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> > Virginia Wilderness Survival 101 & Hiking the Triple Crown

Virginia Wilderness Survival 101 & Hiking the Triple Crown

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AT A GLANCE
Virginia
14 Explorer Chicks
Locally Unique
Hiking, US-Based, Weekend, Workshop
4 Days
3 - Active
Physical demand level for this trip
Choose Your Dates

Triple Crown Queen

While the rest of the world mows their stupid lawns, you’ll be SLAYING the most iconic Appalachian Trail summits in one wild Virginia weekend workshop. This Women’s Wilderness Survival Training & Hiking trip bounces 12 lucky booties across Dragon’s Tooth, Tinker Cliffs, and McAfee Knob––Virginia’s Triple Crown.

Between hikes, you’ll learn hands-on wilderness survival training skills like fire-building in the rain and emergency bug-hunting. (Crunchy yet satisfying!) We’ll recoop at a beautiful lodge hidden away in Catawba, Virginia. There ain’t another Teva-happy tourist in sight as we howl at the base of the mountains, surrounded by woods and hooty owls. Enjoy the freedom to stretch your legs in the sun, share hot goss around the fire, or knock back a few beers. Your dinners and breakfasts will be home-cooked by someone other than you––and this time, bugs won’t be on the menu. 


Come enjoy a feral weekend with a small group of women living their best lives hiking and surviving in Virginia along the Appalachian Trail. And yes, Triple Crown Queen can totally be your stage name.

Photos

Itinerary

Expand All Days
Day 1 - Hiking Dragon's Tooth

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO MEET YOU! You’ll arrive late Thursday afternoon at our lodge in the woods to drop your bags and gear up for the first jewel in Virginia’s crown: Dragon’s Tooth! It’s the shortest of the three hikes, but the most mind-blowing. Scramble up rocks via ferrata-type ladders to reach the summit and gawk at the huge monolith stretching to the sky. Feelin’ brave? Climb up the monolith for 360-degree views of the valley below (and all the bragging rights).

Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,103’
Time: 3.5 hours

Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Meals: D

Day 2 - Tinker Cliffs Hike

Don’t let the cute name fool you. Tinker Cliffs has the gnarliest elevation gain, including a “Green Tunnel” stretch that’ll make your thighs sing. But it’s a stunner of a hike––leading you across a field that gives you a jaw-dropping view of our goal. Stare. Freak out a little. And then shake it off. We’ll connect with the Appalachian Trail to reach the summit and enjoy some well-deserved sammies. (Extra cheese, obvi.) While blissfully munching, you’ll be able to lock eyes with tomorrow’s quest: McAfee Knob.

After everyone’s showered and braless back at the lodge, we’ll tuck into a yummy home-cooked meal and get weird around the campfire. First topic of conversation: Where to find leggings with actual pockets.

Distance: 7.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,945’
Time: 6.5 hours

Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Meals: B-L-D

Day 3 - Survival 101 and McAfee Knob Hiking

It’s back to school, lady! We’ll take a short hike to our outdoor classroom to spend the day nerding out on wilderness survival skills. Grab a notebook and a pen to scratch down some notes and hey, maybe put your initials in a heart with ours. We’ll learn how to tie knots, build a wilderness shelter, start and feed a fire in the rain, and which bugs are the tastiest! ? Yes, it is completely hands-on. You’ll leave this sesh knowing how to save the world––or at least impress your partner with some kinky rope moves.

Saturday evening, we’ll hit a mall walker’s stride as we jump on the trail to catch one of the best sunsets. The hustle up the mountain is so worth the burning quads as you rest your hiker booty and kick your legs off the edge of the world. There’s a reason McAfee Knob is one of the most photographed spots on the Appalachian Trail.

Distance: 8.63 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,643’
Time: 4 hours

Accommodation: Mountain Lodge
Meals: B-L-D

Day 4 - Backcountry Self Defense Class

We’re not done turning you into a total badass. On your last day in wilderness paradise, you’ll learn hands-on Backcountry Personal Self Protection. PEACE OUT, TRAIL CREEPER. Our Explorer Chicks will be expertly trained to:

• Break free from a stranger’s hold – KA-POW!!!
• Recognize the signs of threatening behavior
• Learn to use day pack contents as weapons

Liam Neeson who? You’ll be able to practice in a supportive environment with a “Red-Man Suit” while learning a proper palm strike, finger fan, knee jab, knee strike, and blocking moves. Then we’ll de-escalate all the adrenaline with some delicious lunch and loving hugs so TSA doesn’t have to put you on a watch list. Plan to leave after 1pm, you lethal weapon.

Meals: B-L

Logistics

Arrival

  • Airport City: Roanoke, VA (ROA). Approximately 40 minute drive
  • Meeting Location: Mountain Lodge in Catawba, VA
  • Meeting Time: Day 1 April-September 4pm. October-September  3pm.

