Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wilderness Trail?
Wilderness Trail is a backpacking ministry. For us, this means that our primary focus is ministry and we use backpacking as a tool to accomplish ministry. Backpacking is hiking during the day to reach a campsite and carrying everything you need in a pack. Hiking days are pretty simple! We start the day off hiking to camp, set up camp, eat dinner, have a campfire, and sleep. We wake up bright & early the next day, pack up, and hike to a different campsite the next day. We backpack in hiking groups of 10 people. At the end of their hike, groups are picked up and taken back to our basecamp “Property.”
Do I need previous experience?
You do not need to know anything about backpacking in order to participate in Wilderness Trail! We will guide you through it! If you (and/or your youth) are out of shape and have never even seen a mountain before, you can do it. If you're an avid backpacker, you won't be disappointed. The routes we choose are designed to be challenging but possible for a wide range of participants. We teach hikers Leave No Trace and will help you get prepared with all the equipment you need. Bring a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, good walking shoes, and we’ll provide the rest!
Who Can Participate?
Rising 7th graders (age 12 & up) through college students are eligible to participate. We accept registration from groups (youth groups, children’s homes, etc). There must be an adult chaperone from the church in every group.
What is Opening Retreat Day like at the Property?
During Summer Events, participants will arrive at “The Property.” We will spend the afternoon and evening hours getting prepared to go backpacking. Preparation for us looks like handing out equipment, getting trail food, packing our packs together, learning Leave No Trace principles, learning about the “dos & don’ts” of hiking (we call it “Trail Etiquette”), and playing games.
What happens on trail?
We wake up, eat breakfast, take a quiet time, pack up and hit the trails! In the 4 full hiking days, groups will hike an average of 6-10 miles each day and stop for snacks and lunch somewhere along the journey. Once at camp, we set up tents/hammocks/tarps, rest, gather firewood, help filter water, and play. After dinner, we gather for campfire and some W.T. traditions such as sharing "Little Foxes" and "Holy Grounds," and have a devotion/discussion. The exact schedule and activities on trail are determined in part by the Hiking Staff and individuals in each group, which is part of what makes Wilderness Trail an experience worth repeating. Click here to see more about a day on the trail!
What happens after we finish hiking?
Each hiking group has a different pickup spot for “Git Back Day.” When hikers arrive at the Property, they return equipment, take showers, and spend the day together before closing worship that evening. Groups leave for home the next morning.
How much does it cost?
Each Summer Event costs $375 per person. We ask for a $100 deposit to be paid within a month of registering. The $375 price includes almost everything you need, such as: backpacking equipment (tents, packs, etc), all meals/some snacks for the full week, one of our top notch staff members to lead your hike, full programming, and a signature WT t-shirt to show you really did it! Need-based scholarships are available; contact director@wtrail.com for any questions regarding scholarships.
Where are you located?
Our “base camp” is affectionately known in our ministry family as “The Property,” which is 60+ acres in Troutdale, VA. ” Our largest building is the Lodge, where we prepare meals, play games, worship, fellowship, and relax on the porch in our rocking chairs. Eight sleeping shelters and one Adirondack offer rustic accommodations. We worship and have communion at our outdoor chapel. We’ve got horseshoe pits, a basketball court, volleyball court, four square, and a gaga ball pit for games. The infamous Weaver Field is the best wiffle ball field this side of the Mississippi. Staff housing, an equipment shed, and two large bathhouses round out our Facilities.
Where do we go Backpacking?
We are incredibly fortunate to hike in the mountains of southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee. In Virginia, we hike along parts of the Iron Mountain Trail (“the old Appalachian Trail”), the Lewis Fork Trail, and the Virginia Highland Horse Trail. These trails offer a wide array of landscapes like the open fields of the Mount Rogers area, the great bald of White Top, and the old forest area of the Raccoon Wilderness. In Tennessee, our hiking area stretches as far south from the Property as Elizabethton, TN. There, we hike on the Appalachian Trail. In this section, we marvel at the grandeur of Laurel Falls, play in Watauga Lake, and follow the Iron Mountain ridge-line as it heads north into Damascus, VA.
What should I bring?
We’ll supply backpacking equipment like tents, hammocks, packs, water filters, and group cooking supplies. Click here for the packing list to know what you need!