Team Green

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BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE BACKPACKING: CT ROCK CREEK (Rescheduled)

Details

When

May 2nd-3rd

This event was originally scheduled for March, but was canceled due to poor weather.

Event Details

Have you hiked 10 or more miles on strenuous terrain and want the added challenge of carrying all your overnight gear on your back? Team Green offers monthly backpacking trips along the Cumberland Trail, Tennessee’s first linear trail along the Cumberland Plateau. This trail, when completed, will extend over 300 miles from Chattanooga to Kentucky. We will be sure to weigh everyone’s packs and help you lighten your load if you over packed. This event is limited to 10 participants. Please attend the REI Event: Preparing for the AT on Thursday, February 19th for backpacking tips.

BACKPACKING STATS:
Meeting Time: Saturday, May 2nd at 6:30 AM
Estimated Drive Time One Way: 2.5 hours
Hike Distance: About 12 miles Saturday, and 10 Miles Sunday
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate (see rating scale below)
Trip Leader: Sheryl

Cost: Free for members, $10 non-members
Deadline: Until booked. Waiting list available.

Children Policy: Participants must be 18 years or older
Dog Policy: Friendly dogs who have experience hiking over 8 miles and have camped overnight with strangers are permitted on this trip.

Please check out the Backpacking Checklist available on the Resources Page.

Team Green practices Leave No Trace guidelines. Follow this link to see what you can do to keep our trails clean and safe.

Tentative Itinerary

Please keep in mind that trail conditions, weather, and group ability may cause compromise of the trip itinerary. Please be considerate of necessary changes during the trip should these instances occur.

We will be hiking the Rock Creek to Possum Creek section of the Cumberland Trail. This section has steep inclines and declines with stream crossings. This is a linear trail and we will arrange a car shuttle from start location to end location.

Saturday:
6:15-6:00AM: Arrive at site to arrange carpools (information in confirmation email)
6:30 AM (Central): Leave Nashville
(directions available upon registration)
10:00AM (Eastern): Arrive at trailhead, arrange shuttle, and begin hike
10:30AM-5:00PM: Hike, lunch and snacks throughout
5:00PM-7:00AM: Set camp, dinner, sleep.

Sunday:
7:00-8:00AM (Eastern): Wake up, take down camp, breakfast
9:00AM-3:00PM: Hike, lunch, return to cars.
5:00PM (Central): Arrive in Nashville. (Optional stop for dinner.)

Backpacking Rating Guide

Beginner

You have DAY HIKED more than 8 miles continuously on moderate terrain (Warner Parks, etc) and would like to add the challenge of carrying more weight and camping overnight on the trail. These trips include shorter distances (6-8 miles per day) but moderate to strenuous terrain. You must attend a backpacking clinic.

Beginner to Intermediate

You have DAY HIKED more than 10 miles continuously on rough terrain (Cumberland Plateau/Smokies) and would like to add the challenge of carrying more wight and camping overnight on the trail. These trips include moderate distances (8-10 miles per day) on moderate to strenuous terrain. You must attend a backpacking clinic.

Intermediate

You have BACKPACKED 8 miles or more per day, know your abilities, have adequate equipment, and would like the added challenge of a longer backpacking trip. These trips include long distances (10-15 miles per day) on mostly strenuous terrain. It is recommended that you attend a refresher backpacking clinic.

Advanced

You have BACKPACKED 11 miles or more per day in unpleasant conditions (snow, rain, ice, wind), know your abilities, have adequate equipment, and would like the added challenge of a longer, more strenuous backpacking trip. These trips include long distances (11 miles or more per day) on strenuous terrain (Appalachian Mountains, etc). It is recommended that you attend a refresher backpacking clinic.

The Big Picture

This weekend backpacking trip is part of a bigger picture. Team Green will hike 15-40 mile sections of the Cumberland Trail once a month until the Cumberland Trail is completed. Tentative completion date of the 300 mile linear trail is years away. Upon completion, Team Green will do a through hike of the trail, which will take approximately 21 days. People will be able to track the Team Green leader online and join up with the group at various trailheads for a day hike, weekend backpacking trip, week long backpacking trek or the full 3 week trek. Until then we intend to see as much of the trail as possible! Details to come.

Registration

This event is free for both Team Green Members and $10 for Non-Members. You must have experience hiking over ten miles and have attended Backpacking Clinic (details to come) before this trip, if it is your first time backpacking. If you are inadequately prepared for this trip at the carpool site, the trip leader may dismiss you from the trip at their discretion.

Please contact the trip leader if you must cancel your reservation. This event is limited to 10 participants and there will be a waiting list. To be added to the waiting list, please email Team Green

Member Register
Non-Member Register

Children Policy: Participants must be 18 years or older
Dog Policy: Friendly dogs who have experience hiking over 8 miles and have camped overnight with strangers are permitted on this trip.

The Cumberland Trail 50 Miler Award

The Cumberland Trail Conference is an organization that has dedicated its time to constructing the Cumberland Trail purely on the efforts of volunteers like you. To encourage the use and support of this State Park, the Cumberland Trail Conference is offering an award to those who hike at least 50 miles of the trail (without repeating any sections) and donate 10 hours of their time to trail maintenance and construction.

Team Green is an avid supporter of the Cumberland Trail State Park. We will lead various day hikes and once a month offer a 20-40 mile backpacking trip along a section of the Cumberland Trail. That means you can earn your patch in only 2-20 hikes within your lifetime! That’s easy!

Award requirements:

This award is designed to promote the individual’s awareness of the Cumberland Trail and result in good personal fitness habits. The 50-miler award is presented to the individual who meets the following requirements:

• Hike 50 miles of the Cumberland Trail; hikes may be of any length, and there is no time limit to accumulating the 50 miles. However, no segment can be repeated.
• Record the hikes, hiking dates, mileage, and condition of trail.

• Complete a minimum of 10 hours of service work. This can include maintenance on trail, campsites, bridges, signing, or other approved projects by the Cumberland Trail Conference (CTC).

Upon completion of the requirements and receipt of the application and $3.00 fee, each participant will be awarded a 50-Miler Patch and a certificate. Please download, print out, and complete the Application and Log Sheet . Mail the completed application and log sheet to:

Attn: Tony Hook
Cumberland Trail Conference
19 East 4th St.
Crossville, TN 38555