 

Departure

  • Airport City: Roanoke, VA (ROA). Approximately 40 minute drive
  • Depart Location: Mountain Lodge in Catawba, VA
  • Return Time: Plan to depart by 1pm on Day 4.

 

You will receive a Travel Guide with all the rendezvous hotel, packing, and additional information you’ll need to prepare for your epic trip.

We require a minimum of 5 Explorer Chicks for this trip. Please confirm your trip is guaranteed before booking airfare.

Activity Level

Rated 3 – ACTIVE

This trip is rated Active because of the length and frequency of hiking for 3 days as detailed below. Each hike is unique. Dragon’s Tooth may challenge those with a fear of heights as there is a small section with via ferrata type and some scrambling. Tinker Cliffs is your longest day with 2 sections that are an uphill slog.

Daily Hiking:

  • Day 1: Dragon’s Tooth. 4.5 miles. 1,103′ gain. 4.5 hours.
  • Day 2: Tinker Cliffs. 7.7 miles. 1,945’ gain. 6.5 hours.
  • Day 3: McAfee Knob. 8.63 miles. 1,643′ gain. 4 hours.

 

Please consider your ability to meet the physical demands very seriously. It is for the safety of both you and our group. All Explorer Chicks will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Physical Demands as part of their waiver upon booking.

Read more about our Activity Levels.

What's Included

Lodging 

  • 3 nights in shared occupancy bunk room accommodations in a mountain lodge. Rooms contain 4 bunk beds, but shared 2 per room. Shared bathrooms. Very nice showers and toilets. Towels provided. Beautiful, sprawling property with fire pit, tire swing, pond and a dog or two.

 

Activities

  • All activities as outlined in the itinerary

 

Meals

  • All meals as indicated in itinerary: B-3, L-3, D-3
  • Gratuities for included meals

 

Practical

  • Professional leadership team with a Wilderness Survival Instructor and an Explorer Chick Guide
  • A detailed Travel Guide with everything you need to know for your trip
  • The freedom to enjoy your vacation and mindlessly wander!

 

Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Airport Transportation
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel Insurance
  • Meals exclusive of itineraries
  • Costs for additional activities
  • Gratuity for your Explorer Chick Guide

 

Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents.

More from Virginia

“Sorry Gary, someone else is gonna have to handle that for ya”.

Keep that phone on airplane mode the whole trip and soak in nature and she-nanigans. 🌳📵🗻

#explorerchick #ExplorerChickAdventureCo #womenwhotravel #womentravelingtogether #easydoesntchangeyou #weareexplorerchick #adventuretravel #SheIsNotLost #WomenSupportingWomen #amongthewild #summercamp #memorylane #wildernesstraining #outdoorskills #hikingAT #wildernessskills #wildernessvibes #wildernessadventure #wildernesstherapy #wildernesslivingskills #wildernessexplorer #explorerchickvirginia #ooo #outofoffice #workboundaries #worklifebalance #mentalhealth

Open
“Sorry Gary, someone else is gonna have to handle that for ya”. Keep that phone on airplane mode the whole trip and soak in nature and she-nanigans. 🌳📵🗻 #explorerchick #ExplorerChickAdventureCo #womenwhotravel #womentravelingtogether #easydoesntchangeyou #weareexplorerchick #adventuretravel #SheIsNotLost #WomenSupportingWomen #amongthewild #summercamp #memorylane #wildernesstraining #outdoorskills #hikingAT #wildernessskills #wildernessvibes #wildernessadventure #wildernesstherapy #wildernesslivingskills #wildernessexplorer #explorerchickvirginia #ooo #outofoffice #workboundaries #worklifebalance #mentalhealth

In Her Words

Jackie W.Jackie W. ★★★★★ I went on the Virginia Wilderness trip guided by Erin recently, and highly recommend it! Every woman on the trip booked it not knowing anyone, but we all became friends very quickly. We hiked, learned, and laughed so much in such a short amount of time. I feel much more confident being in the wilderness now and cannot wait to book my next trip with Explorer Chick!Shoutout to Erin for dealing with our shenanigans, getting everyone back safely, and for helping to make this trip as amazing as it was! She's the BEST.Jen J.Jen J. ★★★★★ Just finished the Virginia Hiking & Survival 101 trip with guide Erin. I could not have had a better experience. Trip was incredibly well-organized. Erin and the staff at the wilderness school were incredibly patient with our varying skill levels. There’s something to be said for taking a “weird” vacation with like-minded women who want to learn & grow through new experiences. I left feeling incredibly strong, empowered, & ready to tackle another adventure with the new adventure buddies that I met.Kristin W.Kristin W. ★★★★★ I went on the Virginia survival trip in June 2017 and had the best time! I had not gone on a trip since having my son and being able to hang out with such a diverse group of women was a renewing experience. The trip was well organized, the hikes were beautiful and the partnership with the survival school was a one in a kind experience. Being able to bond with women from all over the country with different life experiences was more than I expected or hoped for in this trip...as well as eating some delicious bugs!js_loader

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