Backpacking
Backpacking is at the heart of Valley to Summit. These trips
immerse you in wilderness and provide you with an opportunity to engage with nature. Depending on trip location, the trails wetravel lead to breathtaking ridge-top and rock-outcropping vistas of expansive forest, gurgling mountain streams, wilderness meadows, glaciated natural lakes and ponds, bogs, cascading waterfalls and mountain-top peaks.
Although recreational in nature as opposed to instructional, these trips are designed as a totally hands-on experience; VTS’s certified guides lead by example and guide with patience. VTS provides all group gear, including tents, cookware, fuel and food, rope, first aid kit, water purification hand-pumps, repair kits, bear bag and rope, maps.
The group gear is divided amongst the group to distribute the weight. For personal gear, please visit the Documents page and refer to the Backpacking Gear List document so that you are properly prepared. The FAQ page provides additional information. Before we head off on the trail, your guides will conduct a gear check and a route overview and introduce you to other topics like Leave No Trace.
VTS currently offers backpacking trips in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Hampshire. We are in the process of expanding trip locations geographically to the Adirondack and Catskill mountains in New York, the Shenandoah Valley in West Virginia, the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and westward to the Rocky Mountain Range, northwestward to the Olympics and southwestward to the land of enchantment.
Intro to Backpacking
VTS’s Intro to Backpacking trips are great for first time backpackers or beginners to overnight backpacking. These trips cover an average of approximately 5-7 miles per day on trails with little elevation gain. On multi-night intro trips, you may hike longer miles to complete the full trail. VTS’s guides review the following topics on all Intro to Backpacking trips:
- 7 Principles of Leave No Trace
- Packing & Carrying a Backpack
- Campsite Selection & Setup
- Basic Wilderness Navigation & Topographic Map Reading Skills
- Trail Etiquette
- Walking Techniques
- Backcountry Baking & Cooking Skills
- Gear Review
Intermediate+ Backpacking
The characteristics for VTS Intermediate+ Backpacking trips:
- Rugged & remote
- Thigh-burning elevation changes
- Up to 10 miles/day range
- Heavy packs
- You must be in good physical shape
Backpacking Trips & Dates
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OLD LOGGERS PATH FULL CIRCUIT | 3 DAYS & 2 NIGHTS (INTRO/INTERMEDIATE)This trip is being led by VTS Guide Dave Gantz, who recently authored and published Old Loggers Path Guide. Spanning across the northern tier of the Endless Mountains and in one of Pennsylvania’s few remaining pristine wilderness areas, we will backpack the Old Logger’s Path, a 27 mile circuit hike in the Loyalsock State Forest. Philadelphia Old Loggers Path Full Circuit $450Full Details |
GUIDES’ CHOICE: FRANCONIA BACKCOUNTRY IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, NH | 4 DAYS & 3 NIGHTS (INTERMEDIATE+)Immerse yourself in the Franconia backcountry set in the rugged Pemigewasset Willderness region of the White Mountain National Forest. Great ridge-view vistas and wild streams. Philadelphia Guide Choice: Franconia Backcountry in the White Mountains, NH $425Full Details |