Holsti97 - Apr 23, 2006 10:53 am Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2006
Mount Rogers
Drove to Damascus, VA from Asheville, NC and had breakfast. Climbed from Massie Gap trailhead. Saw some ponies right away. Walked north up to the AT. Hiked AT up Wilburn Ridge to Thomas Knob shelter. USFS helicopter flew over and dropped several fire fighters off in front of us. Talked to one and was told that they were going to do a controlled burn. "You will have to turn around." I told him that I wasn't going to turn around, I came to summit. He let me go and said that I might have to stay on top for awhile. We continued on to the Mt. Rogers Spur Trail and reached the summit and had lunch. Hiked down through the burned area. Very smoky. Saw more ponies on the way back down. Warm day, but cloudy. One of my favorite hikes of our HP trip. HP #11.
This was a really cool place, I recommend it for anyone that is interested in a nice hike. Saw many ponies, beautiful views and got a decent workout for the day. This is, by no means mountain climbing, but a very nice place to go for a hike. Continued on to highpoints in NC and TN on this trip.
Eleutheros - Mar 17, 2006 7:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 1995
Grayson Highlands
Hiked this with my family and my dog, Boca, after camping in the highlands. Sunshine and a cool wind.
hgrapid - Mar 8, 2006 2:52 am Date Climbed: Jan 21, 2002
Winter Highpoint
This is the best mountain range in Virgnia!
WoundedKnee - Feb 20, 2006 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Feb 19, 2006
2 day amalgam of AT, Rogers Trail and Pine Mountain Trail
Did a short backpacking trip. There was some snow, and it was colder than I expected (7 degrees) at the Old Orchard shelter where we stayed. Great views from the grassy balds nearby; the only views to be had on Rogers are on the way up.
Horses, Cows, Boy Scouts, and Through-Hikers, Climbed: Fall of 2003
My wife and I were living in Virginia at the time and decided to climb the highest point in the state. The summit leaves a lot to be desired (like a view), and you never know what or who you'll run into on the AT.
Route Climbed: AT from Wilburn ridge Date Climbed: November 2005
Grayson highlands is a very special area, unique in the south. Trail ran to summit from Wilburn ridge. Beautiful views of ponies, balds, rock crags, and distant mountains from highlands. Actual summit is covered in dense, beautiful spruce/fir forest so nothing to see on top.
Route Climbed: Grayson Highlands Date Climbed: September 2005
Very different than your standard Appalachian Hiking. the openess of the meadows with the rock outcroppings is remeniscent of points further west. Its also one of the few Southern Highpoints you actually have to hike to get to, so it has a rare wilderness feel.
Route Climbed: AT via Massie Gap Date Climbed: October 20, 2005
Wow! What a spectacular hike. Yeah there's no views on summit, but the whole hike there is great views! Even saw the wild ponies at the very end of the day. If you haven't been to Mt. Rogers, go there. Now!
Route Climbed: Massie Gap AT Date Climbed: June 22, 2003
My 8th state highpoint. Very scenic hike up and peaceful secluded summit. No view from the summit, but great views on the hike more than make up for it.
Up 2 weeks ago with my 8 yo son his 2nd state HP. A great winter hike from any TH. Can be very windy in open
(experienced -40 WC in winter), deep snow in woods (2+ feet) on AT, take snowshoes. Easy bushwhack off back side to Deep Gap
Route Climbed: spur off Appalachian trail Date Climbed: October 1978
Many visits since then. Wilburn Ridge is my favorite area to camp. Fun scrambling on the pinnacles there, and a more alpine feel than most of the Southeast.
Lots of variety in terms of landscape. Grass, rocks, trees, boulders. Loved the wild ponies!! Got caught in the rain on the descent only 1/2 mile from the parking lot.
Route Climbed: AT from Elk Garden Date Climbed: May 20, 2004
This hike is different than many on the east coast because it offers so much variety. In one of the many open meadows on the way to the "treed" summit were we encounter the famed wild ponies that roam these hills. They were extremly docile and there must have been at least 40 of them. The views on the way to the summit were nice but obstructed at the top.
Route Climbed: AT from Elk Garden Date Climbed: August 26, 1991 and three times since
This is one of my favorite areas in the Eastern U.S. Wandering in the high, open meadows is a true delight. I've hiked in every season and seen every type of weather including a freaky winter thunder/lightning/snow storm in February 1992.
Holsti97 - Apr 23, 2006 10:53 am Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2006
Mount RogersDrove to Damascus, VA from Asheville, NC and had breakfast. Climbed from Massie Gap trailhead. Saw some ponies right away. Walked north up to the AT. Hiked AT up Wilburn Ridge to Thomas Knob shelter. USFS helicopter flew over and dropped several fire fighters off in front of us. Talked to one and was told that they were going to do a controlled burn. "You will have to turn around." I told him that I wasn't going to turn around, I came to summit. He let me go and said that I might have to stay on top for awhile. We continued on to the Mt. Rogers Spur Trail and reached the summit and had lunch. Hiked down through the burned area. Very smoky. Saw more ponies on the way back down. Warm day, but cloudy. One of my favorite hikes of our HP trip. HP #11.
