Come to our annual event, the Mid-Atlantic Ruck on January 31st-February 2
Place: Bear’s Den, 18393 Blueridge Mountain Rd, Bluemont, VA 20135
Cost for Bunk: $30/night
Check in Friday: 3 PM
Meals: Friday supper is potluck. There will be a sign up sheet for food items.
Saturday supper is at the Brewery at your own expense.
A Raffle is held to help defray food costs. Please plan on contributing to the costs of breakfasts and lunch by participating in raffle or via a direct donation.
Schedule of Events 28th Annual Mid Atlantic Ruck
Friday, January 31, 2025
5PM – Check In , Meet and Greet
6PM – Spaghetti Dinner ***
7PM – Trail Talk – The AT Museum and the Hiker Yearbook – Julie Queen
8PM – Trail Talk “Zen and the art of finishing your thru hike.” AT 2022 SOBO Thruhiker Turtleback shares the wisdom shared as he encountered fresh NOBO hikers during the bubble in March 2023 – Jeff Prater
Saturday, February 3, 2024
8AM – Breakfast
9AM – Form groups and have a great hike-OR-9AM – Pack Tuckerizations/Playing with Gear: Gary Windham
12 – 1:30PM Lunch Soup and Sandwiches ***
1:30PM Pack Tuckerizations/Playing with Gear continued – or go hike
3:30PM Show and Tell: Gary shares his gear, methods with tips to make your hike successful
4:30PM Group Picture
5:30-7PM Dinner at the Brewery – All are invited to head over to the Brewery, Dutch Treat
7PM Raffle by The Raffle Queen (aka IWOX)
7:15PM Trail Talk
8:30PM Trail Talk
Sunday, February 4, 2024
7AM Breakfast then CLEANUP Grab a broom or whatever to clean the Hostel, leave it better than we found it! Plan to leave around 11 AM.
*** If you can bring Spaghetti or Sauce ingredients to share for supper, or soup and sandwiches to share for lunch, please do. Sign Up to let us know what you are bringing OR
Please make a donation to help cover the cost of meals.
Thank you for whatever you do to help.
To the AT Class of 2025 – HIKE YOUR OWN HIKE (HYOH)
and remember your actions will directly affect those coming behind you! Please be respectful when summiting Mt Katahdin, hike in small groups, no alcohol or drugs, celebrate quietly. We would like it to remain the northern most terminal of the AT.
www.aldha.org. Facebook: Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association and Mid Atlantic Ruck
Are you planning a future long-distance hike? Join us at this annual weekend event where you can ask questions of experienced hikers who are eager to help you prepare for your hike. Not only will learn a lot but the new friends you will make may become lifetime friends…friends who you may end up hiking many miles with. If you already are an experienced long-distance hiker, come for some tall-tale telling time with your hiking friends while making new friends. The Mid-Atlantic Ruck is for you, too!
You can check in starting at 3:00 PM on Friday afternoon. Dinner will be at 6:00 p.m. For those who would like, we will do a short hike on Saturday. Bring your full pack to get a pack shakedown.
The only fee you pay to attend this event is for your bunk. You must make these reservations for the Mid Atlantic Ruck directly with Bear’s Den. Please leave a voicemail with your name and contact phone number or email the Caretaker. Find the form under the Contact tab. Their web site is https://bearsdencenter.org/ and phone number is 540-554-8708. There are a limited number of bunks available so make your reservations early.
If you prefer a hotel, here are a couple of local hotels that are within 15 or 25 minutes:
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Winchester, VA (540) 722-8881
DoubleTree by Hilton Front Royal Blue Ridge Shadows (540) 631-3050
