This was the second time that my hiking and HP buddy, Mike, and I have hiked Mount Rogers (first time was in 1994?). With the increase of technology (digital cameras, etc.), we basically decided to redo and document the 18 HP's we had already completed along the east coast. The disposable camera/photos just didn't cut it. The weather today was just perfect, not a cloud in the sky. We hiked to the summit from the trailhead at Elk Garden and noticed that a portion of the AT had been re-routed since we had visited last. This initially threw us for a loop, since we headed straight toward the open meadows (in the Rhododendron Gap area). After taking a quick break, we started thru the meadow, following the woodline, but couldn't pick up the trail. After retracing our steps, we realized that the trail cut abruptly left, a couple hundred feet prior to the meadow, and continued thru the woods. The trail then continued thru the woods, until opening with views of the meadows, a few hundred feet before the trail cut-off to the summit. Wow, what a difference in the character of the trail! While I don't mind a walk in the woods, the former route was ALOT more scenic, with views of the open meadows. Nonetheless, we still had a great time!
Jow - Sep 21, 2011 11:11 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2011
Heavy fog the entire hike from Elk Gardens. No views but a pleasant walk in the woods. No ponies but funny almost walking into a cow in the fog near the trailhead.
MarkWillmann - Sep 3, 2011 6:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2010
Wet climb
Climbed with wife, Jill. Rained the whole way. Boggy through the forests towards the top, and slippery going through the moss-covered scree field about halfway down.
vbeckman74 - Aug 21, 2011 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2000
Wild Horses
Lots of deer and horses. Beautiful section of the AT.
milanite - Aug 17, 2011 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2011
From Grayson Highlands S.P.
The climb was a little rockier and more strenuous than I expected, taking about three hours to the summit. It was cool at the top, presaging some rain on the descent. The trails are well-marked and well-tended, and you meet some interesting folks on the AT portion. This was state highpoint #30 for me.
xpda - Aug 10, 2011 3:42 pm Date Climbed: Apr 9, 1994
Virginia
It got dark. There were wild horses. We lost the trail, then we lost Jay.
markowens - Aug 8, 2011 8:52 am Date Climbed: Nov 19, 2010
Fun Hike!
This was my 4th SHP out of 16 that I have done so far. This has been my favorite hike. The environment at the HP is unlike anything else on the trail. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but ice crystals fell from the trees at the HP. I can only describe it as surreal.
xDoogiex - Aug 4, 2011 7:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2011
#22
Brung my sis and g/f. Amazing hike from massie gap
redmond - Jun 23, 2011 2:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2011
Wild Ponies
Beautiful hike, my favorite of the entire southeastern high points. Wild Ponies everywhere.
Alpinist - May 15, 2011 5:23 pm Date Climbed: May 15, 2011
Mount Rogers Trail
The last of a 6 state HP weekend. Flew into Knoxville, then hit the HPs for TN, GA, SC, NC, KY and VA. This is my 45th state HP. I hiked up the Mount Rogers Trail from VA603, 13 miles RT. It's a beautiful hike!
NJTripper - Dec 5, 2010 5:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2010
2nd time is a charm...
Got rained off this HP back in June... (I will ~not~ hike in a T-storm... Rogers wasn't go'n anywhere..)
Was a good day when I was able to hike the AT over it in Sept!
kteichert - Nov 5, 2010 10:28 am Date Climbed: Nov 4, 2010
HP #20
Took the Appalachian trail approach from Elk Gardens up state road 600. 9 miles round trip. It was a complete whiteout and I got snowed on the majority of the way. But I had a great time. Was alone and didn't see a single other person the entire hike.
Bluebell08 - Nov 1, 2010 8:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2010
Beautiful day
From Grayson Highlands State Park. Ponies and deer! Campground at park was very nice. Highpoint #13.
Spindle - Sep 22, 2010 10:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2010
Very nice area, stayed at Grayson highlands camp ground was very impressed. Great views up until a quarter mile of the summit. Was able to get within 4 or 5 feet of the ponies.
jasano2 - Aug 10, 2010 8:18 am Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2009
Va # 1
It was a great family hike and the views from Thomas Knob are wonderful.
I ate my way up the lower slopes as the whole place was covered in Blackberries & Huckleberries, then saw the ponies, then all of the sudden at the top you feel like you're in the Pacific Northwest. A little rockier trail than I expected (you're almost scrambling a few times, almost) but just a really cool hill. HP # 22 also.
montanachris - Jun 29, 2010 8:28 am Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2010
Love the area
Beautiful high country around Mt Rogers. I was reminded of some of my western summits more so than those of the southern Appalachians. Stayed @ The Place in Damascus and hit the VA Creeper on mountain bike the next day. One of the best outdoor areas of the eastern US for sure!
