mount rogers, va - november 2003

“no email here either, guess baume66 had to work and didn't get to it”

“Sorry - didn't have time to read the whole thread - is there a specific itenary or is it the same as last year of which is posted in the first 20 of this thread. meet at orchard shelter?”

“oo - nevermind - i will just wait for the email!”

“can you email to me the maps that you sent to stratusloop? I'd like to do some studying.”

“I think there's a map of the area on a link on page three of the thread Stik.”

“allrighty then. i have been sending out emails here and there with directions to the trailhead but i have no group email list that i have been using so if i missed you, i am sorry. the only thing i have been sending in emails is directions to the parking area on VA 603.

the directions are as follows. take exit 45 off I-81 near marion, va. go south on VA 16 for 17 miles to troutdale and turn right onto VA 603. the parking area is @ 4.3 miles on your left right after you pass the fox creek horse camp on the right. hike south on the AT about 2 miles to the old orchard shelter. the trail leaves from the back of the parking area. if you are coming north on I-77, you can take US 58 west to volney and go north from there on VA 16 to VA 603 on your left. i don't know the miles from this direction. ewker came in on VA 603 from the west last year, i believe by taking US 58 east out of damascus. once again, i don't know the miles this way.

as for the itenerary, it will be the same as was posted earlier in this thread. old orchard shelter friday night. there is plenty of room for tents and such. somewhere in the rhododendron gap area saturday night. there are a ton of options to get from old orchard to rhododendron gap. anything from about 5 miles to 12 miles. you can chose however you want. i will have a map that shows all the options that you can view at the shelter friday night. if you go to the map link in my earlier post, you can print it out and have your own copy. if you have any specific questions or concerns, email me at mccracdb_1@msn.com and i will try and get back to you in a timely manner.”

“Thanks I feel better already.I asked for those days off and got no objection but I got approval either so I guess that means yes, right?”

“sounds like a yes to me. check your email spam.”

“you are talking about the backpacker parking lot for grayson highland??

sorry... I did not read all 200 messenges.”

“Doing it right now.”

“gemini, the directions i gave are for the parking area where the AT crosses VA 603, not the backpacker parking area in grayson highlands. if you park at the parking area in grayson highlands, you can take the AT spur trail (this just gets you up to the AT from massie gap) and go north on the AT when you get there. i think it is .8 miles from the parking area to the AT and a little over 7 miles on the AT to the old orchard shelter. you will pass the wise shelter shortly after you head north on the AT so don't confuse this with the old orchard shelter. the entrance for grayson highlands state park is off of US 58 between damascus and volney (closer to volney i think). either place you park, a loop hike meeting up with everybody will be possible.

i hope i haven't confused you to much.”

“naa! I am fine. I Think :D I'll use your first directions. already hiked there 2 times. I think I did the complete loop twice too, so I am familiar with the area. I'll find ya'll somewhere.”

“doppelganger is gemini????”

“i won't tell!!! LOL”

“see, I told yall, I can't hide or troll...people know because I even have an "accent" while typing...really sucks!! darn!!!”

“Well then I definitely have to make this trip to find out for myself... :-)”

“tastes good too...hehehe.”

“I don't get that one, but then I prolly have spelt it wrong.”

“speaking of taste.... hey Baume, don't forget the extra fruitcake you promised me. :o)”

“FRUITCAKE!!!! FRUITCAKE!!!! i love FRUITCAKE!!!! 10-4 bruce.”

“baume66, your fruitcake is good, be sure to bring extra :)”

“I will ditto that, Baumme!”

“Got the email baume 66,thanx, I have my route plotted and ready to go.”

“SPAM!!!!

Good to see ya on TT again!”

“isn't the trailhead on 603 between Trout Dale and Konnarock.”

“Duuude!!!!! Wussup in middle Tennesse?”

“" and i will walk five hun dred miles, and i will walk five hundred more..to be the one that".......gets a piece of baumes fruitcake!!! jai”

“Is it really that good OM..Be great to see you again..”

“ewker came in on VA 603 from the west last year, i believe by taking US 58 east out of damascus. once again, i don't know the miles this way.
baume 66
06:14:18 PM
10/27/03

ok I found my directions from last yr.
coming out of Tenn you take I-81 to the Abingdon/Damascus exit 19, take Hwy 58 to and through Damascus approx 21 miles, you will turn left on SR603 and go through Konnarock approx 1-2 miles, keep on SR603 and eventually you will come to the trailhead, it is on the right. If your not careful you will pass right by it but just a little down the road is the Fox Creek Horse Camp. You can turn around there and come back. I am not sure of the mileage from Konnarock to the trailhead. If you end up in Trout Dale you went to far.”

“Thanx fo the info Ewker.”

“My slim chance of making this trip is down to near zero now.
I've got to do testing the Fri before and be at sea the Mon after.
Yuk!”

“Sorry to hear that GGGGS are you in the USN?”

“I work at a shipyard Spam.
Glad you are back on TT.
I think I started posting right after you left.”

“Cool! I didn't leave I just got lost LOL!”

“mailbox unavailable

This is what I got when I tryed to email you.”

“I've sent in my new email addy to Matt the Webmaster so he could change it for me but he hasn't gotten around to it yet.

nchiker13@bellsouth.net”

“Lucky Me! I've just been assigned an arbitration case for November 14th. Hopefully the first campsite isn't too far from the trailhead. It looks like I'll be hiking at night! :(”

“I'm not gonna be able to swing this one either. Rats...”

“really looking forward to it.”

“Yeah - looks like I'm going to have to hike at night, or drive through the night to arrive first thing saturday.”

“Can somebody post a seperate thread for the trip itiniary? Thanks!”

“....and I can't wait to go....”

“buddha,

i'll send you an email”

“gas...hehehe...kidding...Nashville @ 9:30 -10 pm on Thursday evening. I can take 1 additional personage with me and Khatru. Lemme know. I plan on being at a trail head by 9am on Friday morn, for the entire 3 day weekend. Coolness abounds...

Baume999...you sent Stratusloop a better topo than whats up on the webshots page, could you please send that to me as well....
marclherring@hotmail.com

thanks.”

“I'm still in so far. Unless my neighbor finds a job before then. (THEN I'm in trouble)”

“i don't think your hotmail will allow a file of that size. it is the same maps that are on my fototime page. go to the map and click on the picture, it will open to the full size image. the one i emailed to stratusloop is also on my fototime page in an album labeled maps. it is almost identical to the other one but has the massie gap parking area on it. if you want me to email you a copy, send me an address that will take a large file. mccracdb_1@msn.com”

“I'm still in..Can't wait..Baume do you know who sells the map so I can call them to buy one? I know how to get to the trailhead but would like to know all the trail options..thanks”

“i got mine at blue ridge mountain sports. it is the national geographic trails illustrated map #786. Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.”

“I picked up that one too. Looks to have pretty good detail on the area we go to.”

“Where is Blue Ridge Mt.Sports?Would I be able to get one when we arrive on Friday?I like that map, when I enlarged it ,it was great but of course I couldn't print it that big..”