Mt. Rogers II, a trip report

“Ol Tight Wad Bob and I made it up to Greyson Highlands SP around 1:30 on Friday to set up the "meeting" camp. Weather was clear, cool and gorgeous. Unfortunately they had a ban on campfires in the park. Drag.

There was only one tent set up in the entire park but it wasn't a TTer. We waited, and waited, and waited. A car passed us several times like they were looking for some one but never stopped. Finally around 4:30 jerbear, Evergreen with Buddy and Om all pulled up at the same time. There was much hugging and shouting. The car that passed us turned out to be Bpbaby. She bagged her plans for the Grand Canyon and came to VA to meet us instead. She didn't know what vehicles to look for and was too stubborn to stop and ask if we was her TTers;-)

Mozark, Mather and family showed up a bit later. Great kids! That little Lizard is a real cutie, even without her head (picture to come). Baume66, running girl and Boy were next in to camp. Last but not least to show were some new folks, Ina and Phil.

We looked at maps and socialized around our makeshift campfire (candles). We also consumed an entire box of white chocolate covered Oreos that was kindly donated by Om.

We found out the next morning that the one other tent in the campground contained some very grumpy people that were not friendly to us oh so nice TTers. I wish sarabelle had been there to bite their stinky butts.

Hike day started sunny, turned cloudy, rained, turned sunny again, all before we broke camp. We decided the previous night to shuttle up to Rhododendron Gap and hike in to Mt. Rogers and then back to Massy Gap on Sunday. As we drove to Rhododendron Gap the weather turned cold and windy with a fog like I have never seen before! We couldn't see the road much less the trailhead parking! After passing it one time we finally parked and unloaded.

The first section of the hike was through open land. If you could call it open, in that fog. Om hit the nail on the head when she dubbed it the ghost trail. The air was so wet and cold it hurt to breath. We all had this almost frost like covering on out left sides by the time we hit the forest trail. I must admit that I entertained thoughts of bagging this hike through that cold wet wind. Once into the forest the wind was blocked but it remained cold and wet.

Hence begins the uphill. Jerbear called this an easy hike. We differ on what's easy. Kicked my butt for a while. At least by lunch time the sun began to shine and our wet clothes began to dry out. I was a much happier Pamster once I was dry.

Ahhh, balds at last. Came out of the woods to a great view. Nothing like it. More hiking, back into the forest but now it has changed from hardwoods to Spruce. What a smell! Back out to the balds and finally hit the trail to Mt. Rogers. Several of us split at this time. Some up to the summit others on to meet up with Rad, Jen, Ghost and HOI. They had hiked up on Friday and made camp on the Wilburn Ridge side of the wilderness area.

Those of us who came in on Saturday made camp. Except for Phil and Ina who had decided to continue on to Massy Gap and make it a day hike. The wind started to blow and the temp. to drop. It was going to be a chilly night!

We watched in amazement as a bear climbed a dead tree and shook loose some dead wood. TWB and Ghost scavenged for down wood. They made us a nice campfire and again we socialized and talked of many things. Boy kept the fire going like a champ. Om made a chocolate cake on her camp stove. Yum! Warm gooey cake on a cold blustery night. It wasn't however a late night. We were all ready to crawl into nice warm sleepy bags pretty early!

There was much socializing during breakfast and breaking camp. Interesting conversations to say the least. Let's just say that poop was just one of the topics;-)

The hike out was beautiful. I can't begin to describe the views from Wilburn Ridge. I hope some of the pictures will do it justice. Me and Bpbaby were brining up the very, very rear and rad fell back to chat with us. He opted for going over the Wilburn Ridge trail while Bpbaby and I kept to the AT (I knew better, been there, done that). When we met up with rad on the other side of the ridge he informed us that he had renamed the trail the "Oh S#*t Trail", cause that's what you say the entire way down!

The three of us came upon the infamous wild ponies, standing right in the middle of the trail. Of course we had to stop and take pictures.

Rad went off ahead of Slow (Bpbaby) and Slower (me), so we just enjoyed the company and hiked our own hike for the next mile to the trailhead. Everyone else had already unloaded their packs when we came up, but the cooler was out and there was an ice-cold beer with my name on it in Baume's cooler (thanks again guy!).

After much hugging and goodbye saying we parted ways. Another great TT hike completed. Love you guys! I had a WONDERFUL time!

