Grayson Highland Trip Report

“Took me a while to figure out what to do this weekend, but I finally decided to show my neighbor Alma a good time on her first backpacking trip. We decided to take a trip to the Grayson Highland Area. Heard the weather suppose to be good and I thought it would be a good way to show her the area in case they want to do this trip with the boy scouts later this year. I also thought that this was a nice beginner trip as the trails aren’t really that difficult. Rocky once in a while, but not really that difficult.

Anyway, I gave her a backpack, sleeping bag, water bladder, ground sheet, sleeping pad and a tent to use for this trip. Food, clothing, etc…was of course up to her. We left Saturday morning around 5 o’clock and arrived at the Grayson Highland’s backpacker parking lot…when? I think around 9:30 AM or so. We repacked our packs and, and hit the trails right away. Had to listen a couple times how heavy Alma’s pack was…LOL. It really wasn’t as heavy; I think her pack MAYBE weight about 30 lbs or so, maybe less. I know it was a little bit lighter then mine. Told her it’s all part of backpacking, better get used to it or start investing lots of money in ultra light gear.

Weather was beautiful. I mean we could’ve not been luckier. Blue sky, light breeze and mid 70’s later on that day. Awesome weather!!

I noticed right away that it was busier then usual. Lot’s of backpackers out there that day. We found out later that most of them were boy scouts or youth groups.

Not even one mile up the first hill we already saw the first pony and her brand new baby. I don’t think it was older then one day. A little later we even found some left over snow. Temperatures must’ve just changed recently.

I have pictures of the trip on my webshots album:

http://community.webshots.com/album/135436840ZJTgam

We pretty much hiked the first 10 miles the same day, then camped around 4 miles from massy gap near a clean and fenced in water source.

I then realized that I gave Alma the tent, but forgot to pack her tent poles. Oh boy…thank god for bonji cords. (sp?). I used strings and those cords to keep the tent up. (see pictures)

I made my very first fire without help from others and without a problem. Alma will need to learn to not just sit there when the fire is about to die and her backpacking partner is going to look for the potty…. LOL

Grilled some hotdogs over the fire. Yummy!! Best when almost burned.
Met a lot of backpackers. Forgot their names, but we did have some nice conversations.
Watched the sunset. Wasn’t the best I saw, but it was okay I guess. Stars were really out that night, and Venus was shinning brighter then any star up there. I think that was the very first time I ever saw a planet without second guessing. It was very obvious.

We went to bed pretty early, I guess around 10 PM or so. Had to wait until the fire was pretty much dead. Next morning was pretty eventless. We packed and started hiking towards the parking area around 10:30 AM. Right after we started, not even ½ mile in, that’s when the rocky terrain started. And it started to get even rockier later on. Opps, I then found out that Alma really hated rocks. Those who hiked Grayson before know that about 2 miles before Massy Gap it starts to become really REALLY rocky. This is actually my favorite part of the whole trail, but not everyone likes it as much as me. 

All together this was a fun trip. My neighbor Alma admitted though that she did have fun and enjoyed the trip. Made me feel better as I was worried that I may had pushed her a little bit too much. While waiting for her I did watch her expression on her face, and she wasn’t happy when she had to climb over another rock formation.”

“The wild ponies looked tame. You had some great visibilities, and you overcame the absence of tent pole (been there, done that). A great trip, and you made me wish I was there with you.”

“Nice trip report. Funny forgetting the tent poles!”

“Took me a while to figure out what to do this weekend, but I finally decided to show my neighbor Alma a good time on her first backpacking trip. We decided to take a trip to the Grayson Highland Area

you shoulda came to harriman with us,.. it was the best time”

“thanks :)

yeah, forgetting those tent poles was something else. but guess what? we packed the tent stakes twice. LOL

I am still deleting some double pics and adding captions to the album. It always takes a while for webshot to show it though.”

“yeah scorchfire...I looked at it and thought about it for a while...but I guess I thought about it too long. Hate when I do that. I still had fun though. Grayson is awesome.

