mount rogers, va - november 2003

“I called and got the number for the state police in Marion but it is a 800 number that only works in Va. No other number is listed. Anyone in Va who can call.”

“I live in Damascus, 20 miles from the 603 parking lot. NOT a good place to park. Too many break-ins and car thefts there.”

“I PLAN ON GETTING TO THE SHELTER THE SHORT WAY... (I THINK)... 2 SOMETHING MILES THERE OFF 603 - WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES ARE THERE FOR PARKING? ANYONE KNOW?”

“Mount Rogers Outfitters will shuttle you for a fee, and allow you to park in their lighted lot in the middle of Damascus. I can't remember how much it was for the shuttle, but it wasn't too bad, given that I had a safe place to park my truck.”

“Is it car break-ins really that bad? I hear about bad spots in the Smokies, but nothing has ever happened to me? HEY AZIMUTH - ARE YOU PROGRAMMING RIGHT? IS THAT WHY YOU HAVE YOUR CAPS ON? LOL!!!!”

“oops.. i forgot the "NOW" after "RIGHT."”

“I am thinking of parking at the backpacking lot in Grayson Highlands SP again this year. - I think its about 6 miles from there to Old Orchard if one takes the horse trail up to Massies Gap, the AT south to Pine Mtn. Tr. and then AT North when Pine Mtn reconnects with the AT. I think this is the way Ghost hiked in last year.”

“when will you be starting. SL and I will be there in the am sometime on friday...We'd like to nail as much of the AT as possible, cause coming back to this place will be doubtful (too many other places to see and do in the world).”

“MRO charges $25 plus $2 per day parking. You can park at The Place(hostel)for free and I can shuttle for $5 gas.”

“I'll probably hit Grayson around 11 AM Friday as a guess - its about a 6 hour drive for me. Note however I am not 100% for sure I'm going yet but its likely.”

“Got my map..Can't wait!!”

“OK - THANKS I MAY CHECK INTO THAT MYSELF...

HM... YESSS... SMOKYGIRL...”

“I've been here fretting about where to park my car... and then I think about it and realize that it's probably safer in that car park off 603 than it is outside my house ;o)”

“i mean no- i'm not programming? i'm pulled over to the side of the road - i'm taking a break - been riding my harley all day on the parkway... i'm using my wireless palm pc...”

“not sure where I am going to park my car yet. I will have to break out the map to see where Grayson is and how you get there.

Yam & walkindude any thoughts about doing a shuttle from MRO.”

“Uh huh, Azimuth... Been riding the harley? You got your coffee cup in your hand and a pencil stuck behind your ear too? teehee!!

YnamiYnami's got a good point, imo.”

“Just got of the phone with the Park Ranger at Grayson Highlands SP and they DON'T recommend parking at the lot on RT603. The rumours are true, break-ins and theft occur often. Personally, i'm parking at the overnight AT parking lot within Grayson Highlands SP....however there is a fee.....$2 per night....and if anyone is planning to get there say Thursday late or say Friday like around 1am or so...no sleeping in the car allowed.

Yo Stikmon....showers are shut down for the season at Grayson Highlands.....

BTW.....Marion, VA weather station is projecting the following weather conditions....

FRIDAY....rain/snow...most likely if precipitation is present, we'll encounter light snowfall up on Pine Mountain, Wilburn Ridge, etc.

High 45 Low 29

SATURDAY

Sunny
High 51 Low 30

SUNDAY

Partly Cloudy
High 55 Low 30”

“I wanna hike in snow....yessss i does...let it snow let it snow, let it snow...that would be so awsomely awsome...Is scorchfire coming??? I could put my tounge on her belly button ring and get it stuck...that would be so cool...ahhahahahahahaha.”

“Mouth of Wilson weather is a little different - rain/snow friday and saturday”

“....don't put too much credance into weather forecasts....it's what it is....I suppose you could find some other weather geek in the area and you'll get a completely different story....”

“I got my map today!
Ready to go!!”

“i can call the state police if you want ewker.

i don't know where i'll park yet. if i come alone, i will probably park in massie gap and hike the AT to old orchard. if running girl and boy are with me, i will park at 603 and hike up to the shelter.

there is a campground (fairwood, i think it is called) further west on 603. it is a couple of miles, but there are trails directly from it to old orchard also. i think it was tombonehikes mentioned it somewhere on this thread. you can park there and they lock it at night or something like that.”

“"i can call the state police if you want ewker"

LOL!!!!!
I glanced at this and thought it said, "I talked to the State Police and they want Ewker".

I thought, DAMN! What did he do?!?!”

