Mt Rogers Last Minute

“Well, Grasshopper and Fridge had been planning an impromptu trip to Mt Rogers, Grayson Highlands this weekend. Fridge arrived early in the afternoon and found the place to camp. Grasshopper arrived around 7pm and met Fridge at the overnight parking.
I didnt find out till after 5 that i didnt have to work this weekend, and after about 3 seconds of thought, i decided to try to make it. After speaking to Grasshopper, we decided to meet at the boundry of Grayson highlands, and the Mt Rogers park if i didnt find them that night.
I arrived at the park about 2230, and after talking to the rangers, paying, and getting water, i started up the connector trail to the AT. I got to the park boundry about 2345, and started looking around for Fridge and Grasshopper.
Well, after 15 min or so, I got tired of looking and ended up crashing beside some folks from tennessee. Thanks to them for that. I slept fairly well, other than some ponies being curious, and was up at dawn to watch the sunrise. I got suited up and found Fridge and Grasshopper along the same trail i had been looking on, i just hadnt gone far enough down. We hiked the rest of the day, and ended up camping near Rhododendon Gap, and after cacheing our packs hiked up to Thomas knob, and just had and enjoyable and leisurely day.
We had a nice camp and fixed dinner, stayed up late and looked at the stars. We all slept fairly well, I was up around 7 where i went to the bushes for the morning business. During the ahem...squat....i happened to look up and watch two black bears amble by bout 30yds away. Good thing i already had my pants dropped....LOL...
Any way, we broke camp and hiked our way down the mountain where Grasshopper and I drove to damascus for lunch at sicilys italian. Id never been to Damascus, and was looking foward to going to the MRO...which now closes on sundays.
We ended up at the Sundog outfitter where we nosed around a bit had a chai latte, said our goodbyes and headed home....GREAT TRIP!”

“http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/album/wgpj6tyt.php

pictures here”

“I hear that's how Fridge got rid of that bear in Cranberry.”

“anyone else getting the link to the pictures to work”

“Nope”

“No Pics I can see either.........Also , there was a 12 year old girly missing from her camp for approx 3 hrs........I spoke to the Mother and Father and they both were such in a panic............She was found cold but safe and back at camp by dusk.

Panic will kill you in the woods.....................If you want to have a good survival lesson.........be aware of panic while backpacking. There are several articles on the subject and all that I have read has helped me take a deep breath and regroup before you move.


any hooooooooooo I dropped off Ms. Doolittle this morning at the Fox Creek Trail head here at Mt. Rogers.she's headed to Damascus south bound with 5 days to totaly enjoy herself with the fall colors and beautiful vistas............There is no H2o at THOMAS KNOB...........I was there and the spring was totaly dry.......Rodo Gap spring has a ponding of water steady approx 4 inches deep and what i was told, there is water at Deep gap.”

“Wish I could have come, sounds like a nice weekender.”

“Panic will kill you in the woods...............

Run an emergency or it will run you.”

“sorry folks, ill work on the pics again”