mount rogers, the odyssey continues

“Ok, I am in as a "maybe". Looks like fun.”

“I cannot believe that only one person has posted this thread since I did.I know that I haven't been around lately but I just am not much of a summertime hiker can't wait for colder weather.Really looking forward to this hike and it looks like I'm gonna meet alot of new faces.Baume66 ya bringin the the banger?”

“hoddy Spam - it will be good to see you again - will your daughter join us also?”

“yes, i'll probably bring the banjer along.

this will be my first hike since .... well, i can't really remember. maybe since the north mountain trip. it's been a while anyway.

anyone have preferences to the campsites? old orchard or wise first night? elk garden could be an option. there are spots in the trees right at the elk garden parking area. if we're there early on friday (i will be)and chose elk garden, we could hike up to whitetop and buzzard rock then back down to the parking area. saturday up to rhodo gap/wilburn ridge area? thomas knob? the boulder field south of thomas knob? there is a spring in the boulder field area i've heard tell of, but it isn't on the maps

i have no real preferences. plenty of trail to hike, sites to see.

speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

“look out, i put my halloweeny costume on.”

“Looks like I will be able to make this trip. I was in Grayson Highlands last spring and can't wait to get back. Baume, let me kwow if you want to car pool and split the gas.”

“Baume66, You mentioned hiking up to white top and buzzard rocks, There is another better view looking west at Lovers Leap rocks, unknown to many. Near Buzzard Rocks.”

“I would love to see a few new places up there but iffin you remember the old orchard shelter is used less and it had alot of firewood year before last.

HOI I think Steph will come along but iffin her grades don't pick up she isn't to be well enough to travel!!!!!
last edited: 10/12/05 7:13:35 PM”

“Holy big trip patman! Is this some kind of militia training gathering? Yinz armed? I assume there are two each..”

“two each ?


well yeah I guess - one on the right and one on the left”

“I'm still in and ready to go.

I don't have a costume yet, any suggestions?”

“light colored pants
2 photon led lites set to blink slow tucked down in your shorts and aimed outward
best viewed after dark
should be a conversation topic for the next decade of TT
last edited: 10/13/05 1:48:32 PM”

“Yes, you got the joke.”

“Ok, the only one I have met on this trip is HOI. Ya'll aren't a bunch of weirdos, are you?”

“i am maybe going on this one. Not too far for me...and it's pretty up there.

Grave dancer...they ARE all weird!!!”

“I've met about 3/4 of the group - take my word on it - they are no more weird than I am




mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha”

“As long as they are weird, I am going. Normal people scare me.

That's great Gem. I hope you do go. It will be fun to hike with you again.”

“LOL @ Hawgie.”

“I'm coming from east of Raleigh if anyone needs a ride. where is everyone meeting at Sat or Fri.”

“Is there a trip plan yet?”

“trip plan schmit plan - just let us know where to meet Friday night - we can wing it from there

mwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha”

“LOL
I'm thinking about a Sipsey trip that same weekend with the same plan, i.e., no plan.”

“Ok, where are we meeting? Hell, someone just point the way and we'll make a trip out of it.

Or we could do drops and take a trip.”

“yeah it's Baume 66's trip so it's his call right? but i'm driving in fri. after work so i need to know where we're all going to meet.”

“i'll post some stuff in the a.m.”

“Ummmmm...it's now the pm!”

“so, i lose track of time....

creek dancer, i may be heading out on wednesday of that week and get some extra days in. if i don't, you're welcome to ride along with me. i'll know by this sunday. what time could you leave on that friday?

everyone, spam is the only one who had anything to say on where to meet friday. i don't really have a preference. there are good points about all 3 i mentioned (old orchard shelter, wise shelter and elk garden). if anyone else has a preference, speak up. i'll post something definite on sunday.

anyone bringing an instrument?”

“Hey baume. I could leave around noon on Friday. It would be great if we could car pool. But I may end up driving separately so that I could drive down to watch my daughter's crew race in Tennessee on Sunday.”

“Old Orchard shelter is good and so is Elk Garden. Heck Elk Garden is 4 miles from My House and Old Orchard AT parking lot is 3 miles from my home! Sooooooooooo where we meeting Baume!”

“I think I'll make this trip.
last edited: 10/27/05 4:28:44 PM”

“I won't be able to make this trip :(”

“maybe i'll park at your house frig. hike up over white top and then down to elk garden, lol.”

“Okay. come on. By the way, White top has been very mich white and so is Mt Rogers.”

“You got a heck of a climb. One stretch looking from my home is straight up to the Towers, all rock , vertical, approx 150 ft. You da man Baume.”

“...you pick where we meet.”

“Not My Trip to pick. BUT if It was my TRIP I would meet at, OLD ORCHARD, OR ELK GARDEN,OR WISE SHELTER.,,,,,,,,,,,OR GRAYSON STATE PARK and pay a fee AND MEET AT WILBURN RIDGE or at RODO GAP , OR SCALES. Does not matter too me.”

“Iffin you want a really good FIRE at camp , anywhere along Pine Mt (Old AT trail) has plenty and I have a couple of personal camps I use that are well secluded. From Thomas Knob through Mt Rogers AT trail NO FIRES allowed. Wilburn Ridge has virtually no trees but has the best views I think. Take the Horse trail that goes from wilburn ridge
near the state park boundry to scales at
the Wilson Creek Crossing has a good camp and plemty of RODO wood to burn. HOI and I camped there this past summer. The area along the AT from Rodo Gap to Thomas Knob is limited with brush to burn,we will be picking twigs to burn unless we camp down below the spring. HOI knows this area well.

One of my personal Camps is along the old section of the AT along Pine Mt approx 1000 meters away from a spring at an elevation of approx 4500 ft looking up at Wilburn Ridge.
I have 4 other areas I use that are secluded and springs near by not on the maps.

How about Wilson Creek Wilderness? Or Lewis Fork Wilderness Trail up the MT? Plenty of wood and camps.
last edited: 10/28/05 5:16:17 PM”

“frig, i've not been over into the wilson creek wilderness area. i know it is much less visited in comparison to the rest of the area. i've always headed for wilburn ridge (for the views) on the second night of this trip. i'm all for heading out that way for night two. i'm assuming wise shetler first night would be best for access to this area. i say this because there could be late arrivals and wise is relatively easy to get to, even after dark. i guess grayson is an option with the fees.

elk garden would be simple for anyone getting in late because you park right where i've camped in the trees before. if i head down on wednesday, i may try and stop by your house for a visit before heading to the hills.”

“and another point. this is everyones trip, not mine.”

“also, good fires in secluded camps are a good thing. i know of a couple of springs on the north east side of wilburn that aren't on the map as well as one on the southwest side, but i'm not an expert on the area.”

“frig, has the vandalism (theft) to vehicles subsided in the fox creek camp area? it was a problem for the last few years.”

“is that the area where Old Orchard Shelter is? Is so last time we were there we parked at the camp grounds up the road about a mile”

“Fox Creek has a problem with Vandals, especially during Hunting Season which is now. The best place is of course at the State park. also Scales is a safe place too park but the road is rough. I know HOI parked at scales this past summer and drove a little Honda. If scales is a possibility I we could park at my home and drive my Truck to scales. The ones who have trucks can also park at scales. There is a camp ground hostess there and also alot of campers so the theft problem is none thus far. Wise shelter is only a couple miles from scales and Wilson Creek Wilderness is well,, right there at Scales.

Wise shelter is good especially for anyone wanting to park at Grayson State Park.

If you do Old Orchard shelter thenparking at the Trail Head at Fox Creek is taking a risk.

I always drive to Scales and go in, NO FEES and no theft. And plenty of different directions you can head too Like Pine Mt, Wilburn Ridge, Wise Shelter, Wilson Creek. or Little Wilsom Creek Wilderness.
last edited: 10/28/05 5:59:11 PM”

“yes, the fox creek horse camp is where we parked the first time you came down ewker.”

“scales is always a possibility. i have an expedition, so it could be used to shuttle folks from frig's house to where we decide to park.”

“Possible Plan ???? Meet at Fridges House. Drive the shuttle vehicles to Scales. From there we can go anywhere we want too. We can cover alot of ground along Pine Mt, to Rodo Gap and if anyone wanted to trekk to The summit it;s there, then camp anywhere in the area of wilburn ridge , AT to Thomas knob. Plenty of water and Views. Second day Trekk over the Wilburn Ridges down to wise shelter camp again or keep on to Wilson Creek wilderness. There are some good Views there inThe wilson Creek Wilderness area. Back track or loope back to Scales.”

“Additional Info/ From Wise shelter heading North alont the AT a trail name Bearpen Trail named after the ridge along this area. This trail#4607 goes to the Kabel Trail #4606 then to First Peak Trail # 4524. This trail heads back to scales along three peaks through the Little Wilson Creek Wilderness area.”

“The Mt Rogers area is easily acessable so if we can descide where to camp friday night the ones arriving late or parking at other areas like The state Park can find the friday night camp.

Right now the Mountain has approx 3 to 4 inches of snow, in patches only, Big patches. Seems like the North Side has more snow than the south side. Temps at night are around 28 to 34 degrees at 3,500 ft My Home, so Mt Rogers at 5000 ft and above is around 22 to 28 degrees. This is only an approxamation in the past 4 days. At this time the Mt Rogers and White Top Mt is still very much Pristine WHITE. YE HAAAAAAAAAA”

“I may take my Hilleberg "Hilton" Tent and my 3000 btu heater designed for backpacking tents. AHHHHHHHH the life. If I could only find a coffee pot that will automatically make coffee and wake me up in the morning. ,,,,,,,,”

“I have one it's named Babette. I just cant get her to go on the trail with me. SHE even makes coffee Nakid : ).”