Guided Smoky Mountain Hikes, Backpacking & Tours

I had booked the Smokies Classic Backpacking | Appalachian Trail and Beyond through REI for September 2025 around my birthday. Then in 2024 REI got out of the business of guided tours. They refunded me my money and that was it. Not long afterwards I got a call from A Walk in the Woods. They explained that they were in fact the company that REI was using before they decided to get out of the business. They offered the same tour at the same price. Unfortunately I had already made other arrangements but agreed to go the next year. The time finally arrived. I was nervous and excited. A couple weeks before the trip I got a phone call and then an email from my guide “Mike”. Providing all the pertinent information. Lots of information. Where we would meet. Going over gear and what each day would bring. As soon as I met Mike in the lobby of The Abby Lodge, I knew I was in the right place. He took an hour or so going over what to expect. A Walk in the Woods also provided me with all of the food I would need on the trail. I supplemented with some of my favorite trail treats. Then Mike had me dump everything from my pack. We eliminated all the things we did not need for the trip. I was very happy to leave my tent behind. He also provided me with a better sleeping bag for the conditions we would encounter. My sleeping bag was rated for 50° but he thought his 20° sleeping bag would keep me warmer. Once everything was loaded into my pack we took a short drive with Patricia to the start of our hike. When you are going to be on a multi day hike with just yourself and your guide, you hope for a person who you trust and can get along with very easily. Meeting Mike was like reuniting with an old childhood friend. Easy to converse with. We were roughly the same age. So talking movies and music was easy. His love for Boys to Men was on full display. He felt comfortable enough with me to sing a verse or two every now and then. I learned a lot about Mike and his family during the hike. I consider him a good friend. If you are lucky enough to have Mike guide your trip, consider yourself “winning”. The fact that we would walk for roughly an hour and then take a nice break made the miles less daunting and gave me something to look forward to. I will be implementing this practice into all future hikes. The pace set by Mike was incredible. It allowed me to take in my surroundings while not over doing it. I never once had to say anything about the pace. Anytime there was a place for a spectacular view, we stopped to admire it. There are only two people on the planet that I have witnessed picking up trash on the trail, my wife and Mike. He lives the leave no trace motto. Mike made my days and nights on the AT bearable. Hot coffee in the morning really does make a difference. I learned a lot about the trail. The peaks, wildlife, tree species and all around history. It leaves me with a real respect for the volunteers and caretakers of the AT. My absolute favorite part of the hike is when Mike would allow me to go on a solo hike. Before I was allowed to go on a solo hike, we went over what to do in case I should encounter an American black bear on the trail. Luckily the only thing I saw was bear scat. The solo hike actually taught me to slow down and enjoy the walk. If you have made it this far, it should be very clear that I’m a fan of A Walk in the Woods. If you are serious about getting out in nature with experienced guides, A Walk in the Woods should be at the top of your list.