Fitpacking

If you have ever dreamed of hiking the 2190 mile long Appalachian Trail, that runs from Georgia to Maine, the Fall Foliage season is a great time to check it out. Popularized by Bill Bryson in A Walk in the Woods, we will start our hike where most thru-hikers start ... at Springer Mountain, GA (Amicalola Falls, actually), the Southern terminus of the trail.

Like typical thru-hikers, we'll stay in a Hiker Hostel the night before we set out on a 40 mile trip that terminates at the famed, Walasi Yi, a historical structure and outfitting store which the AT officially passes through.

If you are curious what hiking the Appalachian Trail is all about and want to get an idea of what it entails, this is the trip for you. We will teach you everything you need to know to undertake a thru-hike of the AT. End the prime hiking season with adventure! See a conveniently located, wild and beautiful landscape and lose weight, or more accurately improve body composition, and give the AT a try.

The Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiking Primer Fitpacking Trip will be from October 20-27, 2012.

Our journey will begin as many thru-hikes do, in Amicalola Falls State Park. We'll ascend Springer Mountain and continue on to Sassafrasss Mountain, Gooch Gap, and Blood Mountain before ending in Neels Gap. Proposed Itinerary

On the 2011 trip, one hiker was so inspired, he decided to keep hiking all the way to the North Carolina border!

Weather is always an important concern when backpacking. Historical October weather averages in the 60s & 70s during the day and the 30s & 40s at night. It should be insect free with crisp Fall Foliage. Rain can happen at any time, so make sure to be prepared for that as well.

Jeff Wagner lives in Roswell, GA and thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in 2008 (Trail Name: Jukebox). He guided the 2010 Shenandoah National Park, the 2011 100 Mile Wilderness and the 2011 AT Primer Fitpacking trips.

Bruce Cannon, lives in Columbia, SC and is a Wilderness Medicine certified Wilderness First Responder and a Leave No Trace Master Educator. He is a long-time Scoutmaster and maintains a section of the 76 mile-long Foothills Trail in South and North Carolina.

Here is a list of equipment we suggest you bring. The list is extensive and can seem daunting, but please don't let this deter you from the trip. You can rent top notch quality gear for reasonable prices from Lower Gear. It may also be possible for us to provide some gear for you at a nominal fee if you let us know far ahead of the trip. Unfortunately, we're not in the gear business so the selection of our available inventory is unpredictable. Please feel free to discuss any gear with us before the trip.

You will be doing the cooking on this trip with our guidance. Bring your stove of choice (and fuel if you are not flying). On the first day at the lodge, we'll present you with an array of backpacking foods and you determine what you carry.

We don't believe in austere eating regimens. Backpacking is a rigorous, rewarding activity. You must feed your body in order for it perform. Your body will dictate that you eat often, so it's important to have fuel to feed it.

Expect this to be a reasonably strenuous (but doable) trip. There are a lot of ups and downs and the daily mileage will be in the 8+ mile range. Towards the end of the trip, mileages will mellower and you'll have your hiking legs so you'll be able to experience pure hiking joy (we hope).

$1025 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant on the last night. During our first night hostel stay, you will sleep in the general bunkhouse with other hikers. You will be responsible for transportation to and from Atlanta, GA (ATL) as well as personal equipment and any restaurant meals or lodge dinners.

Covered expenses include 2 nights lodging, 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation, permits, fees and awesome guides.