Mt. Rogers High Country and Wilburn Ridge - 12.1 miles - Strenuous
Details
Starting Point - Grindstone Campground
Ending Point - Grindstone Campground
Hike Distance/Elevation/Rating - 12.1 miles/2450 feet of elevation/Strenuous
Disclaimer #1 - We are going to be leaving Charlottesville bright and early at 5:30 AM sharp from the Fontaine Research Park. If you arrive at 5:35 AM, you will be driving down by yourselves. Since we are going to be hiking in a federally designated wilderness area, this hike is going to be capped at ten hikers, and no more than ten hikers. Please be prepared for a full day in one of the most amazing areas on the East Coast. We will be returning to Charlottesville in the evening.
Disclaimer #2 - I will not have had the opportunity to prehike or scout out the trails for this hike. All hikers will need to be experienced hikers. All hikers will start the hike on the wait list until I can verify the hiking experience of all hikers. All hikers will need to answer the following questions before I will allow them on the hike.
- How often do you hike?
- What strenuous hikes have you done?
- When and what was the last strenuous hike that you completed?
All answers to these questions will need to be emailed to me at patrickcory@hotmail.com or via Meetup messages. You will have one week to get these answers to me. Failure to answer these questions within one week will move you to NOT GOING.
Hike Highlights - Cliffside Trail, Pine Mountain Trail, Appalachian Trail, Mt. Rogers Spur Trail, Mt. Rogers, Mt. Rogers Trail, the wild ponies, amazing 360 degree views
Hike Details - We are going to meet shortly before 5:30 AM at the Fontaine Research Park to set up two to three carpools down to the Mount Rogers and Grayson Highlands State Park. We will stop on the drive down to Grayson Highlands to get breakfast/use the restrooms. We will continue down to the Grindstone Campground. We are going to hike through some of the most amazing trails in the southeastern United States. We are going to complete the hike as described in the link below. Please be sure to review the hike link below before signing up for this hike. Please pay attention to the comments section for updates to this hike. The trailhead could possibly change, and I will have printed out directions whatever trailhead that we decide to use.
https://www.hikingupward.com/JNF/MtRogersElkRidge/
I will find and research a good post hike location for the group to get a bite to eat and pint for after the hike. After the post hike, we will make the drive back to Charlottesville.
What to Bring - broken in hiking boots, trekking poles, layers of clothing (it does get cooler when above 5000 feet), lunch and snacks, 3 to 4 liters of water, camera/phone, backpack, $15 for your driver if not driving+money for possible entrance into Grayson Highlands State Park
Disclaimer #3 - GetHiking Charlottesville's Organizers are not professional guides. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were hiking alone. With your RSVP you agree with this disclaimer - Disclaimer (https://www.meetup.com/GetHiking-Charlottesville-Charlottesville-VA/pages/21088739/Disclaimer/)