return time to camp.  Trail maps and descriptions are available at this and other websites: http://panthertown.org/panthertown-valley/  http://www.stayandplayinthesmokies.com/lib/file/manager/pdf-download-library/pvmap.pdf  

On Sunday we will break camp and plan to be back at the cars by 1PM for our return to Atlanta.

Note: We may provide a secondary carpool option for folks who are able to leave Thursday afternoon to go up and spend a little extra time, as well as secure a prime campsite.

Note2: This is a D3 backpacking trip with a relatively short distance to our campsite.  Don't be fooled by the difficulty rating - there will be some steep inclines and significant elevation gain on the return trip. The trip leaders will contact you if you do not have a history of D3 (or above) backpacking events or D5 hiking events with the AOC.


Required Items to Bring:

Food for two and half days: three lunches, two dinners, two breakfasts

Sturdy hiking shoes/boots and extra socks

Essential Backpacking gear for summer:

Backpack and small day pack

Tent or hammock

Sleeping bag

Headlamp/flashlight

Stove

2 liters of water (Water source available)

Water filter (or prearrange to share)

Rain gear/poncho

Bear canister or Bag and Rope to hang food. 

Toiletries

Whistle and First Aid kit

Bug spray and Sunscreen

Trash bag for wet clothes, garbage, etc.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Bathing suit

Water shoes/camp shoes

Towel

Hat

Book and small camp chair for relaxing

Mountain Bike - biking allowed only on desginated trails

Hiking poles

Trail maps and compass or GPS with extra batteries 

Trail snacks and bedtime snacks 

Saw for firewood


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

To be given at carpool 

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):240Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 8:30 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $96.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

2 friendly trail dogs with nice manners are welcome on this trip.


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.