Rockytop/Big Run Loop

“Alright, here it is. This hike will have awsome views, fall color, camping along the river. It should also be good conditioning for the Black Mountain Crest. Who's coming?”

“count me in!”

“Great loop. There are talus slides along the ridgeline that offer fantastic views. Big Run is a very nice stream. Have fun.”

“Geobeet - come along, if you can't hike we'll try to get Y2 to carry you.”

“Here are some pics from that area to get everyone stoked for this trip. This is what the scenery is like in that area, including the slides.

Come along Geo.”

“rockeytop by string cheese it is a good song!!”

“i'm in!”

“Gemini, you are such a rebel!!”

“mark: a rebel on PMS. lololololo

I know you ment it ironicly though, butthead. lol

not a rebel...only trying to get my ass out there.”

“That could be two weekends in a row, wild child!!”

“MarkO - you need two weekends out in a row as well, so join up.”

“I work Sundays, dude.

I gotta beg for the seventeenth.......

But I sure would like to see a bear bite Gemini in the ass ;^]”

“If I can garauntee that will you skip work? :)”

“Can't make this one. I can't take a chance on re-infecting my leg.”

“hey, hey, hey....”

“Hee, hee, hee ! ! !”

“bump”

“If I come, can I bring my doggie along? Shes really good, I promise.”

“Carry?????? drag possibly ;o)”

“C'mon ynami, where's that British determination????”

“That's fine Embear, just remember that dogs must be on a leash at all times in the park.”

“Y2 needs to sign up for this trip”

“okay, what's the closest city? Trying to mapquest it.”

“Waynesboro, VA”

“thanks, okay, that's doable. 366 miles for me.
we discuss meeting spots later this week? or are we all gonna hike in seperate?”

“ok, but when tf is Columbus Day?”

“ok, I can do this I think. Bison, can I grab a ride with you?”

“lol, glad I wasn't the only one that had no clue about columbus day.”

“I'll have to get the maps out and figure out if I've done this route before.”

“Y2 - Yeah, I can drive into town and pick you up if you like.”

“Well that sounds great, or I can get metro out to the end of the Orange line or something, depends what time we leave I guess.”

“how do we get the details, where do we meet, when, etc?”

“Shhh. It's all a secret :)

OK I should probably post such information shouldn't I.

Who are you anyway? Are you a troll?”

“lol@bison.
did you just ASK him/her if he's/she's a troll??”

“Shembala, since you are new you should post an "I'm new" thread so that you can be accused of trolldom and take your lumps like the rest of us. BTW fill out your profile.”

“Of course I asked, what do you expect me not to be suspicious? This is TT after all.”

“Alright, meeting time and place are posted. Meet Saturday morning 9am at Brown's Gap parking area on skyline drive, mile 83. What else does anyone need to know?
The hike is detailed in "Day and Overnight Hikes in Shenandoah National Park" by Johnny Molloy. The PATC's Shenandoah South District map covers the hike. This hike is endorsed by Geobeet, EarthNSky and Myself as an awsome hike.”

“did you just ASK him/her if he's/she's a troll??"

Gemini
09:49:41 PM
09/27/04

How do you know it's a he or a she? ::)”

“This hike is endorsed by EarthNSky as an awsome hike.

what more do you need to know?

My endorsements can be taken to the bank!!”

“Here is a trip report I found online:

"Rockytop - From Browns Gap, we made our way to the Rockytop Trail, where we hiked along the ridgeline for several miles. We (Bill, Scott, Katie, and me) dropped our packs for a side trip to Lewis Peak, which was awesome. A great view, 360 degrees. The trail was a little steep in spots, but well worth it. The Rockytop Trail provided us with an almost constant view along the entire length, with views into the valleys on either side (thanks to no foliage at this time of year). This part wasn't particularly difficult in terms of elevation change, but the footing was very rocky and tricky. The descent to Big Run was steep and difficult. We camped near the intersection of the Big Run - Portal Trail and the Brown Mtn. Trail. On Sunday we followed the Big Run - Portal Trail, which crossed Big Run several times. The last leg along the Big Run Loop Trail is fairly steep and challenging at the end, gaining about 1000 ft. in 1.5 miles. I managed to scare some grouse from their hiding spot in the brush. By the time we reached the top, the rain was replaced with an icy fog. Katie did an excellent job again making sure that we kept the pace along the trail. Some photos.
Elevation change: 2440 ft. Top elevation: 2836 ft.
Weather: Despite miserable forecasts, and overcast skies in the beginning, the first day wound up being warm (60's) with some sun by the late afternoon. The second day was a steady 40 degree rain, with temperatures falling as we climbed. Temp was around freezing at the top.
Maps: PATC Circuit Hikes in SNP, Hike No. 25.
Difficulty: It's not easy, but I've done harder - maybe I was expecting worse
Total Distance: 16 mi.
Grade: 9 (better weather the second day would have been nice)"”

“Rockytop, youll always be
home sweet home to me.....

oops. wrong Rockytop.

So I'm gonna be driving up on Friday and car camping somewhere close by. Any suggestions as to where I could do that? Gaby, are you gonna do that too?”

“I was figuring you and Gemini would want to camp that night, I'll do some research.”

“ok. I looked on SNP website and found that Lewis Campground is close by (I'm assuming it is near Lewis Mtn). I dont have a map yet, so can anyone verify this?”

“Lewis Campground? haven't heard of it. The Loft Mountain campground is nearby. The problem with the Park campgrounds is there most likely gonna be full that weekend.”

“yeah, that would be cool. sure as heck not gonna get up early saturday to drive up there.

lemme know...”

“weeellll eexxxxccccuuusssseeee ME!

that's a fine how do ya do! Trollism hurts trolls by the way. Anyway, I filled out your bleedin profile, and I'm definitely planning on spending Friday night out there, so count me in on the planning ahead.”

“Embear, you could camp in the park itself. Lots of campsites, if you get there fairly early there shouldn't be any trouble getting a space at this time of year.”

“you could camp in one of the sites in the southern section and then have a nice moring drive up Skyline in the morning.”

“That's the opposite of what I was sayin' Y2. I expect that the campgrounds in the park will be full, it's a holiday weekend, and fall color is the peak time for skyline drive, I don't think they will be able to get a spot in the park.”

“http://www.nps.gov/shen/home.htm
Oh yeah, that Columbus day thing. Although I don't think that's observed in VA too much is it?

There's one quiet camp site which is first come first served I think - lemme see.”