Institute at Tremont Guided Overnight Hikes:
Fall Family Backpacking Trip - Have you ever dreamed of backpacking with the family? Imagined the great hike, sleeping under the stars, and spending uninterrupted time with your loved ones, only to be stymied by lack of gear, the planning, and concern for outdoor safety? As that famous shoe commercial says, “Just do it!” and let us help. Our staff of experienced outdoor leaders will plan the trip and meals, provide the gear (except sleeping bags), and give your family a backpacking experience they will talk about for years to come. For ages 12 and up. [More Information & Registration]
3 Day Backpacking Trip - Join park guides and experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains firsthand on a three-day backpacking adventure. All information, food, and gear (except sleeping bag) are provided for your excursion. This is a safe, educational, and enjoyable way to learn about backpacking in the Smokies. Participants must be in good physical condition and be able to hike 5-8 miles a day in rugged, mountainous terrain. Program lasts from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon.
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Fall Hiking Elderhostel - Discover the unique cultural traditions and rich biodiversity of the Smokies by hitting the trail. Fall color reaches its peak this time of year. Watch the spectacular colors progress through out the week. Explore these ancient mountains with daily hikes through breathtaking scenery. Hikes will be 5-13 miles in length, making this program strenuous. In the evenings, enjoy a fine meal at the Institute, followed by Appalachian music and tales, programs on mountain wildlife, or stories around the campfire. Program lasts from Sunday supper through Friday.
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Mount LeConte Overnight Adventure - Mount LeConte Overnight Adventure - Head to the top of the Smokies and spend the night at LeConte Lodge, the hightest elevation lodge in the eastern United States. Saturday evening will be spent at Tremont, and we’ll head up the mountain the following morning. Along the way, our education staff will share their knowledge of natural history, high elevation ecology, and science. While at the top, you will enjoy spectacular views, hearty meals, and a cozy bed. We’ll return to civilization on Monday. We suggest you sign-up with a friend, or be prepared to bunk with a new one. Program lasts from Saturday supper to Monday late lunch.
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Women's Backback Trip - Join park guides and experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains firsthand on a three-day backpacking adventure. All information, food, and gear (except sleeping bag) are provided for your excursion. This is a safe, educational, and enjoyable way to learn about backpacking in the Smokies. Participants must be in good physical condition and be able to hike 5-8 miles a day in rugged, mountainous terrain. Program lasts from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon.
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University of Tennessee Guided Overnight Hikes:
Hike Into History: Backpacking Old Settlers Trail - Backpack through more of the past 100 years of Park history than offered on any other trail. This time of year you can really see early settlement home sites with their distinctive chimneys and chains of rock walls, defining this area as one of the most reminiscent of what the Smokies was like prior to Park establishment. This moderate two-day hike covers 17 miles, making for two long days with several watery crossings but the elevation gain is minimal. Your hiking leaders will share many tips on backpacking and safety. Participants tent camp at a backcountry site, giving them a chance to test gear in a deep woods setting. Prior backpacking experience is not essential. Participants provide their own gear and meals. Space is very limited, so early registration is a must. No bugs, fewer people, bring a warm sleeping bag and don’t miss it! Instructors: Joel and Kathy Zachry, both M.S., are husband and wife naturalists who have backpacked the Park together since 1982 and completed section hiking the 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 2005.
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Hazel Creek Overnight - Spend the night on Hazel Creek, a beautiful area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park off the beaten path. After meeting at Fontana Marina near Fontana Dam, N.C., we’ll shuttle across Fontana Lake to the town of Proctor. After an easy to moderate five-mile hike, we’ll spend the night at Sugar Fork campsite. We will be primitive camping, requiring that participants carry their own gear. We’ll be staying in Kephart Country and explore the area’s rich natural beauty and cultural heritage. Horace Kephart first visited this area in the early 1900s and later introduced American urbanites to the communities along Hazel Creek through his book, Our Southern Highlanders. This trip will be an immersion in the natural beauty of this great Appalachian forest, but it will also be an introduction to the cultural traditions of the various groups of people who have called Hazel Creek home over the last two centuries. Boat ride, dinner, breakfast, group equipment, and planning details are included. Register early as space is limited to six people. Instructors: Cassie and Jason Robinson, a brother and sister duo native to western North Carolina. Cassie has an M.A. in Appalachian studies, focusing in cultural traditions of western North Carolina, and Jason has an M.A. in fisheries and wildlife sciences. Both have spent extensive time in the Fontana watershed of the Smokies. Cassie has led hikes in the area for Fontana Village Resort and as a previous interpretative ranger in the Smokies, and Jason as an avid fisherman and researcher.
