Beginner Backpack - Appalachian Trail

This is a backpack with beginners in mind. Have you wanted to try your hand at backpacking but didn't know where to start? Confused about gear or just didn't have anyone to go with? Then this is the perfect opportunity for your first backpacking experience!

The hike will begin at Byron Reece Trailhead. We will take the Byron Reece Trail, which climbs 0.7 miles where it intersects with the AT at Flatrock Gap. We will turn right and follow the AT south and climb over 1,000 feet of elevation over the next 1.3 miles where we will reach the summit of Blood Mountain. The rewarded will be one best views in Georgia. After taking in the view, we will hike down the south side of blood mountain towards our campsite at Woods Hole Shelter. This will be the backpacking portion of the event and is just under 4 total miles.

As less than 4 miles to a campsite could be a short hike even for a beginner's backpack, I have thought of some additional hikes to make it a little longer after we set up camp at Woods Hole Shelter.

Optional Saturday Hike #1:  After we set up camp, we can do a 6ish mile loop hike out to Lake Winfield Scott and back.

Optional Saturday Hike #2:  After setting up camp, we can hike back up to Blood Mountain to watch the sunset and do a little star gazzing before we night hike back to camp.

Optional Sunday Hike: After we get back to our cars, there is a beautiful waterfall nearby called Helton Creek Falls. It is a very short drive and an even shorter hike to an amazing waterfall. The hiking distance is about 0.5 miles out and back to the waterfall and is very easy hiking. I think the waterfall would be the perfect way to end this backpack.

Please help keep my home away from home the way it should be and follow LNT principles found here: https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles

If this is your first backpack, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.

This will be a rain or shine event and will only be rescheduled for dangerous weather. 
 
We will meet at the carpool location at Indian Trail Park at 7:15 AM. Please be there 10 minutes early to make introductions and set up the carpool.  

Lunch in town is an option and will be made as a group decision.

FINAL NOTE AND CONSIDERATION: While this event is open to all, it is also to encourage new backpackers (those who have yet to do a backpack event with the AOC) to come out and join us. The actual number of spots available for this backpack is 8 (and may be increased to 10 depending on interest) but the there are 4 spots reserved for new backpackers. How this works is that the actual maximum group size for this hike is 8. Until 4 new members are signed up, they will be given priority on the waitlist and moved over to the event. Once there are 4 new backpackers signed up, then registration will proceed as usual. But anyone can sign up from the start and we'll just reserve the extra spots for the new backpackers. This is a beginners backpack. Idealy, we will have individuals who have signed up who have never gone backpacking before but want to explore trails with a backpack for the first time. As some on this trip will be first time backpackers, we will move all who sign up to the waitlist first and speak to each registrant individually. After speaking with the registrants, we will move you onto the list as established above.

THIS IS A BEGINNERS BACKPACKING EVENT, IF YOU HAVE BEEN ON AN AOC BACKPACKING EVENT PRIOR TO THIS EVENT THE TRIP LEADERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO GIVE 4 FIRST TIME BACKPACKERS PRIORITY. WE WANT TO SHARE THE LOVE OF BACKPACKING WITH MEMBERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN BACKPACKING BEFORE, BUT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPLETE AN EVENT OF THIS TYPE WITHOUT PRIOR BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE.