Horsepasture River Overnight

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Horsepasture River Overnight

The Basics:

Event Type:

Backpacking

Event Location:

Sapphire, NC

Backpacking: Horsepasture River Overnight

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Oct 8 2011 8:00 am >> Sun, Oct 9 2011 5:00 pm (Carpool Departure: 8:00 am *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Mon, Sep 26 2011 8:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Oct 7 2011 8:00 pm

Event Duration:

1 Days 9 Hours

Difficulty Rating:

D3: Moderate

Distance:

4 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Scott Kozlowski
Charlie Cottingham

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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:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

6 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Overview: Early October should be a fantastic time to enjoy the sights of the Horsepasture River. This river is a waterfall watcher's bonanza with four impressive waterfalls (Drift, Turtleback, Rainbow, Stairstep) all readily accessible within a few short miles of the parking lot. A bit off the beaten path is Windy Falls where the river drops 700' in a quarter mile section. Add in the beauty of fall color and this will certainly make for an enjoyable weekend.

Event Details: We can try to catch the sights of the entire river on Saturday but I'd like to start by hiking on the Rainbow Falls trail as far as Stairstep Falls and selecting a campsite (less than 2 miles with packs). After setting up camp we'll double back for a 4 mile somewhat strenuous round trip to Windy Falls. After we arrive back at camp we can either relax and enjoy the afternoon or continue up the river trail to enjoy the upstream waterfalls. Sunday morning will be a leisurely pack up potentially allowing for a hike to enjoy any of the falls we may miss on Saturday. The return trip to the cars will be less than 2 miles with packs.

Overall backpacking distance will be less than 4 miles. Dayhiking between Saturday and Sunday may total up to an additional 6 miles.

I've set the maximum group size at 6 as there are only a handful of campsites on the river and even fewer that support large groups.

The portion of the hike with packs will be relatively easy by backpacking standards so feel free to stuff all those creature comforts into the pack! Steaks? Cold beverages? Don't see why not!

We"ll depart from the carpool at 8:00 AM and should get to the trailhead at Gorges State Park by 10:30. We should return to the carpool around 5:00 PM Sunday afternoon.

Required Items to Bring:

Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, water, hiking shoes or boots, headlamp, sleeping pad, suitable clothing, rain gear, cooking utensils, food for lunch, dinner and breakfast, snacks for the trail.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Camera
Hat
Water Filter
Lightweight fanny pack or daypack for hikes from our campsite and back - a nylon "drawstring bag" works well.

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

I-85 north to exit 1 in South Carolina to HWY 11 north approximately 33 miles and turn left on Whitewater Falls Rd. Once we cross the NC State Line its another 7 miles to Gorges State Park entrance on the right. After entering the park drive approximately 1.5 miles to the parking area.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

270Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

8:00 am

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $108.00 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:

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

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