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REGISTRATION & PAYMENT 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. This is a paid event with payment managed through the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for details; you will be given payment instructions after you sign up. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.



Newfound Gap - Peak Bagging Trip


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: Smoky Mountains NP, Newfound Gap Area
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Apr 25 2008  8:00 pm >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: 5:00 pm   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Thu, Apr 3 2008 12:00 am
Registration Cut Off: Tue, Apr 22 2008 11:59 pm
Event Duration:3 days / 2 nights
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult
Trip Leader(s):
Scott Sanders
Don Norton (Chicken Feathers)
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Member Cost:$12.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:20
Minimum Group Size:8
Number Registered So Far: 6 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
This trip covers four of the South Beyond 6000 Peaks. For more info on this program visit: http://carolinamtnclub.com/SB6K/SB6K%20Index.html

Friday – 5+ hour Drive past Oconaluftee village. We’ll be camping at SMOKEMONT CAMPGROUND Group site #3 (reserved already) Friday and Saturday nights and hiking during the days – YEAH!, no Backpacking! We’re limited by Smokemont to 20 campers and only 5 cars in the campground. Preference for trip drivers will be for people who can carry 5 passengers. Contact me if you absolutely can’t depart by 5:00 PM Friday and we’ll see if there’s a way to pick you up in Cherokee, NC and drop off your car in the area.

Saturday - The longer of the two days of hiking 13.1 miles (mostly downhill hiking). We’ll drop hikers at Newfound Gap and drive shuttle cars to Alum Cave Trail parking. Return 1 car and drivers to Newfound Gap. Our hike will follow the AT north to a left on the Boulevard Trail. After a short distance we’ll summit Mt Kephart, return to the trail and continue to summit Mt Leconte. We’ll pick up the Alum Cave Trail and return (downhill) to the cars. There is a net loss in elevation on this route, so it should be easier hiking this partial loop counter clockwise.

Sunday – Hiking 9 miles total (mostly up hill) We’ll drop hikers at Newfound Gap and drive return shuttle cars to Clingmans Dome parking lot. Return driver’s car to Newfound Gap. We’ll hike from Newfound Gap on the AT south to a side hike to Mt Collins, return to AT continuing south, and cross over Clingmans Dome to the parking lot.

We’ll get home VERY late on Sunday night - another 5+ hour drive back.

We’ll start both hikes early in the morning to allow for a more leisurely pace on the hikes.

Bring snack food, trail mix for the car trips. We’ll probably stop for dinner Friday night along the way and Sunday on the way back, but bring munchies, just is case.

This trip covers FOUR (4) of the forty Beyond 6000 Mt Peaks: 1. Mt Kephart, 2. Mt Leconte, 3. Mt Collins, and 4. Clingman’s dome.

You must have someone else who can attest to your skill level, if you haven’t hiked with me. THERE ARE NO OUTS ON THESE TRAILS. We will be traversing ridgelines of the Smokey Mountains from peak to peak at elevations over 6000 feet.

Map Link: Smokey Mountain Trails: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/upload/trails2005.pdf

Required Items to Bring:
Think backpacking trip for your preparation (food, tent, pack, bag, water bottles, clothes, etc) with an extra day-hike pack for the hikes on Saturday and Sunday. No coolers.

Refer to the Events Checklist / Backpacking area.		Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:Smokemont Campground: I-85 north to I-985 north to Us 441 North into North Carolina. In Cherokee, NC: Take Newfound Gap Road (aka US 441) North 6 miles. Turn right at campground sign.

Trailheads: Continue north to Newfound Gap, Alum Cave Trailhead. both on 441. Clingmans Dome trail head is north on 441 to west on Clingmans Dome Road.
Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):440Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 5:00 pm
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $176.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:
Important information for paid events in which payment is managed through the AOC:

     - Payment must be received by the payment due date and prior to participation in the event.

     - Some paid events require a minimum number of registered participants. If that number is not met, the event will be canceled and refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.

     - Third-party vendors often require damage deposits. Each registrant agrees to be liable for and required to reimburse the Atlanta Outdoor Club for any withheld deposits due to the actions of or damages caused by that registrant.

     - No partial payments. All registrants must pay the posted Member Cost regardless of any agreement you may have with any party involved in the event.

     - Read the event description carefully for additional information, and contact the trip leader(s) with any questions.

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost & Payment:
Member Cost:$12.00/Person
Non-Member Cost:$12.00/Person
Payment Cut Off:Payment must be received by the AOC on Tue, Apr 22 2008.
Make a Payment:Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note: $12 is required by April 15th to reserve your spot. It is your responsbility to get the payment in on time. Please allow two days for processing a PayPal transaction and one week for a check. Refunds less a $5 handling fee is available if someone pays and fills your spot.

Full refunds provided for weather related cancellations