Mt Roger's after Trail Days

“anyone who wants to stay and hike after trail days, come on and join us.”

“i'm IN”

“You're always in, Fridge.”

“I'll see what I can do...I've been wanting to hike this area for awhile but I'm using most of my vacation to go to New England this summer.”

“Dub, it would be great to have you join us.”

“can we hike during trail days? I would have to go to back work "after" trail days....”

“there is a golite sponsored hike up to the top of a nearby peak that lasts a few hours. And some people dayhike or bike ride on friday day or saturday morning. But be back by the parade on saturday because its a blast.”

“Stomper - do you have a map you can post?”

“I won't be makin it, gotta reschedule my vacation for the baby.”

“not yet punkin.”

“punkin !!! What's this?”

“Hey Fridge! I've got a route in mind. I'm going to email it to you to see if you approve.

Ok punkin?”

“What's with the punkin stuff? lol”

““What's with the punkin stuff? lol”
windigrrl

cause everyone is so sweet...”

“It's a southern thang, you wouldn't understand.”

“i like that southern thang......I love it.”

“It's a southern thang, you wouldn't understand.”
There's a lot of southern thangs I don't understand but the ones I do, I like!”

“Here is a plan for the after Trail Days Hike.

Park at T/H off of VA603 in Troutdale
Sunday - Day 1 - 7.6 miles - 2120 feet vertical rise

Mt Rogers Trail to the AT.. Stop for the night at Thomas Knob Shelter.

Monday Day 2 - 8.7 miles - 680 feet vertical rise
continue on AT to the Crest Trail > back to the AT > to Pine Mountain Trail > to Lewis Fork Trail >to Old Orchard Spur Trail and stay the night at Old Orchard Shelter.

Tuesday Day 3 - 2.9 miles vertical rise 280 feet
Return to Lewis Fork Trail to Fairwood Valley Trail. and back to the car.

Since we will be in VA on Sunday morning, I'm thinking if we hit the trail by noon, we should make the shelter plenty before dark. If people need to leave on Monday afternoon, they can park a car at Scales cause we'll go right by there. Tuesday is a short hike out so we can drive home.”

“I may have to delete this trip and start another one because I can't log in to edit trip info. So this is your warning, if this trip disappears, doesn't disappear, or if a new trip just like this shows up, you know what happened.”

“The pine mt trail and crest trail essentially parallel about 150 yards apart between Rhodo gap and scales. In fact there are spots you can see one from the other.”

“Yo Stomper......I know of some areas that will you do not see many pics of. Trails that will take you to Mt Rogers to give you a different prospective and Pictures you do not see much of. Most evryone uses the AT or Pine Mt or Crest Trail, but there are some old trails not on the National geograph maps but are on some old maps before Grayson Highlands became a state park. I have those maps. I have been exploring these trails and I have seen views of WhiteTop and Mt Rogers like I have never ever seen before.”

“Sticks, are you going to join us?
last edited: 2/17/08 1:48:27 PM”

“Fridge - Are the trails still well used or are they becoming overgrown?”

“I know what ya sayin fridge, I have the old paper map and it has several trails not on the new stuff.

Stomper I haven't really thought about it. Depends on work and new development they are talking about.”

“A friend of mine had her car stolen from VA603 last year just prior to Trail Days. The investigating officer told her that about 40 cars had been stolen from that lot in the past few years. I would only park an old klunker there over night.”

“Oh, yeah! I remember that now that you've said it. We'll take that into consideration when shuttling.”

“Thought I'd bump this up for you Trail Days people!”

“Well are we sticking to the original trip plans?”

“So far,yes. unless someone submits a better plan.”

“It's not just stolen cars when parking along that road. I had my license plate stolen while parked at Elk Garden last year. The Ranger that wrote up the theft said there had also been a lot of cars stolen in the area,but as far as plates go, the illegal aliens like to steal out of state plates to put on their cars. He said the state patrol is less likely to run an out of state plate than a Virginia one, so they put an out of state stolen plate on their cars because if pulled over, they have title issues and many don't have drivers' licenses. I don't know if it's advisable to take your plate off when leaving the car or not. I do know that it's a tremendous hassle when somebody steals your plate, particularly out there where cell phone service is iffy. I understand the cars were mostly stolen by kids wanting a joy ride.”

“Would it be possible to get someone to drop us off and pick us up?”

“what if I e mail stomper with 5 different routes all parking either at the State Park or at my house?”

“Send them to her.”

“okie dokey....give me a couple days to highlight the maps, and ouline the trips.”

“Park at your house? You must be crazy!


Just Kidding! Actually that would be quite convenient since we were hoping to get a hot shower there. As I recall, Calm Spirits told me I could have a shower at your house last year. I may call in my rain check.”

“I have to warn you about our showers. We do allow for 2 at a time to shower. This saves water and soap. But I could make an exception and make it a 3 some....
last edited: 2/24/08 6:21:58 PM”

“Sorry, I prefer to shower solo - don't like to share the hot water. Just make sure to fill in the peep holes before we get there.”

“lol”

“So if we change the trail, the basic premise should stay the same. Hit the trail by noon on Sunday, two nights out, hike out early am on Tuesday.”

“Ok...I am a maybe!!!!!...I sure have some work to do getting ready for this hike!!!!!!”

“Divinity/ this will be a walk in the park .”

“This should be a fairly easy trip. Come and join us!”

“2000 something gain????”

“Park at T/H off of VA603 in Troutdale
Sunday - Day 1 - 7.6 miles - 2120 feet vertical rise”

“I promise you, this is a walk in the park. I did this 4 years ago as one of my first backpacking trips, carry a 6 pound 2 man tent, and way too much gear...

and I am definately not a 'young un'..


'fool”

“lol...ok...ok....we'll see..I really want to go...”

“If I can do it, anyone can. Oh wait, I haven't done it yet. Will we have pack mules? lol.”

“The huffing and puffing involved in making a 2000 ft elevation gain makes the scenery at the top that much better!
last edited: 3/22/08 8:43:50 PM”

“Saw this on another forum and thought I would pass it along:

Southwest Virginia
Vehicle thefts in the Mt. Rogers area - According to the Mt. Rogers NRA, 100 vehicle thefts have been reported in the area since 1999. Authorities believe a highly organized ring of theives is responsible, targeting mostly 4WD trucks and SUVs. Frequently targeted A.T. parking areas include US 58 at Straight Branch, VA 600 at Elk Garden, and VA 603 at Fox Creek. Hikers should use caution when leaving vehicles at any local trailhead; suggestions for vehicle security can be found on Getting to the Trail. Safer hiker parking is available at some locations in Damascus, as well as the Mt. Rogers NRA Headquarters (when construction work is completed - see update below). (Posted 07/12/07)

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.786991/”

“Thanks Creek Dancer. We had heard about that and am looking into getting someone to drop us at the trailhead and pick us up for that reason. Fridge had some ideas I think he was going to talk to Stomper about.”