The end.”

“I have to agree with rad about the Wilburn ridge trail - I dayhiked it on Sat. and even with no pack a few spots were more like non-technical rock climbing than a hiking trail. Must have been quite a bit tougher with a full pack. It was good to meet every one and good times were had by this old hog.”

“The water tastes pretty good up there don't it? Even filtered it has a wonderul taste and aroma.”

“Alright, I'm hikin' with Pam and Joyce next ECT! We can be the Sloe sisters!”

“considering how dry it had been I was pleasantly surprised at the good flow of the water from the spring up there.”

“Just wanted to say thanks for a great hike. The views were
awesome. But meeting
each of you was the
highlight of the trip.
Thanks for taking me
in and treating me like
I was one of the gang.
My only regret is
that I wasn't able to camp and watch the bears with you! And girls, if I were carrying a pack
like you, I'd been pullin' up the rear of
the Sloe sisters! That
will be me next time!
Thanks again for the
fun!”

“HJmmm..hey Bpbaby, sounds like some more recruits for the WWWW, eh?

Maybe we can all give elle a run for her money on the next one..LOL”

“Wow Pamster what a great report! I thought that fog was lovely until I tried to photograph the entire gang hiking down the trail. No luck you guys just disappeared into thick air! LOL


Did PHil and Ina ever make it out?”

“Mozark,
I'm safe and sound.
Tell Lizard her apple
came in handy and I
expect her to go with
us next time!! I'll try
to bring Meagan on the
next trip.”

“Pam forgot to mention that she hiked a full service deli up the mountain. My trip report would not be complete without mentioning that.”

“i got my scanner working and got some photos downloaded. right now i am syncing with my picture page. i'll post links in the morning. good report and great trip!”

“Great report yall. Wish I could have made it but Duty called at the house. Plus I ain't allowed to go two weekends in a row!”

“crack that whip! *pow!*”

“running girl, got the LL Bean catalogue yesterday. They don't have those cool pants like yours in the winter catalogue, bumma. Guess I'll have to wait for the spring one and hope they haven't stopped making them.

Walkingdude, the home repair stuff puts a real short leash on you doesn't it? ;-)”

“Pamster, how did you like the Tikka?”

“raddy, thanks for the link but LL isn't carring the ones I want. :-(

Ski, as to the head lamp, well uh, Honey got one for his birthday (Oct. 26) it's really cool. The one mr. jerbear bought for me somehow ended up in a tree at Shinning Rock (I think is what he told me). Since he lost the infamous Tekka he gave me a new Paltypus 1.5 liter instead. Tried it this weekend. I think I'm going to like using a hydration system:-) Guess I'll just have to steal Honey's new Tikka.”

“Oops, forgot to say...

Ina, you met the bear, you just missed seeing him shimmie up a tree and shake down dead wood:-)”

“...ended up in a tree at SRW?!? I'd love to hear that story. I gave it to him Friday night when I got to camp.”

“good report pamster....those platypi surely are oh so handy. i got a 50 buck gift certificate from ll bean...sorry to hear those britches like running girls are not available :(

moz....i thought the developers messed up my film, but it was the clouds...very thick....shots of us are ghostly....i loved it.”

“Pamster, Go to railriders.com I'll bet they have some clothes you'll like for the trail.”

“The pants were in the Outdoor Catalog--not the regular one. I will find them and let you know what they are called.”

“Pam and Om, the pants are there. I am sorry that I do not know how to link. Go to the LL Bean link of rad's. Click on Outdoor. Go to Women's Pants. They are called The Stretch Guide Pants. They are great!!!! Worth every penny. You scared me when you said they were not available.”

“Found them. Thanks running girl.”

“Here's the link to some photos.

Mount Rogers II

You don't have to come back here to get to the next page. The albums are listed on the left side of the page.

I also have some new ones in the Hog Camp Gap album from our AT trip in October and some from the Shining Rock trip.”

“More Mount Rogers.”

“Great photos! Thanks for sharing. I've got to finish up my roll of film!!!”

“Where is the shot of the bear in the tree? LOL”

“I know I got one of the bear. I haven't developed my film yet. Still working on the roll.”

“we got one of the bear in the tree but they didn't make a print of it for some reason. we took the negative back to the store and they are making a print. i'll post it when we get it.”

“Thanks for showing the pics Baume66.”