Great Smoky Mountains Backpack – Appalachian Trail

Great Smoky Mountains Backpack – Appalachian Trail Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  We’ll meet as a group at 12:00 noon at a point to be determined and announced by REI Adventures around 3 weeks prior to departure (please eat lunch before you arrive).  After introductions, we’ll go over gear, do an orientation and review medical information.  Next, we’ll be shuttled by van as a group to the Appalachian Trail to begin our hike. We’ll backpack to our first shelter along the Appalachian Trail, where we’ll settle in for a great backcountry dinner then rest for the second leg of our journey tomorrow.  Hiking: Mileage and elevation gain/loss varies depending on specific route selected; Dinner included.

• Day 2

  Today, we continue further into the most remote wilderness in the East.  As we continue along the Appalachian Trail we pass incredible view points and learn more about this magnificent area before we rest at our next shelter for the night.  Hiking: Mileage and elevation gain/loss will vary depending on specific route selected; Breakfast and dinner included; Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten constantly throughout the day.

• Day 3

  After breakfast, we once again set out on the trail for another full day of hiking. Continuing on, we pass through this incredible landscape, discovering wild America as it existed prior to European settlement.  Inspirational views and opportunities to learn the history of the area and the local flora and fauna are abundant along the way.  Our last evening finds us enjoying one more great dinner and one final night in an Appalachian Trail shelter.  Hiking: Mileage and elevation gain/loss will vary depending on specific route selected; Breakfast and dinner included; Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten constantly throughout the day

• Day 4

  Our final day’s hike leads us out of the wilderness.  We’ll be shuttled back to our trip’s start point late in the afternoon.  Please do not plan flights out of Knoxville or Asheville prior to 7:00 p.m. this evening.  Please do not plan flights out of Charlotte prior to 9:00 p.m. Breakfast included.

There are multiple routes that we may select from along the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains that will enable us to create a fantastic hut to hut hiking experience for guests, and we may utilize any of those options.  Our final route is determined by our guides and based on the availability of suitable shelter access and other factors which may be beyond our control.  Changes in the availability of shelters from one departure date to the next will necessitate changes to the shelters we use each night, changes to the route and to the number of miles that we hike each day.  Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.  This trip is operated rain or shine.

All accommodations; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; professional instruction and guiding; group cooking gear; group first aid kit, water filter; shuttle between trailheads.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; park entrance fees where required, insurance of any kind; 2 lunches and snack items (see pack list for detailed guidance); alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Vigorous (4) as we plan to hike for 6-10 hours per day most days on steep, rocky, sometimes exposed terrain, gaining and/or losing up to just over 3,000 feet in elevation some days.  We will carry packs weighing 30-35 lbs while we hike as well.  To maximize your enjoyment of the trip we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least three months prior to your departure.  Most important to your enjoyment of the trip is your overall fitness level.

Daytime temperatures usually range between 50-75 degrees F, with evening temperatures dropping into the 30s - 50s. You may encounter freezing temperatures at some of the higher elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility, so adequate raingear is important.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased within 21 days of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

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