Judd97 - Jun 15, 2010 9:21 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2010
Pouring Rain
Climbed this in the pouring rain, with only a brief respite for about a mile and a half to and from the summit. Good thing for raingear!
jds3038 - Sep 25, 2011 1:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2011
#5This was the second time that my hiking and HP buddy, Mike, and I have hiked Mount Rogers (first time was in 1994?). With the increase of technology (digital cameras, etc.), we basically decided to redo and document the 18 HP's we had already completed along the east coast. The disposable camera/photos just didn't cut it. The weather today was just perfect, not a cloud in the sky. We hiked to the summit from the trailhead at Elk Garden and noticed that a portion of the AT had been re-routed since we had visited last. This initially threw us for a loop, since we headed straight toward the open meadows (in the Rhododendron Gap area). After taking a quick break, we started thru the meadow, following the woodline, but couldn't pick up the trail. After retracing our steps, we realized that the trail cut abruptly left, a couple hundred feet prior to the meadow, and continued thru the woods. The trail then continued thru the woods, until opening with views of the meadows, a few hundred feet before the trail cut-off to the summit. Wow, what a difference in the character of the trail! While I don't mind a walk in the woods, the former route was ALOT more scenic, with views of the open meadows. Nonetheless, we still had a great time!
Jow - Sep 21, 2011 11:11 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2011
HP #15Foggy, Cold, and No Ponies. But I will take it
Bark Eater - Sep 19, 2011 2:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2011
cloud forestHeavy fog the entire hike from Elk Gardens. No views but a pleasant walk in the woods. No ponies but funny almost walking into a cow in the fog near the trailhead.
MarkWillmann - Sep 3, 2011 6:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2010
Wet climbClimbed with wife, Jill. Rained the whole way. Boggy through the forests towards the top, and slippery going through the moss-covered scree field about halfway down.
vbeckman74 - Aug 21, 2011 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2000
Wild HorsesLots of deer and horses. Beautiful section of the AT.
milanite - Aug 17, 2011 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2011
From Grayson Highlands S.P.The climb was a little rockier and more strenuous than I expected, taking about three hours to the summit. It was cool at the top, presaging some rain on the descent. The trails are well-marked and well-tended, and you meet some interesting folks on the AT portion. This was state highpoint #30 for me.
xpda - Aug 10, 2011 3:42 pm Date Climbed: Apr 9, 1994
VirginiaIt got dark. There were wild horses. We lost the trail, then we lost Jay.
markowens - Aug 8, 2011 8:52 am Date Climbed: Nov 19, 2010
Fun Hike!This was my 4th SHP out of 16 that I have done so far. This has been my favorite hike. The environment at the HP is unlike anything else on the trail. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but ice crystals fell from the trees at the HP. I can only describe it as surreal.
xDoogiex - Aug 4, 2011 7:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2011
#22Brung my sis and g/f. Amazing hike from massie gap
redmond - Jun 23, 2011 2:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2011
Wild PoniesBeautiful hike, my favorite of the entire southeastern high points. Wild Ponies everywhere.
Alpinist - May 15, 2011 5:23 pm Date Climbed: May 15, 2011
Mount Rogers TrailThe last of a 6 state HP weekend. Flew into Knoxville, then hit the HPs for TN, GA, SC, NC, KY and VA. This is my 45th state HP. I hiked up the Mount Rogers Trail from VA603, 13 miles RT. It's a beautiful hike!
NJTripper - Dec 5, 2010 5:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2010
2nd time is a charm...Got rained off this HP back in June... (I will ~not~ hike in a T-storm... Rogers wasn't go'n anywhere..)
Was a good day when I was able to hike the AT over it in Sept!
kteichert - Nov 5, 2010 10:28 am Date Climbed: Nov 4, 2010
HP #20Took the Appalachian trail approach from Elk Gardens up state road 600. 9 miles round trip. It was a complete whiteout and I got snowed on the majority of the way. But I had a great time. Was alone and didn't see a single other person the entire hike.
Bluebell08 - Nov 1, 2010 8:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2010
Beautiful dayFrom Grayson Highlands State Park. Ponies and deer! Campground at park was very nice. Highpoint #13.
Spindle - Sep 22, 2010 10:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2010
Lovely areaMet lots of ponies.
BConley - Sep 11, 2010 7:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2010
HP #8Very nice area, stayed at Grayson highlands camp ground was very impressed. Great views up until a quarter mile of the summit. Was able to get within 4 or 5 feet of the ponies.
jasano2 - Aug 10, 2010 8:18 am Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2009
Va # 1It was a great family hike and the views from Thomas Knob are wonderful.
jeffh25 - Jul 29, 2010 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2010
Neat placeI ate my way up the lower slopes as the whole place was covered in Blackberries & Huckleberries, then saw the ponies, then all of the sudden at the top you feel like you're in the Pacific Northwest. A little rockier trail than I expected (you're almost scrambling a few times, almost) but just a really cool hill. HP # 22 also.
montanachris - Jun 29, 2010 8:28 am Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2010
Love the areaBeautiful high country around Mt Rogers. I was reminded of some of my western summits more so than those of the southern Appalachians. Stayed @ The Place in Damascus and hit the VA Creeper on mountain bike the next day. One of the best outdoor areas of the eastern US for sure!
Judd97 - Jun 15, 2010 9:21 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2010
Pouring RainClimbed this in the pouring rain, with only a brief respite for about a mile and a half to and from the summit. Good thing for raingear!
State HP #5!