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Backpacking with Confidence - Whether you’re a novice backpacker, want to gain more confidence while in the backcountry, or just want to get out and greet the extraordinary Smoky Mountain springtime, this class is for you. Learning the basics of backpacking (from how to get safe drinking water and storing your food, to setting up camp) will help you cope with whatever challenges you may encounter and make any adventure safe and enjoyable. You will gain the confidence and know how to care for yourself and the backcountry. We’ll also discuss wildlife that might be encountered to help you become more familiar and comfortable. We’ll enjoy both natural and cultural history aspects of the Smokies along the Grapeyard Ridge Trail (6.4-miles roundtrip, moderate). Meals and some gear are to be provided by each participant. Instructor: Liz Domingue, M.S., wildlife and conservation biology, is a naturalist, educator, photographer, and writer. Through photography, observation, and research, Liz has studied wildlife, plants, and the natural world throughout the United States and abroad.
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Backpacking the AT: Newfound Gap to Fontana Dam - Backpack the Appalachian Trail for 40 miles along some of the most rugged landscape of the Southern Appalachians in the care of leaders who completed section hiking the entire 2,175 miles in 2005. After meeting at Fontana Dam, N.C., we’ll shuttle to Newfound Gap and spend six days hiking the western half of the Park, staying in shelters along the crest of the mountains. Participants mostly will hike above 5,000 feet, passing over Clingman’s Dome, Thunderhead, and Rocky Top before descending through Spence Field. With good weather, a 360-degree view from Shuckstack fire tower before dropping to Fontana will finalize the experience. Aside from hiking through some of the most astounding scenery the Park has to offer, much will be shared about its history and you’ll learn from your leader-naturalists about its flora and fauna. This is a strenuous hike because each participant carries gear and supplies over rough terrain. All food, group equipment, shuttle, and planning details are included. Register early, as space is very limited. Instructors: Joel and Kathy Zachry, both M.S., are husband and wife naturalists who have backpacked the Park together since 1982.
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Charit Creek Hike and Overnight in the Lodge - Discover the beauty of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on the Tennessee/Kentucky border. This moderate seven-mile hike passes over and under a magnificent sandstone formation known as Twin Arches. A wooden staircase makes for an easy climb to an overlook for a 360-degree view of the Big South Fork area. The Charit Creek Lodge, where we will spend the night, is accessible only by horseback or on foot. The lodge rests in a beautiful pasture framed by magnificent bluffs. There is no electricity, but each cabin is equipped with kerosene lamps and wood stoves. The lodge offers congenial accommodations and hearty meals. We suggest you sign up with an old friend, or be prepared to bunk with a new one! Instructors: Gayle and Hank Cooper are a husband and wife team of hikers with many years of experience. Gayle is founder of the Smoky Mountain Field School.
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Mt. LeConte Hike and Overnight in the Lodge - Since its establishment in the 1920s, LeConte Lodge has been a rustic attraction for hikers. At an elevation of 6,593 feet, it is the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States. The mountaintop serves as a grandstand for the whole Park, and the pleasures of a visit to the lodge can include breathtaking sunsets from Cliff Top, clear night skies for stargazing, and spectacular sunrises from Myrtle Point. The true charm of LeConte Lodge is in the friendly spirit of the people who come here — people who find relaxation and renewed energy in the cool, majestic solitude at the top of the Smokies. This is a strenuous hike. The trails are steep and rocky and range from five to eight miles each way. You need to be in good physical condition ready for a rigorous climb. We suggest you sign up with an old friend, or be prepared to bunk with a new one! Instructors: Charles W. Maynard and David E. Morris, are experienced hikers, stargazers, and storytellers. They are co-authors of Time Well Spent: Family Hiking in the Smokies and Waterfalls & Cascades of the Great Smoky Mountains.
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Mt. LeConte Spring HIke and Overnight in the Lodge - The wildflower show on the Trillium Gap Trail ascent should be near its peak. The return down Bull Head Trail is one of the most beautiful in the Park, both for flowers and long-range viewing.
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Mt. LeConte Summer Hike and Overnight in the Lodge - The high-altitude pink catawba rhododendron should be in full bloom, and the trail covered with blossoms. We will go up the Appalachian and Boulevard Trails and descend via the Alum Cave Trail.
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Mt. LeConte Fall Hike and Overnight in the Lodge - We will go up via Rainbow Falls Trail and descend via Bull Head Trail. The brilliant fall foliage will be at its best, laid out in panoramic vistas.
