Fall Color Backpacking - Sat, Oct 15 2005

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



Fall Color Backpacking


The Basics:
Event Type:Backpacking
Event Location: Panthertown Valley
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Oct 15 2005  9:00 am >> N/A
Registration Opens: Mon, Jan 1 2007 12:00 am
Registration Cut Off: Wed, Oct 12 2005 11:59 pm
Event Duration:per itinerary
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult
Trip Leader(s):
Bruce
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 13 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
Moderate to Strenuous

On Saturday we will backpack down past the Salt Rock overlook into this splendid fall color draped scenic valley, only about one mile and a bit, and set up tents in the pine flats just a little way up the southern fork (of 3 in the valley). After setting up camp, we will hike off in day gear the first day up Big Green Mountain, very close to camp, and then to two waterfalls on Green Creek, the upper falls on a very narrow trail, well worth the winding hike. Time dependent, we may see two waterfalls on the Tuckasegee River, before returning back to camp via Schoolhouse Falls and up Little Green Mountain, and the indescribably beautiful fall color views across to Blackrock Mountain and the rest of the valley. Saturday’s hiking distance will be 8-10 miles depending on where we go-but pace will be casual enough to enjoy the scenery at stopping points. Pray for clear skies for wonderful star viewing late in the evening-they are gorgeous out here. On Sunday we will walk to Wardens Falls and then to the overlooks from Blackrock Mtn. (across the valley to Little Green Mountain), before returning to camp to take down tents before leaving the valley.
Anyone wanting to enjoy each others’ company an extra hour, I will gladly stop at a nice and inexpensive Mexican restaurant in Walhalla, SC on the way back.

The Panthertown Valley is a wilderness of uncommon beauty, but wild in its nature. The leader will bring a water filter for our primitive camping and snakebite kit for safety, for that occasional timber rattler experienced here. Wear ‘gaiters’ around your lower legs if you wish. This is my favorite wilderness to camp in and explore, but be prepared for cool evenings with proper clothing and sleeping bag for same and primitive conditions of wilderness backpacking-camping. For anyone that has been here with me previously, many of the trails being done here are different than previous trips.

NOTE: There will be a mandatory pre-hike meeting at REI on the Thursday previous to the event (Oct 13th) to show route maps, latest weather forecast and for any questions. Any shortages in equipment can be taken care, usually within group members on the event; especially stoves-which are usually shared among all group members so long as we have four or five in the group. Several times we have outfitted new people to backpacking, with little or no purchase or rental of equipment necessary-don’t let lack of equipment hold you back. Shortages of equipment will be taken care of by e-mail before the pre-trip meeting and trip.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
two nights dinner (suggested non-smelly dehydrated food (so as not to attract wildlife to join us dining)-also its very lightweight, trail snacks, two breakfasts-instant food of your choice. Also bring the usual supportive hiking shoes, water containers and tent, sleeping bag, pad, backpack and essential items for camping including flashlight-headlamps, camp stove and fuel-personal toiletries including t.p. and trowel--see suggested list items for complete list.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:Cashiers, North Carolina Park and Ride only From the park and ride lot we will travel north on I-85 to exit 1 in South Carolina to Hwy.11 north and up to Cashier via Highway 28 and 107 north. Trailhead is about five miles from Cashiers, NC.

Notes:

Are Dogs Permitted? No.

Will this event occur rain or shine? No, not if heavy thunderstorms are forecast.

NOTE: Please be considerate of others. If you sign-up and cannot attend, please e-mail the trip leader, so others that may be on a waiting list may attend.

E-mail the trip leader to be put on a waiting list if the trip is at the max number of attendees.
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:Shared gas expense – $5 to drivers and $8-10 if want to eat at the Mexican restaurant in Walhalla on the way back.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.