Hiking into Damascus for Trail Days

“Taking a week off and hiking in on the AT for trail days.”

“I would like to do that, but it will be kinda hard carrying 2-3 bushels of oysters, 30 lbs of shrimp,100 clams, 20 lbs of crab legs and all the other stuff that goes with it.”

“I am hoping to find a way to leave my vehicle in Damascus and have someone shuttle us to the starting point. That doesn't do much to help you with all the seafood.”

“Mount Rogers Outfitters used to do that kind of thing, although the week of Trail Days might be a bad time to try and set it up.”

“Yeah, I need to check into that. I would think that Mt Rogers Outfitters might be able to help out since it's the Monday before trail days, not the weekend of.

Fridge- you have any info that would help?”

“Check with Lonewolf over at whiteblaze.net. Send him a private message. He might be able to shuttle you. I can vouch for him.”

“Thanks Creek Dancer.
last edited: 11/03/08 12:15:47 PM”

“reminds me of the movie airheads ...

"The Lone Rangers? How can you pluralize the Lone Ranger? "”

“hey, your edit deleting the reference to the two different lonewolfs removed the subject of my post”

“Hyway, eclipsed again by CD huh”

“it was windigrrl that eclipsed me.”

“ummmmm, I am in the room people...

windigirl, did you find the right lonewolf?
last edited: 11/03/08 12:41:11 PM”

“that's a pretty ambitious hike for you, isn't it windi?...good for you...i hope you have fun”

“Creek Dancer - I think I have the right person. I've sent off an e-mail to him.

thrifty - It's shouldn't be too bad. I've hike more miles than that. We are hiking the North-South trail at LBL over Thanksgiving weekend, doing 12 miles a day for 5 days. Granted LBL doesn't have the elevation change that the AT does, but it's still some miles.”

“LBL is NOTHING like the AT

if you havent already hiked the AT, go for a 2 or 3 day trip before you commit to a whole week's trip
last edited: 11/03/08 4:10:06 PM”

“that said, i think that itinerary is do-able for you. youll have longer daylight hours, your mileage isnt big except the last day, and that part of the trail is relatively tame”

“plus there will be cheeseburgers and beer at the end of the day!!”

“The last day is all down hill, but still 10 miles. Glad to see such support from everyone.
last edited: 11/03/08 7:28:47 PM”

“This is giving me something to prepare for.”

“hey, forget the hamburgers. Hike down to a waiting pan of steamed oysters. You know what they say about oysters, feed the TT ladies some first if you want to open up some clams.”

“I am considering doing this hike....hopefully I will have all my gear by then. :)”

“I'd like to attend, but can't take off the whole week. Ok to meet-up on Thursday, for example?”

“I'm sure that would be fine. I will have the trip details updated soon. Then you can look and see about meeting up.”

“Updated the trip page.”

“Sounds like a great hike.Waiting for the DOC.to give me the OK.and i need to hit the AT.after being in the house for 2months.(I hate when the back goes out!)”

“This is a open trip for anyone who wants to go.”

“Bob Peoples is shuttling me down to Sams Gap next week. I'm pretty pscyhed.”

“does the itenerary skip sections? I thought the section of trail from Kincora to Damasucs was around 50 miles. You're listed mileage is only 30?”

“yes, they appear to be skipping the section between 321 and 91”

“You are correct. We have updated the plan to skip the areas crash stated above. After talking with a few people who have done this area, it was suggested to bypass that area so we could get to the cool stuff. We also decided that we wanted to be able to get into Damascus on either Thursday night or Friday late morning, depending on how things went. However, if you are interested in hiking the section we are leaving out, feel free to.”

“One other quesiton, if I read this correctly, youre going to be shuttled to the trail on Monday --hike and then be picked up by Bob agian to stay at Kincora Monday night? I'm not familar with the area at all so I'm not sure how far down the raod the put out place is from Bob Peoples, but how will you arrange for him to pick you up? What if everyone walks slower than anticipated? Just wonderin. :)”

“I think we will just walk back to Bob's at the end of the day on Monday. I believe it's no more than a 1/2 mile from where we will be ending up at.”

“You can definately walk to bob's from the trail.. there are signs... It is to the left of the trail if you are going Northbound...

Its less then 1/2 mile

'32oz”

“Thanks 32oz!”

“oh wow. Didn't realize. How convenient :)”

“For those who know the area...are there food places near the hostel?”

“not really.. it is a long steep windy road down to the main drag.. You can get there but its a few miles..

'32oz”

“we ate at some small 'grandma's luncheonette' type place.. food was good, biscuits and gravy.... there are a couple other places to eat.. I recommend getting your food before you get to the hostel..

there is a stove and micro wave there.. take your stuff up and prepare, then leave a cachein the car for when you get back.. it will save you time, and a slow drive down and back up... the kitchen is stocked as far as utensils etc...”

“http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2072120470103391530oljXbb

picture of kitchen

'32oz”

“bob can probably take you into town for a small fee”

“Just an FYI, I spoke with Tom at MRO and he said that stuff closes down around Wed. in preparation for Trail DAys, so it wouldn't be possible to park at MRO or in the area by the Hostel b/c he has vendors who will be setting up. He did say that the town has a parking area over by the Rock School near the creek.

Should ya decide to shuttle and your other plans fall through, he provides shuttles to Kincora for $70 bucks.”

“Thanks for the info. Is the cost for the shuttle per person, or per group? I think I know which parking lot his talking about. I wonder if we will be able to park there that many days before trail days without any problems?”

“Well this just about seals the deal..

My oldest son has a band concert Friday night, so I figured I would just drive down afterwards getting there very late Friday night..

Just found out that my youngest son has a choral recital Saturday...

I need to complain to the school board, how the h$ll can they schedule thuis stuff during trail days..

'32oz”

“BOB?”

“Um I believe it is 70 bucks for the group. I also checked the webiste and it says for any group over like 4 there is an additional 5 dollar charge. I dunno bout parking. It sounds dicey.

32oz. You plannin on attendin this?”

“No.. Can't make it unfortunately...

Working on a 6-8 day section hike south into Damascus the 2nd week of July...

May try to get down to Mount Rogers the End of June..

'32oz”

“Um....its gonna be awfully hot in July....I hope to be at the beach :)

SOrry you can't go. Are you goin to Trail DAys?”

“My oldest son has a band concert Friday night, so I figured I would just drive down afterwards getting there very late Friday night..

Just found out that my youngest son has a choral recital Saturday...

I need to complain to the school board, how the h$ll can they schedule thuis stuff during trail days..

'32oz”
32ozgatorade
11:37:15 AM
3/12/09
ignore this user”

“Is Fridge gonna be there?”

“I'm not sure.”