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A Walk in the Woods Guided Overnight Hikes:
Backpacking 101: Everything you ever wanted to learn about backpacking, but were afraid to ask - Turn that curiosity into knowledge with a one night trip into the woods. Learn everything about the exciting and challenging sport of backpacking while meeting other people. On this trip, you will learn all the steps needed to become a proficient backpacker, find out what to pack and not to pack, how to pack and how to wear your pack for the most comfort. You'll learn how to use the best gear and what to do in the event that things don't go as planned, if the weather changes or your gear doesn't work well. You'll learn how to identify wild plants, which ones are edible and poisonous, how to cure headaches and poison ivy, and how to survive in case of emergency. We'll start with a brief class on backpacking and apply it in real life.
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Appalachian Trail Adventure One-Night Backpacking Trip - Disconnect from the stress of modern life and corporate pressures while exploring the famous Appalachian Trail. Find out why thousands of people have attempted to thru-hike the AT. This trip will take you over the second highest peak in Eastern North America as you explore the Boreal Forest of the high country, a forest normally found in Canada. Your guide will introduce you to the AT on this one night trip through the Smokies. You will gain confidence as you learn all the steps needed to become a proficient backpacker. Our experienced guide will teach you what to carry and what to leave behind, as well as time-tested strategies for packing and enjoying the optimum comfort and fit from your pack. Learn the techniques for taking the pain out of hiking, rules of hydration, blister prevention, the best cooking and purification gear, the etiquette of spending the night in an AT trail shelter, and low impact use of the backcountry. Before the trip is through, you will know how to identify several of the most useful upper elevation wild plants and trees, their medicinal and edible uses, plus crucial wilderness survival skills. This short trip is a great way to ease into the art of backpacking, and the mystique of the Appalachian Trail.
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Appalachian Trail Adventure Three-Night Backpacking Trip - Ready for more of a challenge? This three night Appalachian Trail backpacking trip is just the thing. This trip covers a part of the highest section of trail east of the Rockies. Traverse a narrow ridgeline as it passes through old-growth forest. On clear days, enjoy breathtaking views of the sea of mountains that seem to unfold forever as we pass some of the most prominent geologic features in the Park. Explore the forest that you love, stand in awe under ancient trees, some of the oldest in East, discover plants and animals found only here and no where else in the world. Learn about those plants and their traditional uses for food and medicine. Experience a taste of the Appalachian Trail thru-hiker life by spending nights in primitive AT shelters. Never backpacked before, but looking to challenge your body and mind? Gain confidence and knowledge while traveling with a guide. We'll take the worry out of venturing into the unknown, whether you are alone or with your family and friends, learn all the steps needed to become a proficient backpacker, from what to pack and how, which gear is best for you and how to use it, the do's and don'ts of a successful trip. Already an experienced backpacker? Hone advanced skills with an experienced guide. Learn survival techniques, the latest strategies for avoiding lightening during storms, cut through the confusion over hydration, proven methods for taking the pain out of backpacking, and much more. Warning, this trip might tempt you to become a thru-hiker.
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We Be Hiking Guided Overnight Hikes:
Overnight hikes - offers one overnight or up to 5 nights and 6 days of backpacking for the novice hiker that wants to experience the packpacking overnight adventure. The overnight trips may also be geared for the experienced hiker that wants to be challenged in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Provide most all of your equipment and all of your food. All equipment is high tech, and light weight, making your hiking experience more enjoyable. All of the overnight adventures are on The Appalachian Trail and side blue blazed trails, located in the Wayah Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest. Distance hiked each day will be between 5 and 7 miles, leaving time to enjoy each vista, each waterfall, and time to renew your spirit in the great out-of-doors. One of the 5 night/6 day adventures will begin at the parking area near Albert Mountain Fire Tower and end at The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Wesser, North Carolina. This is a distance of 36.7 miles and will include fantastic views, waterfalls, wildflowers, hardwood and coniferous trees, songbirds, animals, insects, mysterious balds and a fantastic time.We Be Hiking is unique in that
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Llama Trekking (overnight trips):
Hiking in the Smokies - English Mountain Llama Treks provides hearty meals, snacks and beverages, as well as all your camping gear for your back country adventure. You'll be surprised at what a comfortable camp you will have when you hike with us. Besides tents, sleeping mattress and bags, there are roll up tables and stools for the dining area and paraflies to keep the rain off. Forget the freeze dried normal backpacker meal, we can have coolers for ice water, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and frozen deserts!
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• Backcountry Rules and Regulations
• Camping in the Park
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