Not sure when I'm gonna be back though. I kind a know it by heart now. LOL.”

“Glad you guys had a beautiful day! I went closer to home hit Hot springs section... I can't even look at your photos till I get home..dang it. My school blocked webshots the end of last month.
oh by the way it's bungee..smiles love that German accent!
Rox”

“So, ya dragged your poor neighbor through hell?

Way to go with the fire, Gemini.”

“Sounds like fun, Gemini! I know when I took my friend on the trip just overnight 2 weeks ago, I wondered if she'd like it. Was this gal a pretty proficient hiker before her first trip? My friend is.”

“sounds cool Gemini, funny about the poles, but nice recovery.”

“liz, naaa, she isn't really hiking at all. I make her walk the 6.3 miles every day in the park though. (if that counts). She walks them with me now for a week. I hope she'll keep it up.

She did grandfather mtn. with me once, after that hike she cleaned out the garage to hide her car. LOL

I am not sure if she'll ever like it as much as we do.”

“Some people just don't get it...don't catch the hiking bug. That's OK.....keep 'em out of the woods.”

“The hiking bug is either part of you or it's not...
I think it's funny she hid her car...are you serious??”

“Gem, nice report. 5 AM is your favorite time of the day, isn't it?

Trying to get the pics, but webshots is being a pain in the butt today...”

“Yeah Treebeard, I guess we were lucky she only got us up at 6 AM at the Mapleleaf.”

“I'm surprised she didn't castrate you for not having coffee ready for her at 5:30 AM!”

“lol!! yupp, 5 is my "get-up-to-hike-time"

Rox... naaa, I was kidding, but I didn't see her for at least 4 or 5 month though after that. She started to clean out the garage a couple of month ago. we where kidding about it while talking on the campfire.”

“kewl beans, YOU are a tough cookie. Heh, wheres my coffee filter? LOL Keep on keepin on! Yo bear!come on over to mammmoth cave KY this week end!see trip page.”

“Thanks for the trip report !!”

“Excellent photos. Really well done. 8)

It's so nice to sort of step into the mind of the person taking the photos. To get a sense of the experience and see what you saw. Thanks for putting together your report and photos.

You should put together your own website. It would be stunning, I'm sure.

So, when are you going to join us on a backpack in the Sierra?”

“Those are nice pictures Gemini. I recognized that Pine Mtn sign. My kids and I were right there and took a picture the week before.

Thanks.”

“tekdude: tss, if it would go after me, I would be out west in september or august, but I have kids that go to school. I hope I'll make it this year, but I am not so sure. Would be coold though.

Yupp, my own website... was thinking aobut that one too, but then I have more work on the web. Not sure if I want to deal with that.


JO: LOL Hope you had the same weather then me. Did you still have the snow?”

“Gawd.... not another Morning Person! LOL”

“I am NOT a morning person. Only when I know I go hiking/backpacking then I get my butt out of bed. All the other time: better don't talk to me before my cup of coffee.

Jerbear: yupp, sorry I brought your filter then I forgot to give it to you. oh well, you got this cool msr filter anyway. much better then the one i have.

i don't think i'll make it to the mammmoth cave KY hike. hahaha, that's the place I took my sis, and I got her pukeing on camera.”

“Please post pictures!!!”

“i'll have to find and scan them. give me a day or 2”

“I'll make you some coffee that'll make your eyebrows grow back!”

“found it, scanned it, and uploaded it. now I'll have to wait for webshots. it talkes them 1/2 hour...i'll post the link as soon as it's up and running.”

“this is ala, i just had to change my account because i forgot my other password”

“who is ala??”

“while running I remembered who ala is. It's Bama's little son, isn't it? :) Stuff that run's through your head while running...

anyway, took webshots hours to finally display my sister:
My sister Nadja not feeling too great

too bad that she already hurled on our way up to KY, so the chuncky stuff is gone. LOL”

“I bet she loves that picture Gemini.

The weather was great and there was a little snow on the ground in spots, esp up on Mt Rogers.”