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UKIan
05-07-2009, 16:56
I'm looking for a base location where I can bring 24 friends from the UK for 2 weeks to do trail walking. We did the JMT in 2008 but in 2010 have decided to stay at a base from which to venture out and do one or two day treks. (They all got too hungry and sore carrying heavy loads).

Wait there's more! The location needs to have a decent campsite and some sort of life to it (bar, cafe etc).

If you have no ideas about a base maybe you know a section of trail with easy road acccess to enable a support team.

Time of year is flexible but basically May til Sept inc.

If I could plan the trip to co-incide with a local event or festival even better.

Me I would just do the JMT again but this time S to N.

MOWGLI
05-07-2009, 17:02
Shenandoah National Park or Great Smoky Mountains National park would work. They have campgrounds, nearby nightlife, and loads of trails. The Appalachian Trail passes through both parks, but the nicest hiking is off of the AT in my opinion.

Shenandoah is near Richmond, VA or Washington, DC if you wanted to make a side trip. The Smokies has a tourist hell called Gatlinburg, but you can get a cold beer there. Knoxville, TN might make for a nice day trip, as would Chattanooga, TN or Asheville, NC.

If you're going to do overnighters, you'll probably have to split your group up, or reserve a group campground and use that as a base. Checkout www.nps.gov for more info.
Hope that helps.

jrnj5k
05-07-2009, 17:42
most campsites from what ive learned only allow 6 people per site.... You should just google around and find a park with some nice hiking trails. since the AT travels from georgia to maine you shouldn't have any problem finding campgrounds along the trail. Id find a sweet peak like katahdin and look around the area for a bar. A little research will find you a few bars im sure.

Blissful
05-07-2009, 18:33
Yeah 24 is a lot. You'll likely need to reserve a group site at a campground for that many.

Alligator
05-07-2009, 19:36
Just throwing this one out there I never stopped at it, but the PATC's Blackburn Trail Center can hold 25. It also hosts hikers so during thruhiker season might not be a good choice. I'll bet some of the folks here on WB could give a yea or nay to this idea.

Phoenixdadeadhead
05-07-2009, 19:40
Asheville NC. There is an amazing music and art scene as well as great hiking all around in every direction. There is Also the Cherokee Indian REservation close by with lots of nice shops, a casino and of Course Clingmans Dome right there on the AT. Out of the 48 states I have lived in Asheville has to be the best all around city.

UKIan
05-08-2009, 12:56
I know 24 is a large group and use group sites which are perfect. Do you know of any good sites?

Great ideas so far. I check ever thread so please keep the ideas coming

Shutterbug
05-08-2009, 20:39
I'm looking for a base location where I can bring 24 friends from the UK for 2 weeks to do trail walking. We did the JMT in 2008 but in 2010 have decided to stay at a base from which to venture out and do one or two day treks. (They all got too hungry and sore carrying heavy loads).

Wait there's more! The location needs to have a decent campsite and some sort of life to it (bar, cafe etc).

If you have no ideas about a base maybe you know a section of trail with easy road acccess to enable a support team.

Time of year is flexible but basically May til Sept inc.

If I could plan the trip to co-incide with a local event or festival even better.

Me I would just do the JMT again but this time S to N.

Mt. Rainier National Park would be a great site. You mentioned a "camp site." At Mt. Rainier you could camp in a tent or stay in the lodge at Paradise.

sly dog
05-09-2009, 07:06
Like others said, in the SNP groups must be limited to 10 maximum.

Rockhound
05-09-2009, 07:17
Standing Bear Farm Hostel has 20 pillows and a few more is never a problem. There is plenty of room to camp also. I'm sure a group rate could be arranged. It is right off of I-40 on the north end of the Smokies.

Puppy
05-09-2009, 07:47
Grayson Highlands campground in VA has a nice group camping site. They AT runs right through there - it is near Massy Gap and the wild ponies.

They had some bluegrass bands play at the campground when I was there.

You would have to drive about half hour or so to get to Damascus, where they have bar and food activities and they have festivals sometimes too.

Ghosthiker
05-09-2009, 08:13
There are private campgrounds around the Smokies and also consider some at the NOC. You could also add rafting as a day's adventure and many trails are a short drive away