Itinerary
Mount Rogers, Virginia
Troop 9 Hike and Campout
27-28 October 2001

Description

The route takes four miles of the Appalachian Trail from Elk Garden Gap, north through Deep Gap, down the south spur of Mount Rogers to Brier Ridge and back. The climb of the trail is over a thousand feet at a moderately even slope overall, making this the equivalent of a six mile level hike

Saturday night will be spent off trail in a Hawthorne grove on Brier Ridge. A day hike will go to the top of Mount Rogers from the camp site. Return to Chapel Hill will be Sunday afternoon.

As a reference point, Mount Rogers is ten to fifteen miles north-east of the Tennessee - Virginia - North Carolina corner. The nearest town showing on Virginia maps is Troutdale.

Schedule

 
Saturday: 6:00 a.m. Depart, Chapel of the Cross
  10:30 a.m., est.  On-Trail at  Elk Garden trail head
 late afternoon Set up camp and day hike to the top of Mount Rogers
Saturday:   night Hawthorne grove on Brier Ridge 
Sunday: 10:00 a.m.  Hike out. Day Hike to the top of Mount Rogers (if unable, on Saturday)
  12:30 p.m.  Arrive at Elk Garden Gap; depart for home 
  5:00 p.m., est. Arrive, Chapel of the Cross 

Messages and Trip Status

Telephone contact may be tried; call 919-593-0290. Much of the area has poor cell phone coverage. Information regarding the times that the troop starts for home and expects to arrive may be gotten by calling 967-8963.

Personal Equipment

See the troop equipment list for details. Sneakers with boots as backup are recommended as foot gear.  Assume extremes of weather; i.e., pack clothes for 25OF to 85OF. Send some combination of sunscreen, hats and light-weight, long-sleeved shirts: sun protection will be an issue. Bring a compass and light day pack.

Food and Group Equipment

Food (except Saturday lunch) and group equipment will be coordinated at the troop meetings. Bring a bag lunch for Saturday.

Water

Assume that no local water will be available on the trail except at the camp site and Deep Gap. Start full. The water at the camp site and Deep Gap is potable; be prepared to purify it before using.

Driving Route

Estimated travel time is four and a half hours.
I40  81 mi.  West to Winston-Salem
US 421  31 mi.  West to I77
I77  9 mi.  North to US 21
US 21  33 mi.  North to US 221 at Twin Oaks
US 221  <1 mi.  South to NC 93
NC 93  13 mi.  North to US 58 at the New River
US 58  19 mi.  South to SR 600
SR 600  3 mi.  North to Elk Garden Gap Trail Head

Maps

The following maps were used in the preparation of this material and are relevant to the trip but are not required.