Date |
Description |
Who to Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 15-17 | KNOW Backpack Mini-Trip, Big South Fork NRRA (South Region) | Julie Moore, KNOW Member (606) 781-4909 or Chris Connors, KNOW Member (606) 291-8554 |
| 22-24 | Beyond BOW Weekend, Camp Webb, Grayson (West Region) | Barb Pulliam, BOW Coordinator (800) 858-1549 |
Submitted by Julie Moore, KNOW Member
The fall backpacking trip to the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area is planned for Friday, October 15 to Sunday, October 17. This hike has been designed specifically as an introduction to backpacking.
We will meet at the Bandy Creek Campground in Tennessee (Huntsville Exit 141 Route 63 off I-75) on Friday evening and spend the night at a reserved campsite there. This is a well-equipped campground with a ranger station, wildlife exhibit, bathhouses, riding stables, and gift shop. We expect people to be arriving at different times on Friday. The maximum cost to camp is $15 and may be less depending on the number of participants we have.
On Saturday morning, we will start our hike on the John Litton trail for an easy 5 miles from the campground. At that point, we will set up camp. The moderate Grand Gap loop trail is adjacent to the John Litton trail which has a scenic overlook of Angel Falls and anyone wishing to extend their hike can continue on this trail for a maximum of 6.8 miles. Sunday morning, we can again hike sections of the Grand Gap loop or start the 5 mile hike back to the campground and follow other trails in the area. The maximum distance you will have to carry your backpack with all your gear will be approximately five miles each day of the hike.
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has many interesting amenities including horseback riding, paddle sports, a lovely backwoods lodge accessible only by hiking trail or horseback, many miles of scenic trails, and historic sites like the Blue Heron mining camp in the Kentucky section of the park. You may want to spend some time in the ranger station getting information about the attractions of the park so we will allot time for this on Sunday.
To participate on this trip, you must have the appropriate gear (backpack, sleeping bag, tent, cooking equipment, water purification method, etc). We will be happy to discuss the necessary packing items with you and there will be a suggested packing list sent to you upon registration for the trip. We will assist in any way we can if you need gear, which you do not have or cannot obtain from by any other means.
If you are interested in joining us for this autumn backpack trip, please contact Julie Moore at 606-781-4909 or Chris Connors at 606-291-8554 with any questions. To register, you will need to complete a registration form and medical release by October 6.