GMowry - Apr 7, 2006 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Apr 3, 2006
Mount RogersThis was a really cool place, I recommend it for anyone that is interested in a nice hike. Saw many ponies, beautiful views and got a decent workout for the day. This is, by no means mountain climbing, but a very nice place to go for a hike. Continued on to highpoints in NC and TN on this trip.
Eleutheros - Mar 17, 2006 7:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 1995
Grayson HighlandsHiked this with my family and my dog, Boca, after camping in the highlands. Sunshine and a cool wind.
jakefrisbee - Mar 15, 2006 3:42 am
Check it offClimbed Rogers in a snowstorm January, 2001.
hgrapid - Mar 8, 2006 2:52 am Date Climbed: Jan 21, 2002
Winter HighpointThis is the best mountain range in Virgnia!
WoundedKnee - Feb 20, 2006 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Feb 19, 2006
2 day amalgam of AT, Rogers Trail and Pine Mountain TrailDid a short backpacking trip. There was some snow, and it was colder than I expected (7 degrees) at the Old Orchard shelter where we stayed. Great views from the grassy balds nearby; the only views to be had on Rogers are on the way up.
Scrambling Man - Feb 14, 2006 4:32 am
Horses, Cows, Boy Scouts, and Through-Hikers, Climbed: Fall of 2003My wife and I were living in Virginia at the time and decided to climb the highest point in the state. The summit leaves a lot to be desired (like a view), and you never know what or who you'll run into on the AT.
sprosseda - Jan 27, 2006 12:19 pm
Route Climbed: AT from Wilburn ridge Date Climbed: November 2005Grayson highlands is a very special area, unique in the south. Trail ran to summit from Wilburn ridge. Beautiful views of ponies, balds, rock crags, and distant mountains from highlands. Actual summit is covered in dense, beautiful spruce/fir forest so nothing to see on top.
Joseph Claghorn - Jan 24, 2006 10:36 pm
Route Climbed: Grayson Highlands Date Climbed: September 2005Very different than your standard Appalachian Hiking. the openess of the meadows with the rock outcroppings is remeniscent of points further west. Its also one of the few Southern Highpoints you actually have to hike to get to, so it has a rare wilderness feel.
TLP - Oct 24, 2005 12:24 am
Route Climbed: AT via Massie Gap Date Climbed: October 20, 2005Wow! What a spectacular hike. Yeah there's no views on summit, but the whole hike there is great views! Even saw the wild ponies at the very end of the day. If you haven't been to Mt. Rogers, go there. Now!
chmoore577 - Sep 1, 2005 10:02 am
Route Climbed: Massie Gap AT Date Climbed: June 22, 2003My 8th state highpoint. Very scenic hike up and peaceful secluded summit. No view from the summit, but great views on the hike more than make up for it.
e-doc - Aug 17, 2005 11:53 am
Route Climbed: all Date Climbed: TNTCUp 2 weeks ago with my 8 yo son his 2nd state HP. A great winter hike from any TH. Can be very windy in open
(experienced -40 WC in winter), deep snow in woods (2+ feet) on AT, take snowshoes. Easy bushwhack off back side to Deep Gap
myles - Aug 16, 2005 2:32 pm
Route Climbed: spur off Appalachian trail Date Climbed: October 1978Many visits since then. Wilburn Ridge is my favorite area to camp. Fun scrambling on the pinnacles there, and a more alpine feel than most of the Southeast.
starship_jen - Aug 4, 2005 11:43 pm
Date Climbed: August 31, 2003Lots of variety in terms of landscape. Grass, rocks, trees, boulders. Loved the wild ponies!! Got caught in the rain on the descent only 1/2 mile from the parking lot.
Cortez - Aug 2, 2005 12:43 pm
Route Climbed: AT from Elk Garden Date Climbed: May 20, 2004This hike is different than many on the east coast because it offers so much variety. In one of the many open meadows on the way to the "treed" summit were we encounter the famed wild ponies that roam these hills. They were extremly docile and there must have been at least 40 of them. The views on the way to the summit were nice but obstructed at the top.
Michael Crofford - Jul 5, 2005 2:37 pm
Route Climbed: AT Date Climbed: June 25, 2005Very Enjoyable Hike. 3rd state high point.
easleygone - Apr 12, 2005 11:50 pm
Route Climbed: AT Date Climbed: June 1989Nice hike.
vanny37 - Mar 23, 2005 9:25 am
Route Climbed: AT Date Climbed: Sept. 4, 2004Great weekend, beautiful area.
chilkoot - Feb 6, 2005 10:54 pm
Route Climbed: AT from Elk Garden Date Climbed: August 26, 1991 and three times sinceThis is one of my favorite areas in the Eastern U.S. Wandering in the high, open meadows is a true delight. I've hiked in every season and seen every type of weather including a freaky winter thunder/lightning/snow storm in February 1992.
Steve Gruhn - Jan 30, 2005 5:26 pm
Route Climbed: From Elk Garden Date Climbed: November 4, 2001Easy 2.5-hour hike round trip.