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Backpacking 101 - HikeOnline Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45A5AE29A1F5C61-66191059-backpacking
Backpacking 101 Shenandoah National Park/Brown Mountain, Rockytop and other trails
Friday-Sunday, November 6-8, 2026
Meet at the Hampton Lowe's at 10:30 am in front of the garden section
Description: This is a beginner-level 3-day backpacking trip. We will cover approximately 18 miles from Friday evening to Sunday late afternoon. The trail slope will be moderately steep in a few places, so make sure you are fit enough for this trip.
See this link to the hike in AllTrails. You can view the route with the free version of the app. I created this custom hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/rocky-run-big-portal-run-rockytop-brown-mtn-0cc4043
We will be backpacking. Bring all your necessary gear, including a tent, or have a prearranged plan to share a tent with someone on the trip. There will not be AT style shelters on this trip. Bring a sleeping bag or quilt rated to 30°F for early November night temperatures.
Bring means to filter or disinfect water. Bring containers to carry at least 3 liters of water. Potable drinking water is NOT available anywhere along this hike, but there are streams along some of the trails and streams will be available where we will camp both nights.
Bring a headlamp or flashlight and rain gear!
Keep your pack as light as you can! This has been an issue for some people on the prior Backpacking 101 trips. Your pack should not weigh more than 30-32 lb including food and water. The trail will be moderately rugged and rocky with slopes typical of Shenandoah NP's western side. If your gear weighs much more than this, bring it to the prep hikes, and I'll help you whittle it down. Here is a checklist you can use to see if you have the necessary gear. YOU DON'T NEED EVERYTHING ON THESE LISTS on this trip, but it's still good to check that you are bringing what you need:
Backpacking-Checklist-based-on-REI-List
TATC Backpacking-Checklist
On Friday, we will leave the Hampton Lowes parking lot at 10:30 am and arrive at Brown Mountain Overlook at 2:00 pm. It is a 3.5 hour drive. (Note, I'm still determining parking arrangements based on the number of cars we will be driving)
We will hike in on Friday afternoon approximately 3 miles. We will leave the Brown Mountain Overlook no later than 2:30 pm and hike ~3 miles to Big Run Portal Trail intersection. We will find tent sites there. I expect this to take us about two hours. This day's hike is predominantly downhill. That leaves us ~40 minutes in camp before sunset. Sunset will be 5:09 pm and civil twilight will end at 5:37 pm. November 9 will be the new moon. Our trip will be during the last 3 days of waning crescent, so it will be very dark every night of this trip. We will set up tents and sleep gear, then eat. We will likely eat in the dark (as is common in late fall hiking).
Saturday, we will hike approximately 10 miles heading south on Big Run Portal Trail and then north on Rockytop Trail. We'll stop for the day at the intersection of Rockytop Trail and the northwest end of Big Run Portal Trail. We will find tent sites there. This hike will have a ~1400-foot ascent at the beginning of the day and ~1300-foot descent at the end of the day. I estimate that this hike will take ~7 hours at a comfortable net 1.5 mph pace, which allows for brief restbreaks. We will have a 1-hour lunch. If we start hiking by 8:00 am, we will get to the camp by 4:00 pm. So, if we see places we want to stop for views, we have plenty of time. There are water sources along the early and later parts of this hike. You will need to carry water for the middle of this hike.
Both nights will be primitive area camping so there will NOT be a bear box, bear pole, or any other similar provision. Bring means to hang your food bag (waterproof bag, 50 ft of rope, carabiner and rock sack) or a canister. Hanging a food sack is difficult with tall trees that have limited low limbs and we will be doing it late in the day. Don't sleep with any food or smelly items. See this page for info on food storage in SNP: Food Storage in SNP
Sunday, we will hike ~5 miles on Brown Mountain Trail, returning to Brown Mountain Overlook. This hike will have an ~ 1600-foot ascent at the beginning of the day. The remainder of the hike is undulating climbs and descends. I estimate that this hike will take 4 hours at a comfortable net 1.5 mphpace, which allows for brief rest breaks. We will have a 1 hour lunch. If we start hiking by 8:00 am, we will get to the cars by noon. So, if we see places we want to stop at, we have plenty of time. There are limited water sources along this hike, so you will need to carry water. It is around a 3.5 hour drive back to the Hampton Lowes. I would estimate arriving at Lowe's around 4:00 pm.
The trip is intended for people with little previous backpacking experience, or some experience, who are in good fitness! If you have light gear and are fit, you could complete this trip with very little experience. I can help you with backpacking skills, but you must be fit.
I request that you come to at least one of the two prep hikes so we can meet, discuss your questions, and I can confirm your fitness for this trip. If you don't attend either prep hike, we can talk by phone to determine if you are fit enough for this hike. If in my estimation, a person cannot safely complete the outing, I reserve the right to decide that person cannot participate, for their safety and the group's goal of completion.
I will bring my Garmin InReach Mini 2 in case of emergency.
Pets and firearms will not be allowed on this trip.
I'm willing to help you in whatever way is necessary before and during the trip to make the hike successful. I've recently completed the full Appalachian Trail via five long section hikes.
See other events scheduled under "Backpacking 101: Prep ... 2026".
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