Great Smoky Mt. National Park
Townsend, Tennessee
April 21-24, 2024
Co-Trip Leaders: Cindy Durr and Phyllis Legan
Type of Trip: Hiking/Cabin
Trip Cost/Deposit: $225/$115
Cancellation Date and full payment: March 1, 2024
Wilderness Level: 3-4
Trip Difficulty: Moderate to Rugged; 2000-3000 ft elevation gain; up to 10-14 miles per day
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment Level 2: Primarily applies to trips in which we carry only day packs. In one day, we can hike up to 9 miles and 4500 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 7 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged, less-maintained trails. For a Level 2 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light day pack. If a backpacking trip has a Level 2 rating, it means the distances are 2-4 miles with little elevation gain/loss. Level 3: Applies to backpacking trips in which we hike with 25-35 pound backpacks. In one day, we can hike up to 7 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 5 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged trails. For a Level 3 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack.
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
Level 2: Primarily applies to trips in which we carry only day packs. In one day, we can hike up to 9 miles and 4500 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 7 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged, less-maintained trails. For a Level 2 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light day pack. If a backpacking trip has a Level 2 rating, it means the distances are 2-4 miles with little elevation gain/loss.
Level 3: Applies to backpacking trips in which we hike with 25-35 pound backpacks. In one day, we can hike up to 7 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 5 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged trails. For a Level 3 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack.
Adults Only
***Before registering***
While considering your participation in CIWC trips, be aware that some trips will involve shared transportation, lodging, and other activities. Each participant is encouraged to evaluate your comfort level with such arrangements based on your health condition, vaccination status, and unknown COVID positivity rates at the time of the trip. Members are encouraged to review the COVID waiver as a part of this evaluation.
Join us for day-hiking in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, April 21-24, 2024. We will be based at the Townsend KOA in deluxe cabins. We will be hiking up to 10 miles per day with possible elevation gain of 2000 -2500 ft. This will be prime time for the abundance of spring wildflowers. We will also spend time driving the Cades Cove loop to observe the abundance of wildlife there.
The trip price includes the cost for lodging for three nights. Each person will be responsible for their own meals as well as snacks during the day. Transportation to Townsend will be your responsibility as well, with carpooling an option. We plan to eat out in the Townsend area for at least for one meal.
Questions may be submitted to ciwcinfo@gmail.com.
All trip participants must fill out and submit a CIWC Medical Form and Long Waiver Form.
Effective on all trips, there will be a $50 non refundable registration fee. This fee will be assessed to those who sign up for a trip, get on the roster and then later cancel. Even cancelling before the cancel date. Those who never make the active roster (i.e. those who stay on the waitlist) will NOT be charged the $50 cancellation fee.