“You've got mail. Will you shuttle us? 4 people from Grayson Highlands State Park at the Massie Gap Parking lot.... to..... AT on Hwy 603? Friday right after noon?”

“You've got mail too!”

“looks like i will be coming alone. i will be parking in the grayson highlands backpacker parking area (massie gap) and hiking the AT north to old orchard shelter. i plan on getting there around 11 a.m. if anyone is interested. it will be about 8 miles the way i see it. should be able to do that in a few hours.”

“I did not get your mail, send to karofishes@aol.com. THX”

“whoooohooohoooo, I am still going...so far. :)”

“Cool, it will be great to hike with you again. Better bring them long underwear!”

“expect low temperatures to be at least mid 20's each night, maybe a little lower. old orchard shelter (first night camp)is somewhere around 4200'. rhododendron gap (second night camp) is somewhere around 5200'. you can check the weather at whitetop, va which is near the entrance for grayson highlands state park (~3600' i think) or marion, va (~2300' i think) which is near the exit off of I-81. the elevations will make a fair difference in the temperatures predicted for these two towns.”

“Stratusloop and I should be meeting up at Massie @that time. I drive a purple Rav4, Missouri plates...I'll probably be there first as I will be in Abingdon on Wed nite and be able to finish the drive in excellent time (whatever that is). The SL will show up, what type of Vehicle do you drive, we'll wait.”

“is the Grayson Highlands Park on Hwy 58.”

“ewker, yes it is on 58. it would be hard to miss the entrance.

stikmon, i sent you an email.”

“i spoke this morning to the manager of the grindstone campground on sr603....he confirms that cars have been stolen and vandalized at the sr603 public parking lot....he will allow us to park our vehicles at his facility (normally $3/night but he said that he could probably do better than that) and they have a shower facility for those of us who don't like to ride six hours home smelling like roadkill....there are trails directly from this campground to the AT and he said that it is aprroximately four miles to the old orchard shelter....if anyone has any questions, the phone number there is (276)388-3983....”

“The problem I have been having with my feet is still causing me some pain so I am thinking of just hiking up to Rhododendron Gap from Grayson SP on Friday and hanging out there/dayhiking for Saturday. I'll probably camp down below the spring where I camped two years ago.”

“Grindstone Campground sounds like a good idea. I've got a pretty nice system in my truck and it would be too tempting for a thief not to go for it.”

“Sorry I still haven't recieved your e-mail. Please try again or post here. I check both twice a day. THX”

“hoi, if you stay in rhododendron gap both nights, i will head down near the spring looking for you so you'll know where the group is.”

“I tried another e-mail. Did you get it?”

“sorry I haven't gotten anything from u yet, just post it here if u want. Anyone know if I can use my hammock at Mount Rogers or should I bother taking it. I here it is full of balds, that is NO TREES.”

“"looks like i will be coming alone
baume 66
05:05:59 PM
11/08/03"


Why......?”

“thanks for posting this info. It looks like I will park my car there and hike up to the Old Orchard Shelter tta way. Is this campgound before or after the trailhead to the Shelter”

“thanks for posting this info. It looks like I will park my car there and hike up to the Old Orchard Shelter that way. Is this campgound before or after the trailhead to the Shelter”

“I can shuttle y'all for $15. It's about a 60 mile round trip for me on winding, curvy roads. Let me know where and when to meet in Damascus on Friday. The only place you would have trouble with a hammock is at Thomas Knob shelter. There is an excellent campsite less than a mile north of that shelter. Thomas Knob sucks.”

“If it's gonna be as cool as they say then a Hammock is the WRONG thing to do. Remember, Bridges and Overpasses freeze up first. You'll be warmer on the ground.”

“hoi will be using a hammock. it will be cold in a hammock. there are plenty of trees for hammocking.

om, the weather report.”

“it looks like quite a few people are going to park at Massie Gap and hike over to the Old Orchard Shelter, how does that effect the trip itinerary that was originally planned.”

“yea - that sounds good to me too... thanks”

“who all is riding with you and what time are you leaving Friday.
Walkindude and Yam are riding with me but we havent discussed what time or where to meet at yet. Can't meet at my house, due to problems!
I think I am going to leave my car at the grindstone campgrounds and hike in that way, at least we can do a complete loop of the area.
You might want to stay there and just meet up with us Friday afternoon plus we can all hike out Sun at the same time.”

“BTW I found the campgrounds on the map last night and it is before the trailhead. There is the Fairwood Valley Trail that looks like it leaves the campground and ends at the AT crossing 603. The map says it is an easy trail, no blazes but only 2 miles long, then it is 2 miles from the trailhead to the shelter.”