(Pre)Thanksgiving Calorie Burn!

Burn Calories, Explore Nature: Join Us for the Wild Oak Trail Challenge
Are you ready to conquer a challenging hike and kickstart your Thanksgiving Holiday fitness goals? Join us for our annual strenuous trip. This year, the venue will be Wild Oak Trail in George Washington & Jefferson National Forest! This trail is known for an ultra marathon trail run (they do multiple loops in a single day!)

This 28.5-mile loop with a whopping 7,300 feet of elevation gain will test your endurance and reward you with breathtaking views. Part of the trail runs through the Ramsey Wilderness.

### Trip Details:

• Meeting Location: Fairfield Inn, 7:45 am, 33760 Old Valley Pike, Strasburg, VA 22657
• Optional Pre-Departure Breakfast: 7:00 am, Strasburg Diner, 119 Hite Ln, Strasburg, VA 22657
• Hiking Difficulty: Extremely Difficult, not suitable for beginners or intermediate hikers.
• Mileage: 28.5 miles (8.8/11/8.5)
• Elevation: 7,500 ft!!!
• Hiking Plan: Hiking Upward Wild Oak Hike
• T's & C's: Dave's Standard Trip Warnings & Requirements

Key Highlights:

• Challenging Terrain: Tackle steep climbs and stunning vistas on this demanding hike.
• Group Camaraderie: Connect with like-minded adventurers and share unforgettable experiences.
• Fitness Boost: Burn off those holiday calories and get a head start on your fitness goals.

Requirements:

• Physical Fitness: Participants should be comfortable hiking 15-20 miles per day with significant elevation gains.
• Backpacking Experience: Unfortunately, this is not a beginner friendly trip. Backpackers should be comfortable with their gear and possibly setting it up after sunset.
• Flexible Schedule: Be prepared to take Monday off work for this three-day adventure.
• Unsure??: Feel free to message me if you are unsure about your ability. I've hiked this before and can provide more detail on what to expect.

### Trip Essentials:

• Backpacking Gear suitable for chilly evenings
• Headlamp: That can be used for hiking as the days will be really short.
• Clothing: Think Layers! Check out my Cold Weather Backpacking tips & tricks for ideas.
• Food: Cold lunches and hot meals at the campsite! We will try to be done prior to lunch on Monday.
• Water Cache: Bring a large bottle of water to hide at a midpoint water cache as the second night will have a dry campsite. I suggest a 1-gallon milk-style container as they can be easily crushed.
• Extra Water Storage: Both campsite will be dry. The extra storage can begin empty and we will fill up at the last opportunity. I will share the exact mileage we will need to carry before the next source.
• Car Clothes for ride home: Don't forget a bag to put your hiking shoes in and a change of clothes for the drive home. Plus deodorant :-). We will stop for lunch on our drive home.
• Money: For the drivers' gas.

Weather & Such:

• Weather Link for West Augusta, VA
• Sunset Saturday Evening: 5:01 pm
• Sunrise Sunday Morning: 7:07 am

Join us for an unforgettable experience and conquer the Wild Oak Trail!

Questions? Feel free to message me!!!
Dogs? I don't think this is a dog-friendly trip, but am open to discussing.

The $5 non-refundable fee covers this group's annual MeetUp fees.

Everyone will start as Waitlist. If I haven't backpacked with you, I'd like to quickly check that this is a suitable event for you as it is fairly difficult. If someone is struggling, it will slow down the entire group.