Beginner Backpacking and learn, Springer Mountain to Three Forks

This event is Chuck's second event as a potential trip leader. It is designed to help beginning backpackers get ready for more rigorous backpacking events. While it is a D5 in difficulty, it is on the low end of the category. We will be hiking just over 11.6 miles altogether while climbing about 2,300 feet. We will be hiking as a group at a moderate pace. We will see the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, and nearby the southern terminus of the Benton McKaye trail. There are impressive views from Springer Mountain, and on our return hike there is a great view just off the BMT.

On Saturday we will hike about 5 miles on the AT with only about 500 feet of climbing. We will start at the parking for Springer Mountain trailhead at Big Stamp Gap. From there we will hike a mile to the top of Springer Mountain, then turn around and hike on the AT to Three Forks, where we will set up camp. After setting up camp we will have lunch and discuss techniques, skills, and equipment used for backpacking. Chuck will discuss different philosophies for reducing pack weight to increase backpacking enjoyment. After the discussion there will be an optional hike of about a mile each way to Long Creek Falls.

Sunday we will have breakfast, break camp, and hike back to our start on the Benton McKaye trail. It will be about 6.6 miles with 1,800 feet of climbing, so a good bit more challenging than the first day. But we will be rewarded with spectacular views and more solitude on this lesser-travelled trail.

A map of the route is in the "Notes" below, and can be found here:

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/trail-planner-map-2cbca44-32?u=i&sh=x3ofo8

Thanks to Horhay for the above photo.

The coordinates linked above at "Location" are to the parking lot for the Springer Mountain Trailhead. Copy the coordinates into Google or Apple Maps for directions.