Rockytop/Big Run Loop

“leaving DC area around noon in case anyone needs a ride, should be getting there also around 3pm - did we decide where we are meeting up (fri)?”

“started day hiking last year, and backpacking this year

my wife doesn't like hiking, but worries because i go solo. my job requires my to change my plans often, and my friends/family that hike live far away”

“You're welcome to come along, The meeting place and time for Saturday morning is posted, I'll post the meeting place and time for those arriving Friday night tommorow. We're gonna have to be pretty well spread out along Big run with this many people.”

“I am ?able for this trip right now. I'm sick with the flue :(. I am hoping to get better soon. If I can't make it I still should be ready for the Black Mtn trip because of the royal butt kicking I received in the Adks.”

“Man that sucks, I've heard of the flu but the "flue" must be much worse. You should be fine by Friday though, if not just take a whole crapload of pain relievers and head on down.”

“I knew someone was going to spell check me. lol

this past weekend in the Adks my sleeping bag and clothes got completely soaked. I couldn't keep my pack cover on during the hike. I slept outside my sleeping bag and wrapped up in my tent's rain fly (I was planning to use my rain fly as a tarp) and slept in the leanto. Needless to say it was a very cold night and I think it got me sick.”

“Garbage Disposal Bags :)”

“putting those on my shopping list as I type.”

“ENS...are you saying that you CANCEL a trip??


naa,I prolly didn't read that correctly. ENS wouldn't cancel a trip.

cold or wet weather don't make you sick I thought. I think only virus/bacteria is what gives you the flu/cold?”

“The cold/wet makes you more susceptible to the virus. If ENS does show up make sure he doesn't cough on you :)Anyways at the rate we're going with people signing up for this trip we'll probably have a doctor sign up.”

“A trip to Shenandoah? Alas, I cannot go hiking this weekend. Damn you all!

I was actually thinking about doing Rocky Top on Halloween weekend, since Mt Rogers is just a tad too far for an overnighter (stuck at the office that Friday) :(”

“I thought you were thinking about hiking Old Rag Mountain on Halloween weekend.”

“Sorry bout your flu ENS. I had it a couple weeks ago and I STILL am not 100%! Lots and lots o nyquil will make you feel better:)”

“we'll have to see. I'd really like to go. Besides being sick, life is a little crazy right now with the move to PA and all, money is getting low. I may need to spend a weekend off of the trail in order to be able to make it to NC for the BMCT buttkicker.”

“where do I get one of those "secret decoder rings"? Plus, remember "the Christmas Story"? when he finally gets his ring, the message revealed is "be sure to drink your ovaltine". I no longer trust "secret decoder rings".

should I go on this trip, I will show up bright and early Saturday morning.”

“Hey folks, I'm the overseer for RipRap and Big Run Loop Trail South. There is water close to the parking lot at Brown's Gap, mp83. If you walk from the parking lot, down Madison Run Fire Road towards the Madison Run Spur Trail/Portal trail, there is water on the right side of the road before you reach the trail. Easy walk, takes only 5 or 10 minutes. I was just up there last weekend.

Y'all are probably planning on following the AT(.6) to Big Run Loop South(.7)to the intersection of the Portal/Madison Spur/Austin Mt./RockyTop trails but you can loop around from where the water is too. Have a great time!”

“Thanks RipRap!

Ok, so I am debating whether or not I should bring Princess Layla. It is such a long trip in the car, and I usually only like to take her on trips with very few people. She likes to be in front of a group at all times, and that makes it hard to keep her on a leash (I end up being pulled and pushed, sometimes on dangerous ridges).I'm assuming they are very strict about their leash laws here because its a National Park? Soooooo, I may kennel her. Boohoo.”

“you can leave her in Bison's car :o)”

“Naw, you can put her in Y2's pack.”

“I may have to make this a day hike on Sat. My daughter decided to come home from Va Tech, and I will have to drive her back on Sunday.”

“She'd love that! Y2's pack, I mean. She really likes men:)”

“Oh Y2, forgot to mention: she is 80lbs lol!”

“Creek Dancer - You could easily make this a long dayhike, you can make the hike about 13 miles.”

“As long as you don't try to get in their with her Embear.”

“Can you trade her in for a Yorkie or something?”

“Ok, that's what I will do then.

This is the peak weekend for autumn colors! It's also the first day of bow hunting season. We'll be on the edge of the park boundary, so do you think we need to wear some blaze orange?

Or maybe we could just get you to wear a pumpkin on your head. lol”

“Bison will wear his trusty pumpkin outfit that he recently bought at REI. That should do the trick.”

“Ultralight gourds huh?”

“I don't know, EnS moves out of DC and becomes a wuss withing a couple of weeks. ;o)”

“it's reflective too and will reflect its orangeness on us and thus reduce the risk of being taken out by poachers posing as hunters accidently crossing the park boundry.”

“I don't know, EnS moves out of DC and becomes a wuss withing a couple of weeks. ;o)"
Y2
03:42:31 PM
10/05/04

no way, I just seriously got my butt kicked in the Adks.”

“Counting down .... yay! I really looking forward to getting out on this one. Anyone know what the firewood situation is at the camp site, should we try to bring some with us?”

“At the campground Y2? I don't know, there is a campstore that I would assume has firewood assuming we're able to get campsites for Friday night. No fires allowed in the backcountry.”

“Y2, my daddyo has a huge stack in the backyard. I think I can smuggle a few logs in my trunk:)

Yeah, I'm really ready for this trip too. Havent been out since early September. Not ready for the drive though.”

“Good thing I'm not going. I don't think ynami could fit the dog and me both in his pack.”

“I'd need some notice to train for that I think Geo...errr Ghoul....
With the firewood, it may be worth bringing some I guess. I've not seen wood for sale, but I've never stayed at one of the cap sites. I imagine all the fallen stuff is scavenged pretty quickly at a huge site like that. Would be a bummer to have great fire ring there Friday nigth and no firewood though. I guess we could head off a little and get some though.”

“Yeah, if it's not there we can make a quick trip to get some.”

“good chance I'll make this trip now. I'm starting to feel better.”

“I told you that snortin' habanero sauce would clear that "flue" right up.”

“no more sticking my head up a chimney.. lernt me lesson and learned it good. :)”

“Yay ENS! So are fires allowed in the backcountry, or is Friday night gonna be our only opportunity?”

“yeah, no fires in the park proper, but there are fire rings at the campsites for Friday night.”

“Assuming we can get campsites. Let's set a meeting time of 6:30 pm Friday at the Rocktop overlook, just in case someone can't get in touch with the others via phone. We'll figure out whether or not we have campsites and if not we'll figure out someplace to camp for the night.”

“I know my phone doens't work in the park.”

“Sounds good to me. Is rocktop overlook close to Loft campground?

6:30 pm it is. woooohoooo!”

“Yeah it's about a mile and a half North of the campground.”

“looks like the weather will be awesome this weekend.”

“are there any steep down hills or up hills on this trip or can I expect it to be like the Brown Mtn loop? My knee is still sore from the ADKs.”

“i'm almost sure I won't be able to make it fri at 6:30. bit early for me . UNLESS hubby comes home early from work and is home when the kids get home. they have a half a day of school friday.

anyway, if I don't see you all friday, i'll see you sat day for sure. yeah!!!

i am so ready to get my butt out.”

“well I think Bison said his phone works up there Gem, so you can let him know.”