Georgia Tech Trailblazers invites you to our Spring Break trip to Pisgah National Forest! Brimming with stunning waterfalls, mountain views, and forest as far as the eye can see, this land in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains has been preserved as one of the first designated wilderness areas in America.

Our trip includes three days of taking in the scenery through breathtaking day hikes, followed by a day of service work to support keeping the National Forest beautiful and accessible for all visitors. Alongside a park ranger, our work may involve building needed trail infrastructure, maintaining existing trails, and removing damaging invasive species. The trails we will hike will take us on top of beautiful ridgelines exposing panoramic views of forested mountains, scenic rivers and waterfalls, and the heart of the Appalachian forests, and will be accessible to all skill levels. We also plan to visit the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, a retired NASA center that now conducts space education and astronomy data collection with its 85ft satellite dishes.

In addition to hiking and trail service, there will be ample opportunity for stargazing, campfire songs, getting to know your fellow Tech students, and unwinding from the hustle and bustle of school. This is a great alternative break option which includes important and purposeful service activity, a stress relieving getaway from school, and the chance to meet some great new people. There are a total of 15 spots available, so tell your friends and sign up as soon as possible to reserve your spot!

The cost of the trip is in the range of $100-$150 (depending on the number of people signed up) which includes everything required: food, transportation, recreation, and shelter. The $20 deposit payment to reserve your spot will go towards your trip payment.

Logistics-wise, we will be leaving campus Sunday morning March 15th, camping in tents at a car-accessible campsite in the forest, and returning Friday March 20th in the afternoon. Feel free to visit the link below if you wish to learn more about Pisgah National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48114

If you have any questions, email the trip leader, Sam Rapoport, at srapoport3@gatech.edu. Use the payment link and form below to submit your payment information for consideration for the trip. There will be a $20 dollar down payment to hold your spot that goes toward your trip payment. Your submission for this trip will not be complete until both the payment and the form information have been received. You will need to submit a scanned copy of your driver's license or picture ID.

Payment Link: https://epay.gatech.edu/C20793_ustores/web/classic/product_detail.jsp?P…

Google Form: https://forms.gle/dWuZzX8DWrM11heQ6