Massanutten Trail
The Great Massanutten Loop Trail is located to the North of Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountain belt of George Washington National Forest, nestled into Massanutten Mountain. The full trail is a 71-mile loop, however, we would plan to create our own 40-50 mile loop with adjoining trails, depending on the agility of the group. This is a STUNNING trail, with ample camping, well maintained sites, dense forests, and mountain vistas. A decent amount of elevation gain and loss over the length of the journey is expected, with participants expected to meet the physical fitness requirements to hike up to 12-13 miles per day at a moderate pace. On these trips we will cover advanced mapping and backcountry skills, with an emphasis on connection, perserverance, and teamwork.
Dates & Pricing
THIS ROUTE IS PENDING PERMIT APPROVAL -
spots will reserved upon requests. Deposits can be made to secure a spot once the trip date is secure.
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October 3rd-7th (6 Spots Available)
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Cost: $529/person
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*Bring/refer a friend and get 5% off per sign up!
Skills & Ethics
On this trip we will go over tips and tricks for experienced backpackers who want to elevate their gear kit and skills. Here are just a few things we'll cover:
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Backpacking the Leave No Trace Way
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Transitioning to ultralight
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Navigating with a compass and a map
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Dead reckoning and pace setting
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GPS devices for navigation & Safety
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Campsite selection
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Campfire safety & Protocol
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Water collection and filtering
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Tips for hygiene in the backcountry
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Blister prevention and care
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First aid & injury prevention
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Knot tying and shelters
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and much more!
What's Included?
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Welcome packet, Including stickers and a copy of my text, "The Backpackers Handbook".
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Wilderness Skills & Pre-Trip Planning Program, a self-paced course via google classroom that starts 8 weeks prior to trip date. (see more below)
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Breakfast & Dinner on trail (optional)
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Guidance on Fitness and Nutrition (intention is to be adventure ready!)
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One-on-One pre-trip planning call or, if local coffee date meet up!
Difficulty & Expectations
This trail is rated difficult. Although a good majority of the trail follows the ridgeline, water is scarce and climbs are steep when presented. Hikers may need to carry 4-5L of water at a time, which means more weight!
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Max Daily Elevation Gain : ~ 2,200-3,000 ft
Steep up and downs. Remember, this number is just the max elevation gain in a day, and when you go up, you will likely go back down!
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Average mileage/day: 12-13 miles
Steep ascents and descents will mean a slower pace, but we should pick up speed on the ridgeline.
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Average pace: 2-3.5 mph
Pace is set by the group. We will generally aim to keep this pace or faster. However, it is totally okay if we keep a slower pace. In this case, it's about the journey and the destination.
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