The second Round Hill A.T. Festival is in the books. What a weekend we had between the beautiful weather, the great bands, the wonderful speakers, vendors and partner organizations—and all the happy "campers" who joined us.

We celebrated the Trail and all the Great Outdoors with displays and talks about native plants, safe hiking, planting trees, camping light, thru-hiking and day hiking, nature printing, trail cooking and so much more. We're a small group of volunteers who put on the festival, and we thank everyone who made it  possible.

​Thanks to all who sponsored us, joined us at the festival and supported us along the way. Let's do it again!

(Photos by @craigolsen)

We have amazing speakers and activity leaders joining us on Sunday. We're so excited about them, we're going to give something away at every event.

You'll go home with knowledge...and you could go home with a tree or native plant. A festival T-shirt or nature print. A trail journal or water bottle. And more. Get a raffle ticket at the start of the event and keep your fingers crossed. We'll announce at least one winner at the end of each Sunday event.

Here's the Sunday lineup:
11:00   "Bringing Back the Experience," Cindy Ross
11:00   "DIY (Dehydrate It Yourself) Food," Judy Gross, Light Heart Gear
11:15    "Let's Plant a Tree," James McGlone, Virginia Department of Forestry
11:30   "Trail Cooking: Beyond Ramen," Jeff Ryan
12:00   "Women on the Trail," Susan Tschirhart
12:00   "Going the Distance: A Thru-Hiker Panel"
12:30   "Nature Printing," Jill Jensen
12:30   "Why Native Plants?" Dr. Iara Lacher, Seven Bends Nursery
1:00    "Trail First Aid," Saleena DeVore, Emergency Response Training
1:15     "Grandma Gatewood Hikes the A.T.," a performance by Anne Van Curen
1:30     "Forest Bathing," Kristine Villatoro
1:30     "Camping Light in Comfort," Don Gravett, JacksRBetter
1:45     "Yoga for Hikers," Dr. Alina Dawson, Full Distance

See you at the fest!

And now a bit about one of our generous sponsors...

REI Co-op has been around for more than 80 years, long enough for most hikers to know about the stores. We know REI as a place to buy boots or a tent. But even some of us long-time members might not know about the other sides of the co-op. A recent discovery for this long-time member: REI videos and podcasts.

You'll find everything online from gear reviews to recipes to tales from the trail and mini- to full-length features. And the Appalachian Trail gets its share of attention. One example: An A.T. favorite filmed five years ago, Paul's Boots is the moving story of a dream fulfilled despite all odds.

Uncommon Path is the co-op's online, interactive news and features hub that aims high: "Uncommon Path will connect REI Members to one another and inform our community of all that we can accomplish together. Through our stories, we’ll empower members of our millions-strong co-op to make impactful choices in their own lives and join us in advocating for change." 

So, thanks, REI Co-op for sponsoring the Round Hill Appalachian Trail Festival and thanks, too, for all the online inspiration.

There's a new sock in town. Meet Warm Peet, a sock company with heart. As the company's tagline reads, these are: "Socks that don't let you down. Socks that lift others up."

We are honored that Warm Peet will debut its product line at our festival. Stop by their tent to check out their merino wool hiking socks and other products.

But Warm Peet is more than a festival vendor. They've become our latest major sponsor, and their sponsorship helps keep this A.T. celebration a free event. Thanks, Warm Peet. We couldn't ask for a sponsor more aligned with our own mission: To promote and protect the Great Outdoors.

Here's more about this new kid on the block and their heart-warming mission: 

Who is Warm Peet©?
A young boy would always say, "My peet are told," and I would laugh and laugh. To this day, 25+ years later, I still use that saying and I still laugh. 

We believe "Warm Peet©" are essential to enjoying time outdoors. We are avid hikers, campers, and lovers of the outdoors. We understand the importance of a sock that won't let you down. 

We also love quality. The high-Merino wool content provides maximum itch-free comfort. It keeps your feet warm, is anti-microbial, and moisture-wicking to keep your feet dry.

Giving Back!
We believe in giving back. It's a fundamental part of who we are. Each pair of Warm Peet© socks you buy, supports suicide awareness & prevention, mental health, and nature preservation & outdoor recreation non-profits.

Our Socks, Your Peet, EVERYONE'S health!

Made Local. Made in the USA.
Our socks are manufactured here in the United States - North Carolina to be exact - we can proudly say our "Warm Peets©" are Made in the USA. 

Our Commitment to Reducing Waste
We take every effort possible to be socially and environmentally conscious in the products we provide. You will not find anything in our packaging you cannot reuse, including the Warm Peet© container that we hope you will reuse again and again in your every day adventures. 

No more single-use plastics!