Valiant Outfitters is happy to announce fall dates for our Springer Mountain Triple Loop Guided Backpacking Adventure which features portions of the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails: August 31-September 4 (we’ll be adding more dates soon). We’re offering this easy to moderate backpacking adventure for $1499 per person, double occupancy. Included are three nights at a local AirBnB, Amicalola Falls Loop day hike, Springer Mountain Triple Loop overnight night hike, meals, and camping gear. THAT’S $200 OFF OUR REGULAR REGISTRATION!!!

This easy to moderate 12 mile backpacking adventure features portions of both the Appalachian Trail and Benton MacKaye Trail in north Georgia. You’ll also visit Amacalola Falls for a day hike and photo-op at the AT Stone Arch. It’s a memorable backpacking adventure for beginners and novices.

Cost: $1699 $1499

This adventure requires a minimum of 2 pre-paid registrations. The group maximum is 4 persons. (If you have a group of more than 5 individuals, please contact us at info@valiantoutfitters.com for information on one of our Premium Private Backpacking Adventures.)

Paid registration includes an hour-long virtual (Zoom) Personal Outfitting Session ($99 value), trail and/or park permits, 2 nights AirBnB accomodations, meals, gear (backpack, tent, sleeping bag, pad, pillow, trekking poles, cook kit) and your guide.

A tip for your guide is not included in the cost.

Itinerary

Day 1: Your 5 day/4 night adventure starts at the Shady Grove North cabin on Prince Mountain near Blue Ridge, GA. Check-in is between 3:00 and 4:00 PM. Once you’ve settled into the cozy Shady Grove North cabin your guide will issue your gear and demonstrate how to set it up. Then you’ll learn how to use your camp cook kit by cooking and enjoying your own backpacking style dinner. After a quick lesson in loading your pack and safety points we’ll relax by the fireplace or on the back porch watching fireflies.

Day 2: We’ll start with a family style breakfast and then drive to Amicalola Falls State Park for a photo-op at the Iconic Stone Arch at the Appalachian Trail approach trail. Then we’ll do some day hiking in the state park and have more photo-ops at Amicalola Falls. After a trail side lunch we’ll explore some more before heading back to the AirBnB at Shady Grove North. For supper we’ll enjoy some grilled burgers, brats, and dogs with sides. That evening we’ll relax by the fire while being either regailed or bored (we’re never quite sure which way this will go) by tales from Joe’s 45+ years in the wilderness.

Day 3: The next morning, after a light breakfast, we’ll load our packs and drive to the trail parking lot to start our overnight backpacking adventure. We’ll follow portions of both the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails northbound to Three Forks areas along Chester, Stover, and Long Creeks. After enjoying lunch along the creeks we’ll hike the one mile spur for a photo op at Long Creek Falls. Then we’ll head south to the Stover Creek Shelter to set up camp, enjoy supper around the campfire, and get some much deserved rest.

Day 4: After a good night’s sleep in the clean mountain air we’ll have some breakfast, break camp, and head out to the south along the AT to Springer Mountain and the Appalachian Trailhead. After grabbing some more pics we’ll take the BMT northeast to Owen’s Overlook. Following lunch we’ll finish our backcountry adventure by hiking back to the trail parking lot.

Day 5: Our last night together will be back at Shady Grove North where we’ll enjoy a family style dinner, share memories of the trail, and relish another good night’s sleep. In the morning we’ll have a continental breakfast before loading our cars and heading home.

Guide

This adventure is guided by our founding outfitter Joe Bassett. Joe has personally planned/scouted this trail and hike specifically for beginner and novice backpackers. He’ll draw on more than 40 years of outdoor, nature, and wilderness survival experience to make sure that you enjoy your new skills and the wonder of the trail. Papa Epic, as his grandkids call him, believes that it’s impossible to be in the wilderness and in a bad mood at the same time. He founded Valiant Outfitters specifically to share that philosophy with young and old, novice and expert alike.

Gear

You’ll need to bring the following gear. Items designated with * are provided by Valiant Outfitters (see below). Remember a Personal Virtual Outfitting Session is included with each adventure, so we’ll guide you through any purchases or rentals that you might need. We’ll also send you a printable detailed gear list.

This may seem like a lot of stuff, but the lightweight gear has been specifically recommended so that each person will carry a base weight of 20-25 lbs, but no more than 30% of their body weight.

• Backpack 40-50 liter (Osprey Talon 44 [men’s]/Kyte 46 [lady’s] or similar)*
• Tent 2 person with footprint (Sierra Designs Tabernash 2 or similar)*
• Sleeping bag or quilt 40 or lower degree (Kelty Cosmic 20 or similar)*
• Sleeping pad (Klymit Static V2 or similar)*
• Trekking poles (Trekology TrekZ or similar)*
• Water filter (Sawyer Mini or Sqeeze)
• Backpacking stove (MSR Pocketrocket or similar)*
• Cook kit (GSI Glacier Stainless 1.1L or similar)*
• Spork (Toaks Long Handle Spork or similar)*
• Butane 2 – 4oz canisters (MSR, JetBoil, or similar)*
• Freeze dried backpacking meals – 2/3 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 2 dinners (Mountain House, Backpackers Panty, or similar)
• One set of outer clothing for hiking (quick dry, wicking, or merino wool; athletic clothing is a good option; avoid cotton)
• One sleeping outfit (cotton is OK for sleeping and relaxing around camp)
• Underwear
• Merino wool socks for each day (Darn Tough Crew Hiking Socks or similar)
• Footwear (Light weight boots like Merrill Moabs or trail runners are best)
• Rain jacket or poncho (Columbia Glennaker [men’s]/Switchback [lady’s] Lake or similar)
• Lightweight jacket or fleece (The North Face TKA Glacier [men’s] [lady’s]
• Headlamp (Petzl Tikkina or similar; >250 lumen, adjustable brightness and/or red filter option is best)*
• Sunglasses
• Commercial water bottle (Smart Water, Dasani, are compatible with Sawyer water filters)
• Bug spray (Deet or Picaridin is best)
• Sunscreen
• Tooth paste and toothbrush
• Hat
• Medications (Your guide is wilderness first-aid certified and will have a full first-aid kit, but over the counter medications in that list are reserved for emergencies only.)

*Included in booking.

COVID Safety Information

For the health and assurance of everyone involved, hikers are expected to provide proof of vaccination or negative test result within 48 hours of the adventure. Masks will be required during the shuttle ride, only.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@valiantoutfitters.com to ask specific questions about our procedures and protocols.

Cancellations

Full payment is required at the time of registration. Valiant Outfitters Adventures are pre-paid and include a non-refundable 20% admin fee. Cancellations made within 7-14 days of an adventure or course are eligible for a 50% refund. Refunds are not issued for cancellations made within one week of an adventure or course.

The adventure takes place rain or shine, but if Valiant Outfitters cancels an adventure or course due to severe weather (lightning, excessive winds, etc.) then a full refund will be issued.

[*Different cancellation policies apply to beta adventures and courses.]

One More Thing

Time spent in the wilderness is rewarding and challenging, however, sometimes it’s downright uncomfortable. But learning to rejoice in spite of the circumstance is part of the point, right? So keeping a positive mindset is important to get the most from the experience. When things go “sideways” we encourage each other to “embrace the suck.”