Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 47

Thread: VA/ NC Info

  1. #1
    slowhike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Hammock
    DIY, gathered end , w/ spreader
    Tarp
    JRB Universal
    Insulation
    DAM/ HG Incubator
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    11,677
    Images
    319

    VA/ NC Info

    Looking for a place at higher elevations and cooler weather and not too strenuous, and water is not an issue.
    Hoping for too much?
    Hope to do no more than 3 or 4 miles per day. Just getting back into it and not as young as I used to be.

    I have always loved Grayson Highlands. 10 - 15 degrees cooler than here in the Piedmont of NC.
    But now, "The Backpackers Lot is open for overnight parking, but reservations are required".
    If several are trying to go, that could possibly complicate things, especially if they have limits on numbers.

    Thought about going in through Elk Gardens. As best I remember, there was plenty of parking not a real hard climb up to the Thomas Knob area, but it's been a long time.
    Could continue on from there.

    Planning on 3 nights and would like to hear other suggestions.
    Thanks
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

  2. #2
    Senior Member soul embrace's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Bama
    Hammock
    Dream Hammock Sparrow : SLD
    Tarp
    HG : SLD
    Insulation
    HG : SLD : WB
    Posts
    1,362
    i prefer to pay the $15 per car per night and know my car if pretty safe. there is a limit of 40 car spots in the backpacker's parking lot
    There's magic in the woods,
    if you know where to look for it.
    -Pete's Dragon

  3. #3
    slowhike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Hammock
    DIY, gathered end , w/ spreader
    Tarp
    JRB Universal
    Insulation
    DAM/ HG Incubator
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    11,677
    Images
    319
    Quote Originally Posted by soul embrace View Post
    i prefer to pay the $15 per car per night and know my car if pretty safe. there is a limit of 40 car spots in the backpacker's parking lot
    Good point.
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Durham, NC
    Hammock
    DIY GE 12’ Hexon 1.6
    Tarp
    SLD Winter Haven
    Insulation
    CDT Gemini DIY
    Suspension
    Whoopi slings
    Posts
    109
    Images
    11
    Grayson Highlands is a great choice for cooler temps and great scenery. We parked at Elk Gardens for our trip last fall. There were lots of other cars there, and we didn’t have any issues, but I had read a warning from Forest Service saying there were car breakins reported close to Damascus. The hike from Elk Gardens to Thomas Knob is ~5miles, and the steep sections are not too long. There are some nice campsites about 2.5 miles in, but the water source isn’t close or convenient. Much better, if you have time, to go all the way to Thomas Knob and all the nice campsites near and past there. Another alternative is to park on the north side of the park on Fairwood Rd near Grindstone and hike the Mt Rogers trail in. This is a much steeper trail.

    Other locations to consider:
    Roan Highlands is also cooler than the Triad and you can drive close to the high spots, so the trail elevation changes aren’t bad.
    Elk Knob state park has backpacking campsites that don’t appear too tough a hike, and the day hike up to the top of Elk Knob is A nice, new, well-graded trail.

  5. #5
    slowhike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Hammock
    DIY, gathered end , w/ spreader
    Tarp
    JRB Universal
    Insulation
    DAM/ HG Incubator
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    11,677
    Images
    319
    Quote Originally Posted by SubaruWx View Post
    Grayson Highlands is a great choice for cooler temps and great scenery. We parked at Elk Gardens for our trip last fall. There were lots of other cars there, and we didn’t have any issues, but I had read a warning from Forest Service saying there were car breakins reported close to Damascus. The hike from Elk Gardens to Thomas Knob is ~5miles, and the steep sections are not too long. There are some nice campsites about 2.5 miles in, but the water source isn’t close or convenient. Much better, if you have time, to go all the way to Thomas Knob and all the nice campsites near and past there. Another alternative is to park on the north side of the park on Fairwood Rd near Grindstone and hike the Mt Rogers trail in. This is a much steeper trail.

    Other locations to consider:
    Roan Highlands is also cooler than the Triad and you can drive close to the high spots, so the trail elevation changes aren’t bad.
    Elk Knob state park has backpacking campsites that don’t appear too tough a hike, and the day hike up to the top of Elk Knob is A nice, new, well-graded trail.
    Lots of good information. Much appreciated.
    I've only hiked in from Elk Garden once, many years ago. Seams like there was a water source part of the way in but I don't remember how good of a source it was.

    I'll look into these other places as well.
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Cary, NC
    Hammock
    Yes
    Tarp
    Doors for sure
    Insulation
    Love some down
    Suspension
    Usualy helps
    Posts
    409
    I do an 18 mile loop around Mt Rogers / Grayson Highlands all the time, but there are ways to make it as much or as little as you want. Since even before the backpacker lot went to reservations and a fee, I've been parking at the lot where the AT crosses Fairview Road and never had a problem. About a mile and a half from Old Orchard. If the AT hiker bubble is coming through, I've left a cooler of trail magic on my tailgate and been fine. I did have somebody steal my food bag out of the locker at Thomas Knob, though. Hanging my bag now on. Only room for about 10 cars so it will fill up on weekends if you don't get there early, though.

    https://www.alltrails.com/explore/ma...20-b3d6e13?u=i

  7. #7
    slowhike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Hammock
    DIY, gathered end , w/ spreader
    Tarp
    JRB Universal
    Insulation
    DAM/ HG Incubator
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    11,677
    Images
    319
    I have gone in that way, to Old Orchard and beyond.
    One concern is that I don't know how many might join us and how many other cars might be in the lot.

    Nice job with the map.
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

  8. #8
    Crawldaddy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Ruff..Rufeton... Rutherfordton, NC
    Hammock
    Circadian
    Tarp
    11 footer
    Insulation
    goose down
    Suspension
    Straps
    Posts
    901
    Images
    7
    Maybe youd be interested in a guided hike a little farther west with me sometime? 6000 ft peaks and cool in the summer.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Greensboro, NC
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    HG DCF std w/doors
    Insulation
    WM TQ, UGQ UQ
    Suspension
    Whoopie slings
    Posts
    387
    Images
    2
    Quote Originally Posted by Crawldaddy View Post
    Maybe youd be interested in a guided hike a little farther west with me sometime? 6000 ft peaks and cool in the summer.
    I'd join that hike!

    Been doing a lot of exploring of this fine state (NC) since moving here but there's so much more to see, especially on the West (and East) ends of the state.
    Iceman857

    "An optimist is a man who plants two acorns and buys a hammock" - Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (French Army General in WWII)

  10. #10
    slowhike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Hammock
    DIY, gathered end , w/ spreader
    Tarp
    JRB Universal
    Insulation
    DAM/ HG Incubator
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    11,677
    Images
    319
    Quote Originally Posted by Crawldaddy View Post
    Maybe youd be interested in a guided hike a little farther west with me sometime? 6000 ft peaks and cool in the summer.
    Sounds interesting!
    Where might that be?

    Quote Originally Posted by iceman857 View Post
    I'd join that hike!

    Been doing a lot of exploring of this fine state (NC) since moving here but there's so much more to see, especially on the West (and East) ends of the state.
    Yep, lots to see here!
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Info please
      By MatthewA in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 12-12-2013, 22:44
    2. looking for info.
      By cliff369 in forum Introduce Yourself
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 07-11-2012, 20:15
    3. looking for all the info I can get
      By bikepacker in forum Introduce Yourself
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 10-23-2011, 13:29
    4. Looking for Info
      By tom_alan in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 11-09-2008, 10:17

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •