Trip Report/Mt Rogers

“Friday morning my daughter Stephany and I packed the last of our gear and hit the road to Virginia. It rained very hard the whole 4 hour trip.When we got to the trailhead the rain had let up somewhat and we haeded for the Old Orchard shelter.We arrived at the shelter at about 1:30 pm and were greated by Refrigerator,HOI and a couple of guys from Canton Ohio.Fridge and HOI already had a campfire going and were working on the firewood.A little later JB showed up and shortly afterwards Gemini and Lonewolf came strolling in.We had a great social gathering around the fire and were joined by 4 thru hikers.A very nice couple from I think CT,a young man named Moat and a guy doing the trail for the third time with two new hip replacements called The Can Do Man.We had and shared our different Dinner concoctions and passed around a few different kinds of spirits...some of them homemade.Later we bedded down for the night and Sticks came in. Now I forgot to mention that earlier when putting up our tents one of my poles snapped but all was okay because my teenager wanted her own tent for this trip and had brought a solo tent. Both were hoop tents one a solo and one a two person. Luckily the small hoop on my tent was the one that snapped and the large pole on Stephanys fit my tent so we had one tent that we could both sleep in.Now I had never used this tent before and later that night a heavy duty storm rolls in and we awaken Saturday morning litterally in a puddle of water. Both sleeping bags soaked.We had breakfast with the gang and regretfully headed back to NC with our wet fartsacks.I'm sure the rest of the trip was more interesting and hopefully one of the others can fill us in on the rest of the story.”

“Wet Fartsacks....Now that's funny! Although I'm sure it wasn't at the time...”

“What, no snow??

I guess it was rainin' all over the world.
last edited: 4/23/06 11:28:27 AM”

“I laughed my rear off on this one. Yep we had the rain and it rained and it rained even more. When I arrived at Old orchard shelter HOI was already there and a Ohio and NC guy doing a weekender. HOI had his Hammock already pitched and as soon as a break in the rain arrived HOI and I pitched a make shift Tarp over the shelter picnic table then I pitched my tent. IT never did rain anymore all evening. Spam and his daughter soon arrived then jb from Boone NC and soon afterwards LoneWolf and then who comes staggering in with him is the infamous Gemini, the party was about to start. Met a Vermont couple doing the At section carrying 10 and 12 lbs pack, and other AT through hikers.

When the rain started up sometime in the night it seemed to never stop, then when day break came so did a break in the rain.
Packed up and moved on up the trail approx 2 miles to the Pine Mt AT train junction where we turned right on Pine Mountain Trail which by the way is the old AT section that was relocated up and around Grayson Highland State Park. We treked on approx 1/2 mile to the first big open meadow to a base camp area I use several times a year with views of Mount Rogers , Wilburn Ridge, Thomas Knob, and Wilson Creek area, with fog and rain there was of course no view.

Another night set with one heck of a laugh and party, jokes and typical Trail Talk chatt, made the spring water I was drinking stronger with every laugh. We built a typical roaring fire and dried our gear and ourselves. With a break in the clouds that give way to some views. Seen no ponies on this trip.

Next Morning jb tent was blowing away and well another laugh was echoed, Gem that night asks us with her serious posture what did ABC stand for on the liquor store signage and the 3 dots, well we all kinda turned our attention to her and I mean all of us was looking at her simutanously with a brief silence with an AWWWW look then sticks told her what it was all about , heck I laughed so hard .I thought it was then over until she opened her jaws again and said quote I never did know what it mean I thought it maybe mean ABC for people who cannot read words and the 3 dots for people who cannot read at all, then I really did LMAO and so did everone else. I thought for a moment she is the only one sober and she is pulling on on us,but she did say it again she never did know what ABC stood for. Heck I am laughing now hehehehhh.

Oh well the next morning we packed up heading back down to our vehicles then unloading the packs off our backs I had to go #2hit and while in the howitzer position I herd GEM yell out in her usual way with her usual word,,,,,,, I locked MY blankety blank keys in my car, I have never laughed while doing #2 and almost peed on myself andzxzxzxxvvv on my shoes.

She was in a panic, oh what can I do .....what in the blankety blank was I thinking........ what the blankety blank is wrong with me.......I was thinking she is a real TROLL by this time........I went to my home 6 miles away, picked up some coat hangers and a metal curtain rod and well opened the car, she then calmed down.......While HOI and Lonewolf and I was trying bothsides of the doors to pull the latch she must have pranced all around blankety blank like she had too pee herself, she was and is too funny and I know all you TTer's who have hiked with her knows what I am talking about.

GEM we all LOVE ya. but you are my troll.



I had a wonderful time thanks to Spam for setting this trip up and as usuall all the TTer's who made this trip reality.

Thanks again.”

“and while in the howitzer position

LMAO!”

“Nice! Sounds like a typical TT trip :)”

“Ha ha ha!!

Back Blast Area...........Clear!!!

I love to hear that woman cuss!!

I am even more sorry that I missed that one!!”

“yep - a very good trip all around - I had no problem staying dry in my hammock (smile) and the MacCat tarp was very good in the wind. It was nice talking with the thru hikers but it seems that they all were carrying too little but HYOH... It was good seeing every one again - as well as meeting a couple guys from the darkside.”

“Do the horses there raid your camp like the ones on Assateague Island?

Gemini has a folding chair..........what kind??”

“The horses are more friendly now as compared to when I first went there but for the most part still stay out campsites. The problem is people feeding them gorp. I was at Grayson a couple of years ago and the rattle of a ziplock brought them running.
Gem just has a thermorest chair thingy Fridge and I brought chairs.”

“I made it home.
I locked my keys in my car twice in my lifetime. Today was the second time. $##@@!$@!


I am uploading pics to the computer right now, but they will take a while.

I odn't have a folding chair, at least not yet, I may order me the slinglight in a couple of seconds.”

“Well I have laundered and dried out the fartsacks and I threw the tent in the dump. I'm ready for the next trip!Glad everyone made it back okay. HOI the dark side huh?I thought so but I wasn't 100 percent sure!”

“Got my pictures up:
http://trailchic.smugmug.com/gallery/1396751”

“my new wallpaper is that pic of the pony dooky

the thru with the hip replacements was The Can Do Man

one of the two guys that visited us at Fridge's Secret Site was JimH from the darkside (mostly) - I can't remember the other guy's name

the Karen Gem refers to is usually spelled "cairn" - see http://m-w.com/dictionary/cairn”

“thanks HOI, I'll fix it.”

“Fridge is The Can Doo Doo Man!!

Stupid people visiting Assateague Island for the day feed the horses and those of us who camp for several days or more have to live with the consequences of the stupid horses raiding camp sites and wrecking stuff.


A thousand horse flies on those who feed the horses!!”

“...and nice to see you again Fridge.

Josh and I kept hiking to Old Orchard Shelter where we found several nice campsites and overnighted there. Stars were out big time.

Next morning we figured we would see you guys coming out. Josh mentioned that he did see JB at the shelter about 9:30a.m. You guys must have gotten up early because there was no one else to be seen.

Sunday morning we followed the A.T. southbound to Scales and up and over the ridge and around to Wise Shelter then up to Massey Gap. There, we bailed out to the car. We decided we didn't want to spend a night in 30 mph winds and rain on Mt Rogers.

Someone had performed trail magic as we found a cooler at the intersection of the A.T. and the parking lot trail. Really nice of someone to drag that thing up that hill.

I wish now that we have stayed at the secret campsite with you guys, but it will have to wait. We will catch you next time.”

“Hey gem great photos thanks”

“its was good meeting you jimh and Josh and heck yeah you should have camped with us”

“Gemini hikes??”

“At least your trip didn't get dissolved by the rain. We (Backslacker and I) got to ours only to find out just about everyone was headed home :(

Realizing the trip was in the fast lane to Lameville, I ended up opting out myself...”

“NC shut up!!!”

“So Phantom pulled a Spam huh?”

““So Phantom pulled a Spam huh?”
Spam

No-he wussed out before he got wet. I see he said "just about everyone" was leaving...so some went through with the hike PS?...and you wussed out..correct?

You were being the good parent Spam but if you had been by yourself you would have been a wuss too.;~p”

“Sticks , Sticks, Sticks,,,,,,,,,why are you mad at the world?


I got your hat and glasses in my truck!!!!”

“Well I finaly got un packed and got online had a wonderful trip little wet though Gem very nice getting to meet you and hiking with the legend LOL Spam you missed a fun time JB how you doing ready to go again Gem hows your knee doing?
last edited: 4/25/06 8:38:32 PM”

“it takes you 3 days to get organized?? wow!! LOL
my knee didn't bother me one bit. [keeping my fingers crossed] maybe the next trip will be a couple miles longer, a little harder...then we'll see.”

“I don't think anyone was left on our trip -- even JZip and NYCNick decided to trade in the rain for a shopping spree at the nearby Campmor...

Then again, with Campmor making offers you just can't refuse (The Fridge-meister knows...), who could blame them?”

“OK so all of you wussed out...been there done that. I would have trouble with a campmor close by. I try not to look at the catalog because it makes me want to buy things.

Fridge I am angry at myself so the world suffers...not that it gives a rat's asss.

I thought about the hat and glasses Saturday and decided to let it drop and didn't say anything.”

“Hey lonewolf I'm ready ..
Loved the trip . and send me a address and a recvier model # and I'll get you a remote..”

“opps...never mind...that could've been missunderstood.
last edited: 4/26/06 4:53:30 AM”

“Oh yeah??”

“I caught that,Gem Marko you should have been there.”