Camping Update: It's only 3 miles!

If the weather cooperates, we're planning on camping Friday night up at Rice Fields, on the Appalachian Trail north of Pearisburg.  When we first announced the trip, we listed it as 5 miles each way.  Just in the last few weeks, the Appalachian Trail has been relocated in this section, which turns out to shorten the hike significantly.   Brian, Cinnamon and I hiked it today, and it took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get from our car to the top.  I'd say that's about 2.5 to 3 miles.  With a big group it will take a little longer, but it's still not that bad.  It's steady uphill the whole way, but there are a few good rest areas for taking a break.

What to pack

• Tent (let us know if you need one - my parents have several extras)
• Sleeping bag (we also have extra sleeping bags)
• Sleeping pad (optional - I think the grass will be plenty soft - and we have extras of these, too.)
• Water bottle(s) - I think 2 liters for each person should be more than enough.
• Fork and spoon
• Pocket Knife
• Toothbrush and other toiletries.
• Light sweatshirt or fleece (doubles as a pillow)
• Rain Jacket (just in case)
• Clean pair of socks and unders for Saturday. Other clean clothes are optional - I'll probably just wear the same clothes Friday and Saturday until we get a shower. 
• A book or a camera or a deck of cards - we'll have time to relax and hang out at the top!

Communal gear we'll divide up

• Food - We're thinking burritos, with canned beans so we can heat them up over the fire.  The idea is hot food but no stoves.  We'll also have s'mores and other good stuff.  And poptarts and granola bars and fruit for breakfast.
• Adult beverages
• Paper plates and paper cups - we're going with paper because we can burn it in the fire, and not have to clean it or carry it down.  
• First aid kit, water filter, sunscreen, camping shovel, fire starting stuff, wood gathering stuff.  

Post-hike clothes (maybe)

•  Since our house is short on showers, we're thinking that a group of us may shower at the Blacksburg Aquatic Center on our way back from the hike.  For $3.50 a head we can swim (though I doubt we'll have time for that!) and use the showers.  
• If you're doing this, have a separate bag that stays at the cars that has a set of clean clothes, towel, shampoo, soap.  You can change into wedding clothes, comb your hair, etc. later.

Trail Details

• Trail Head: Intersection of Pocahontas and Clendennin Rd, Narrows VA. Parking for 2 cars, max.  We'll probably shuttle and leave most of our cars at the Wellness Center at the beginning of Clendennin Rd. 
• Trail Length: 2.5-3 miles each way
• Trail Difficulty: Steady Uphill to Rice Fields
• Trail Type: In the woods the whole way to the top. 

Rice Fields Details

• The Field is looking beautiful!  Tall grass with wild strawberries, flowers, and blackberry patches.  Let's hope we have good weather!
• There is a 3-walled AT shelter with a picnic table and a fire pit in the woods at the edge of the field.  We probably won't stay in the shelter - it's small, and likely to have other hikers in it.
• There is another fire ring on the bluff overlooking West Virginia, in the middle of the field.  My Dad also found a fire ring over to one side.  We'll pick one of these two fire spots to light a big fire and sit around.  
• Campsites - The field has nice level areas and thick, soft grass.  There are a couple of areas where we could set up a bunch of tents and not be in the way of other hikers.  There are also a couple of spots in the woods, but these may be rockier, or not as flat.  
• Bathrooms - there is one pretty gross pit toilet near the AT shelter.  I think we're better off using the shovel-in-the-woods method.  
• Water - We will have to carry in all of our water.  There is a spring about a 15 minute walk from Rice Fields, but it's pretty mucky.  Brian and I will bring a filter so we can use water from the spring if we need to, but I think carrying it in is the best way.  
• Bugs - We didn't see any mosquitos, but this is a bad year for ticks.  I found one, Brian found three today.  

I think that's it!  We're really excited, and think everyone will have a great time camping.  The view from Rice Fields is spectacular, and there may be berries to pick, and if we feel ambitious, an old abandoned orchard we could go check out.