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 hikeSaturday 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.
| 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 |
Telephone contact may be tried; call (Mr. Filpus) or 740-4351 (Mr. Hock). Much of the area has poor cell phone coverage.
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 (except Saturday lunch) and group equipment will be coordinated at the troop meetings. Bring a bag lunch for Saturday.
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 is potable; be prepared to purify it before using.
Estimated travel time is four and a half hours. The following is a good weather route (shorter):
| I 40 | 77 mi. | West to Winston-Salem |
| US 421 | 28 mi. | West to I 77 |
| I 77 | 10 mi. | North to US 21 |
| US 21 | 32 mi. | North to US 221 at Twin Oaks |
| US 221 | <1 mi. | South to NC 93 |
| NC 93 | 11 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 |
The following is a faster route (better in rainy weather):
| I 40 | 72 mi. | West to Winston-Salem |
| US 52 | 31 mi. | North to I 74 |
| I 74 | 12 mi. | West to I 77 |
| I 77 | 20 mi. | North to US 58 |
| US 58 | 59 mi. | West to SR 600 |
| SR 600 | 3 mi. | North to Elk Garden Gap Trail Head |
The following maps were used in the preparation of this material and are relevant to the trip but are not required.