mount rogers, va - november 2003

“7 fersurs and 8 maybes, yall got room for 1 more?”

“there'e always room for one more. it's a big mountain.”

“Can I still go even if I don't snore?”

“May not be able to do this one after all. Spewy might be taking me to Baltimore with her for a conference.”

“Anyone going to be driving by the Tri-Cities airport late Friday and returning Sunday?

I've learned I can fly with my equipment and if someone can get me to the trailhead and back I might can make it, or if anyone else is flying in maybe we can split the cost of a rental car.”

“What airport?”

“Fritz - Johnson City, TN
The airport is about 3 miles off the interstate.
I think that's the closest airport to the trail. Don't really know.”

“Stove, I can pick you up when the time comes. I live in Damascus, 45 minutes from the airport.”

“How close is Damascus to Mt. Rogers?”

“Lone Wolf - Thanks, I may just take you up on that kind offer.
That is a pretty good ways out of your way. My preference would be to share a rental car with someone, that way I don't bother anyone else.”

“SS - I'm a big time maybe at this point. If I was a definite then I'd pick you up. I'll be going through there on the way.

I'm trying to decide between doing this trip and trying to do half of the Pinhoti. I would love to do Mt. Rogers, but having a long hike 1 hr from home is appealing too. It will likely be Oct before I really decide, so no help there.”

“Damascus is about 20 miles from Mt. Rogers. And StoveStomper I don't mind picking up hiker trash. I do it all the time.”

“I was asking because a really hot, cool girl i know just moved down there, and she backpacks every once in a while. I was thinking about inviting her. Thanks for the feedback!”

“stove, I have to come up that way to get there so I can swing by and get you.”

“Stove, you will have to ride in the backseat with walkindude..Yam will be up front with me :)”

“yam ain't that big. Someone can squeeze in front.”

“squeeze what in front of whom?”

“Well heck, If there is not enough room, I guess I could make the sacrifice and let Yam sit in my lap. She's pretty small. ;)

What time of day would you guys be passing Johnson City? and returning?”

“Y'all be careful or you're gonna get...


<snicker>


a yam sandwich!


lololololol.......”

“GEEZ!! Don't I get a say as to where I sit, guys?? :-)


Hey EWKER!!
What day are you thinking of heading over there?? What days you planning on taking off?”

“yo Ewker - you need to polish up your durty old man image or maybe your Titanium Ice Axe”

“right now I am planning on leaving Friday (14th) morning. I think last yr I left so I would arrive when everyone else did. If I remember correctly it is a 6 hr drive up. I need to go back and look at the old thread to see.”

“ok ewker.
any idea when you'd be returning to nashvegas??
(questions, questions)”

“sunday after the hike is over”

“Yam - does this mean you are NOT picking me up in Pa? If you go with Ewker, beware of his shortcuts.”

“I am still trying to work out plans so I can go on this trip.


Fingers crossed!!!!


8)”

“Can I ride with you and Ewker?”

“walkindude, I thought you were riding with me”

“I am. I'm just pickin' on Yam.”

“gahhhhhhhh!!! you guys crack me up!

pennsy--i haven't confirmed any plans yet. you know, it's good to have options. :-)

walkindude--it'll be so much fun to hike w/ you again! woohoo!! winter backpacking is just around the corner!!!”

“marion, va - november 14-16:

average hi - 58 f
average lo - 31 f
record hi - 75 f
record lo - 8 f

last year was probably close to average but with mucho moisture.

plan accordingly.”

“after last yrs weather you know I will be checking out the forecast.

baume66, you dried out yet from the Smokies trip”

“hey baume, i did a nice loop there in late july - great weather, right at the start of a cool front...the signs were still up re the stolen vehicles - and from talking to folks up and down the line the perps were still at large.
I parked in the campground for 3-4$ a day and talked her into 24 hour increments - they lock it at night. It is only a mile or so from cliffside, and the mt rogers trail dumps right into the cg, so there's a cool loop trip right there.
seems they were targeting the high end suv''s...”

“I got nothing to worry about then. My old Ranger wouldn't even get a second look.”

“thanks for the update tombonehikes. we hiked a part of that loop last year. are you going to come and join us in november?

everyone, we can either park at the campground (or trailhead if you prefer) or at the grayson highlands state park. if we park at grayson, it will probably be the wise shelter area for night #1. if we chose the campground/trailhead option, it will be the old orchard shelter area (this can also be reached from grayson highlands s.p. in a day) like last year. either way, we can get a loop on the AT that will include the scales area and wilburn ridge. night two will be either around the thomas knob shelter like last year (no campfires and no tents in the immediate shelter area), or somewhere in the rhododendrun gap area.

i'm kinda leaning for wanting to stay around old orchard shelter area for night #1 but i'm fine with the consensus.

what say ye all?”

“I'm just going along for the walk. Whatever you wanna do man.”

“go with last yrs original plan since it got altered because of the weather. The camp ground isn't that far down the road to the trail head is it. I liked the Old Orchard Shelter area.”

“We won't be making this one:o( TWB has a mandatory convention to attend and it turns out that it is the same weekend as a fundraising event that I volunteered to work. Keep me in the loop for the SE walks.”

“I'm out too. I need to stick close to home for my last trip of the year.”

“I'd say go with your original plan baume. My car is new and I'd be hesitant to park at the trailhead, but like last year, I'll most likely park somewhere else and hike to Old Orchard.

That was a great campsite, and maybe fivelitres will show up again.”

“We may be back on for this one. I think Angie is gonna skip the conference in Baltimore.
Cabin rental info anyone?”

“lol”

“try looking in Damascus, currahee. There's gotta be something, it's a beautiful area.”

“usually balmy, but possible snow ice up high..i wouldn't want to have to drive out of grayson highlands and go either direction on 58 if frozen precip descends upon the highlands. 603 would be the lowest and least icy route. i'll pencil it in...nothing on the calendar yet on that weekend. Of course the girldogg would be with me - speak up if a proven vet woods canine would interfere...she lives outdoors off the leash 24/7 here in the foothills in the shadow of gsmnp...”

“I'd love to join you again this year but alas my old body will be recovering from back surgery along about then.”

“sorry to hear that bs, it would be good to see you again. i made some of those power muffins you posted for my hike in the smokies a couple weeks ago. them is gooooood.

tombonehikes, i don't have a problem with well mannered traildogs. as long as its name isn't daks, everything will be fine. hope you can make it.”

“Yea baume, just last week I was talking to my wife about getting a dehydrator so I could dehydrate some of them pineapples like you had last trip. Them was gooooood.
Glad you liked the muffins.
Hate I'm missing the trip.
The worst thing about the surgery is that for a month I have to stay home. I can only stand or lay down. Can't sit. No riding or driving. Stuck at home. Bummer.”

“A walk in the wild woods of Mirkwood...might be managable, it might, see we shall.”

“527 miles, 8.5 hours to Abingdon, then an hour to the TH? anyone know how long it is from Abingdon.

If I do this, then, I will have 1 seat open for someone who might be along the way. I will go via Nashville on HWY 40 up to 81, sheesh...I might as well go to the outerbanks for the weekend...this';ll be half way. definetly the furthest that I'll have driven for a weekend...but, to see a friend, no worries.

I'd like to bring "he who shall remain nameless" if thats ok.”

“Is this trip on?”