Appalachian Trail - Hot Springs
Hot Springs, NC - Erwin, TN
May 24 - June 2, 2024
Co-Trip Leaders: Leslie Green and Barb Shanks
Type of Trip: Backpacking
Trip Cost/Deposit: $470/$235
Cancellation Date and full payment: February 24, 2024
Wilderness Level: 4
Trip Difficulty: Rugged; up to 3000 ft elevation per day and up to 14 mile per day on mountain terrain
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
Level 4: Denotes backpacking trips on established but rugged, unmaintained trail with multi-day backpacks (30-40 pounds). The hiking can be steep and sustained with long daily distances (up to 9 miles) and significant elevation change (up to 4000 feet). You should be comfortable running/biking/hiking for several hours without many breaks.
Level 5: Applies to backpacking trips on very rugged trails or off-trail with multi-day backpacks (35-45 pounds). Expect prolonged, rugged hiking with very strenuous, difficult sections. Terrain can be steep, loose, rocky and/or exposed. You must be able to exercise vigorously at home (extended runs, swims, bike rides, etc..) to join a hike with a Level 5 rating.
Group Size: 8/7 Maximum/Minimum
Adults Only
***Before registering***
While considering your participation in CIWC trips, be aware that some trips will involve shared transportation, lodging, and other activities. Each participant is encouraged to evaluate your comfort level with such arrangements based on your health condition, vaccination status, and unknown COVID positivity rates at the time of the trip. Members are encouraged to review the COVID waiver as a part of this evaluation.
Hot Springs, North Carolina is a friendly town on the Appalachian Trail. In fact, the trail runs through the main street of the town with plenty of places to eat, stay, and explore. We will use Hot Springs as a base for a 70 - 84 mile hike on the trail. Hikers can expect a challenging hike with daily elevation gains of more than 2500 feet and daily distances of 6 to 14 miles per day. Participants should have significant hiking experience and training to take on this challenge, but you will be rewarded with mountain views, wildflowers, perhaps including Mountain Laurel and/or Rhododendrons, and experiences at six unique trail shelters. Hikers will complete 70 miles of the AT between Erwin, Tennessee and Hot Springs and then may opt for 14 additional miles as a “slack-pack” (hiking with only a day pack) or a day exploring the Hot Springs hiking community, which could include a visit at the local hot springs spa. In consideration of the safety and enjoyment of all participants, you must review the Policy for Physical Fitness before signing up for this trip. It will be more physically challenging than most CIWC trips.
In the weeks before the trip, hikers will be required to participate in at least one two-day training hike consisting of 10-12 miles per day with full packs with the trip leaders. One day training hikes will also be required in addition to other training activities.
The cost for the trip includes a hostel stay in Hot Springs before and after the hike. Also included is shared transportation to and from Hot Springs and shuttles needed to reach the trail heads. Participants are responsible for meals in transit and on the trail. It will be necessary to carry 6 days of meals in your pack.
Questions may be submitted to ciwcinfo@gmail.com.
All trip participants must fill out and submit a CIWC Medical Form and Long Waiver Form.
Effective on all trips, there will be a $50 non refundable registration fee. This fee will be assessed to those who sign up for a trip, get on the roster and then later cancel. Even cancelling before the cancel date. Those who never make the active roster (i.e. those who stay on the waitlist) will NOT be charged the $50 cancellation fee.
