Virtual Shake Down

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Virtual Shake Down

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A Virtual Shake Down is the 21st century update to Mountain Crossings' decades old, time honored tradition for new hikers looking to make their trek a little easier on themselves. Traditionally, hikers passing through on their hike stop in the shop for a Shake Down where our experienced staff picks through their gear, piece by piece and assists them in dropping their pack weight down to something more manageable. In the process we answer any and all questions and concerns about backpacking, thru hiking, and the Appalachian Trail. Now we are bringing this into the 21st century by making it available to hikers ANYWHERE and getting it done BEFORE you have to walk three whole days with a copy of Pride and Prejudice in your pack because you totally thought you'd have the energy to read at night. Our varied staff of former thru hikers have made all the mistakes you can imagine over our collective 27,000 miles of hiking, but we have learned a lot from those miles! Let us help ease your mind by answering all your questions and lighten your load by picking through each piece of gear you own. We want to optimize your hiker experience from the get go and help lighten the load you plan on carrying 10, 100s, maybe even 1000s of miles. Then as you are rolling along on your hike, you can focus on relaxing and recuperating if you choose to stay at the Mountain Crossings Hostel instead of vying for a Shake Down with may other hikers. View the details below for more information about how a Virtual Shake Down works.

100% REBATE!!!! 100% of the Virtual Shake Down fee can be used as a store credit for 48 hours after the Virtual Shake Down is completed, for online purchases only.

Our Price: $100.00

Quantity in Stock:1

Product Code: VSD

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What is a Virtual Shake Down?

A Virtual Shake Down is an online version of Mountain Crossings famous tradition of offering a Shake Down to new hikers. Our specialty outdoor retailer sits at mile 31.7 on the Appalachian Trail and for decades the Shake Down has been a service offered to hikers who need a little bit of help lightening up the load of their packs. Our experienced thru hiker staff can help you eliminate some of the extra pounds and ship it home fro you from our shop. With the Virtual Shake Down, our hope is to help you feel more confident in your gear and your knowledge of that gear before you are out on the trail by answering any and all questions you may have as well as teaching you more about the gear you have and the gear you need.

Why do I need a Shake Down?

There is so much information out there about light weight backpacking but nothing teaches you as well as experience. After three days of walking on the AT, you have a much better sense of what you need to carry and what you can leave behind than when you were standing on Springer. If you're still unsure, our staff made of former thru hikers can help you trim down on the unneeded items. Take it from those who have already learned the hard way, carrying everything you think you want 1,500 miles and then finally dumping it only to realize you wish you had done it in the beginning is a tough pill to swallow. Don't make your hike tougher than it has to be. Get a Shake Down!

Why should I get a Virtual Shake Down instead of waiting?

With the increasing popularity of the Appalachian Trail, more and more people are attempting a thru/section hike each year. Most of them opt to get a Shake Down when passing through the shop at Mountain Crossings. You can avoid some of this hustle and bustle and be able to focus on relaxing and recuperating during your stay if you get your Shake Down before hand. Plus, that is 31.7 miles less that you have to walk with a backpack full of things you don't need!

How does a Virtual Shake Down work?

The Virtual Shake Down is a video conference using the Google Hangout platform. Google Hangout requires one Gmail user to set a time and date and invite another Gmail user to a "hangout". To streamline the process, we have created a "dummy" Gmail account which you will use to access the video conference so no personal email account is needed; the login information will be provided once a Shake Down is scheduled. To schedule, you can select a time from several available dates on the Mountain Crossings website, or we can arrange a specific time if one is needed.

How much does it cost?

A Virtual Shake Down costs $100, but that $100 can be applied to the purchase of gear or gifts from the shop. Do you have any last minute items that still haven't been purchased for your hike? Do you feel you feel you need to replace some of the items you currently have for your hike? The $100 you pay for the Shake Down is a 100% rebate for items on our online store, or that you saw during the Shake Down available in our physical store. Even if you have an item you want to pick up that you may not have talked over (Mountain House meals, socks, water bottles, ect.), feel free to ask the staff member who does your Shake Down about it so you can take advantage of the rebate (depending on the items requested, special orders may be available). The $100 rebate is available to use for up to three days following the date of the Virtual Shake Down.

A Shake Down that costs money? Why?

Traditionally the walk-in Shake Down that happens in the shop has always been, and will continue to be, a free service. With the extension of its reach now being global, a cost will be associated with the Virtual Shake Down. The aim of the Virtual Shake Down is to make the experience a more convenient option for those who are not within a reasonable driving distance to North Georgia, while still keeping it personalize. Those who have begun to purchase gear know the high costs of quality products and may recognize that a $100 rebate to be spent on gear is an easy mark to hit when preparing for any type of hike.

What do I need in order to participate in a Virtual Shake Down?

For a Virtual Shake Down you will need a laptop or desktop computer with built in or external video camera and microphone capabilities so that we can see your existing gear, show you new gear and talk with you.

What if I don't have all of my gear yet?

No worries if you don't have your full gear set up! Simply come prepared with whatever gear you have for your hike thus far at the time of your Shake Down. We can start anywhere and the more gear you have left to buy, the easier it will be to use up your $100 rebate.

How long does a Virtual Shake Down take?

A traditional Shake Down lasts anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the hiker, their experience level, the amount of gear they have or need and how much fun we are having. No need to cut a good time short! For the Virtual Shake Down, we are setting aside a two hour window for each individual. If more time is needed, we can make special arrangements.

For any other questions feel free to contact Holly at Mountain Crossings at [email protected].

Product Specification

If you need to request a time or date that is not currently available please contact us at [email protected] and we will gladly work with your schedule to find the time that works best for you.

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