Backpacking: Mt Rogers & Grayson Highlands

OVERVIEW

Mt Rogers and the Grayson Highlands offer spectacular views complete with wild ponies! We leave at 10:00 am on Saturday morning and drive a little over 4 hours to southwest Virginia. We’ll hike up to the Thomas Knob Shelter, our destination for the night. From there, those who need to blow off some extra energy can summit the viewless Mt Rogers. At over 5700 ft, this is the highest point in the state. Let’s hope for clear skies as we’ll have an open view of the sky from the shelter. On Sunday we’ll hike over to the Wise Shelter for the night. We’ll enjoy a leisurely pace and take advantage of the expansive views to practice using a compass. I’ll teach you how to resection (find your position), take a bearing, and how to navigate in poor visibility. We’ll hike back to the car on Monday and should be back in Charlottesville by 5:00. Total mileage for the trip will be somewhere around 15 miles.

This trip is open to all experience levels, though you must be able to pack appropriate clothing and have rain gear. And because of the other trips this weekend, preference may be given to those who can provide their own gear. For this reason, everyone will go to the waitlist when they sign up. I do have a couple things people might be able to borrow if need be so go ahead and sign up even if you think you don’t have everything you need. I’ll send out more detailed information after you join.

In the event I go over the food allowance, there will be a fee of up to $5.00 for the trip. It will not be collected if I manage to stay in budget.

Club Provides:
-Transportation: gas if you drive and a seat in a car
-Food: saturday’s lunch & dinner, all meals on sunday, monday’s breakfast
-Gear*: backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, headlamps, water filter, cooking pots/stove
*preference will be given to those with their own gear due to the number of other trips the same weekend

You bring:
-hiking boots or running shoes
-appropriate clothing
-rain jacket and pants
-warm hat
-gloves
-bowl and cup (no breakables)
-fork / spoon / spork!
-water bottle (2 liters)
-toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
-any extra snacks you may want
-money for food on the way there and back