Mt Rogers

“After many years of driving past Mt Rogers and the Jefferson NF, this last weekend I finally went backpacking there and had a great time.

Friday we drove to VaTech and picked up my son and drove the rest of the way down to the Mt Rogers National Recreation Area.

We (Ben, Sally, Ellen and I)parked along Rt 603 at a trailhead around 4 PM and hiked in beautiful weather about 2 miles before setting up camp on a shelf on the western slope. There was a stream next to camp and the sunset was spectacular. The trail up the west slope was in great shape and the next morning we made it up to the summit of Mt Rogers by noon where we ate lunch. There was about 5-6 inches of snow up top. After lunch we checked out the shelter near the summit which was two story and in great shape, watered-up and set out for Rhododendron Gap at a very comfortable pace.

We'll have to go back here in late May to see the rhodos bloom. What a sight that must be.

We reconnected with the AT by the Pine Mtn Trail ( along which we saw wild ponies) and then stayed the night in the Orchard Shelter which was fine. We met some nice folks from Wake Forest up on the top. Ben got a huge fire going and an owl came round that night. Skies clouded over but the rains held off til morning for an easy hike back to the truck. As soon as I get my pix back on CD and I figure that out I'll post them.”

“That is a very cool place up there. WOW 5 inches of snow on top, the weather there is kinda bizarre, doesn't seem to belong in Southern Virginia.”

“Very cool!

To bad you guys didn't get the kinda weather Pennsy and Company got in November.......NOT!”

“Mt. Rogers is a mountain that I really want to hike. There is a TT hike there in October. Can't wait.”

“You got that right Marko. I've been there twice and both times the weather was deplorable. Thurs, I'll be driving past that area on rt81 on my way to Nashville. 10 to 1 the weather will be perfect because I won't be hiking there.”

“Pennsy, that's a sure thing!

Nashville?”

“Yepper, gonna see Walkindude and his band rock the house, do a bit of hiking, and hang with some crazy Nashvillians.”

“damn. Not in Nashville anymore. Sounds like a fun time.”