Mt Roger's after Trail Days

“Probably be easier to leave your car at the state park and take the AT up to Thomas Knob from there.”

“Grayson Highlands would be the safest bet, although we could park at my home and shuttle from there. Approx 2 tents mile from my home is trail not shown on the National Geo maps taking us into Lewis fork wilderness at the base of Mt Rogers. I don't really hike this trail with anyone cause it's an old passage back in the day, and is all mine, I have never seen anyone on this trail ever, not saying no one never hikes it just saying I have never seen tracks or seen anyone. Takes you to the south east side of Mt Rogers with a view not many have seen from this point. I have taken several to this view from another trail from Wilburn ridge and everyone who has been at Mt Rogers and seen it from a distance , doesn't recognize it from the location they approach it. You can see this from a horse trail but comming up along the south east ridge will blow your mind if you think you know this area. Mt Rogers looks totally different from this approach.”

“Sounds good. I'm game.

Next time you're thinking about it, GPS your driveway entrance and e-mail the co-ordinates to me.

Or is there an easier way?”

“I'm looking forward to this hike. I've never been to Grayson Highlands before.”

“Lots of easier ways.”

“Easier, as in...?”

“Humps or leg burners, How many miles you want to do to get to the top, ie,.....1 mile or 5 miles.”

“You should call me Fridge. Seems like there is dissatisfaction with the current plans. We can work up something different!”

“We should call stomper Fridge???

My opinion...ya'll worry too much about to what amounts to 1 car a year getting messed with...I personally do not know 1 person that has had a problem in over 10 years. With the amount of visitation that place gets what are the odds it is going to be YOUR car anyhow?

Though I do huff and puff going from 400' elevation to 5000'...2-5 miles just ain't squat.

There I have been the ole Irish #&%!$...to all you S. E. N. S. I. T. I. V. E. types I apologize now.”

“You may not know anyone who has had a problem, but in the past 9 years, 100 vehicle thefts have been reported according to the Mt. Rogers NRA.
last edited: 4/04/08 12:10:28 PM”

“So don't go then”

“Hey sticks!”

“you got gmail”

“if you're looking for information on Trail Days, we have a new website -

http://www.traildays.us/”

“Thanks local....Sticks i have it.


I'm calling stomper this week for some detail planning. her being the General in charge of course.”

“For those of you who haven't been up to Wilburn Ridge, here are a few photos:

http://www.richardsmith.net/wrsunrise1.html

and yeah, that's not exactly a backpacking tent I hauled up there, but someone insisted on something more comfortable. Fridge is lucky to have this area in his back yard. Those of us in Damascus have to drive a few miles. And I advise parking in Grayson Highlands and going up through the pony pastures to the ridge.”

“Hey Fridge! I left you a message today. Call me!”

“I've kinda lost track of the game plan.

Sunday night, do we intend to be at Thomas Knob?”

“(bump) C'mon thomas...it's your knob.”

“Stomper....you have mail”

“Try to update the trip page again. It might work now. Then again, it might not. lol”

“I posted a new thread on the trip page for details. The trip may change, start out @4000 feet, less elevation gain. That's all the details I have now.

I'm currently receiving 15 emails on dial up so it will take a while to get fridge's email. :(”

“Bump

So what's the latest???”

“Do we have a definite route planned? I want to see about getting a map.”

“i use the national geographic map for that area....i've found it to be a useful map.”

“Hey stomper......I am ready to get on a trip this month.....did you get my map I sent you?”

“I'm ready for this trip as well!!!”

“Yes, I got the map. The first days mileage of 2.5 miles looks a little short. How many miles would it be to park at the overnight parking area and follow Stampers Branch trail to wilson trail past Wise shelter to Quebec Branch trail and then to your suggested campsite?”

“:( ...sorry...I can't make this one :(”

“I am interested in joining you guys if there is a way I can finish on Monday. Can't take off work on Tuesday. I will keep a look out for the itinerary.”

“Fridge what kinda map you using? Even my 20 year old paper map doesn't list the trails by those names...what is it a refridgerator map?”

“stomper.....your talking some 12 miles. If we would do a short jaunt in and set up , that leaves the many day light hours to head to Fat Man's squeeze, Rodo gap, Wilburn Ridge trail and take a look at White Top Mt, 2nd highest peak in VA, and take a short unnamed trail within the park to rocky overlooks looking at several peaks south. i stumbled on this trail just last year due too a FOG that had be turned around sideways and I took this trail out to intersect the AT.”

“The trip details thread on the trips page is updated. Fridge, will you post the map you have some where?

Creek Dancer - this route should allow you to have a good days hike and make it back to your car on Monday afternoon.

This trip promises some beautiful scenery! Fridge has offered to serve as a tour guide. The mileage from parking to campsites isn't great. Sunday - 2.5 miles, MOnday and Tuesday @6 miles. However, the are many side trails and scenic vistas that we can explore after we set up camp.

Is everyone that is going on this trip going to trail days to?”

“Fridge are you talking about the old road that follows the creek and goes behind the seed orchard?”

“Is this the map you're talking about Stomper?

”

“sticks/ Spur trail to the AT from the Backpacking parking lot at Grayson Highlands. Take the AT south bound to the gated boundry line with Mt Rogers Recreation area. Take the Spring trail approx 1/2 mile in, camp on the right side. Next day take the AT south bound or the Wilburn Ridge Trail to Rodo Gap and explore Thomas Knob , Mt Rogers, Pine Mt etc,.... I'll show everyone a bush wack all down hill to a meadow with views of WhiteTop and Mt Rogers for the 2nd nights camp. Day out we take the Virginia Highlands horse trail all down hill to the gated boundry line to intersect the AT back to the spur trail and parking area.”

“been there done that and though I haven't camped in the meadows I have explored and seen some great spots to camp. I have thought about using the spot next to the horse trail by the spring a couple of times.

As the high country gets abused more I am starting to find private spots...Wilburn and Rhodo Gap are zoos anymore.

Are you talking about the spot by the tree on Springs trail?

Let's do Iron Mountain sometime...”

“Same spot we camped at and was caught in a snow storm the next morning.

Same goes to rodo gap and thomas knob areas as too floods of people.”

“bump”

“Hey Fridge - is Calm Spirits going to make this trip?”

“Are we camping where hammocks can be used?”

“Hammocks can be used and Calm Spirits will not be on this one.”

“Bring rain gear.”

“bump bump bump”

“See everyone at trail days!”