Grayson Highland info needed

[hustler]

My sister is planning a spring break backpacking trip somewhere on the AT in late March. She did the smokies last year, which I didn't suggest, and did fine. I recall there being a loop through the Grayson Highlands that I was going to suggest. I was wondering about the mileage and difficulty of this loop? Is it possible to pull off in a week for a novice backpacker? I would assume that Mt Rogers or Sundog would sell some sort of map of this loop.

[SnakebiteSurvivor]

There's plenty of good hiking in the Grayson Highlands area. You can park at the Backpacker's parking lot at Massie Gap and wander around for a few days. As for a long-distance week-long "loop": you may be thinking of the roughly 50-mile loop starting at Damascus and taking the yellow-blazed Iron-Mountain trail north (the route of the AT until 1972) to Chestnut Flats and returning on the AT via Grayson Highlands. This is described in the ATC's Southwest Virginia guidebook (with map).

[SnakebiteSurvivor]

The best map of the Grayson Highlands area is called "Mount Rogers High Country and Wildernesses". I don't know of a place to buy this online, but you might phone the Mount Rogers National Recreational Area at (800) 628-7202 (they have a bookstore at their HQ south of Marion VA, which is where I bought mine), and they might sell you one by mail order.

[hustler]

Thanks Snakebitesurvivor, I will check it out the guide book. I hope she will have a good trip come next month.

[jlb2012]

recommend hiking up on Wilburn Ridge to her - it has the best views IMO - the Wilburn Ridge trail parallels the AT and is somewhat more difficult to backpack especially going SOBO - if she does not want to do the whole Wilburn Ridge trail recommend doing an up and back from the south end of the trail

[restless]

Natioanl Geographic puts out a map for Mt. Rogers and you should be able to find this at Sundog Outfitters or Mt. Rogers Outfitters in Damascus. It has replace the Highcountry map mentioned in a previous comment. So far as hiking goes, Go in at Elk Garden or Massie Gap in the Grayson Highlands State Park. Don't miss the Pine Mountain Trail - Blue blazed trail that runs between Rhododendren Gap and Pine Mountain.

[Hikerhead]

Here's a link where you can buy the Mt Rogers map on line.

http://www.ngmapstore.com/jump.jsp?itemID=136&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=134&iSubCat=136&page=3

[homer_at]

I am planning a hike in Grayson Highlands, going west over Whitetop toward Damascus. I plan to camp up on top of Whitetop somewhere. I understand there is water just west of Elk Garden, and my old map shows water at the bottom of the switchbacks on the gravel road going up there, but can anyone time me if there is water up on top of Whitetop , or perhaps over toward Buzzard rock?

thanks for your help.

[Lone Wolf]

I am planning a hike in Grayson Highlands, going west over Whitetop toward Damascus. I plan to camp up on top of Whitetop somewhere. I understand there is water just west of Elk Garden, and my old map shows water at the bottom of the switchbacks on the gravel road going up there, but can anyone time me if there is water up on top of Whitetop , or perhaps over toward Buzzard rock?

thanks for your help.

just after you cross whitetop mtn. road, about 300 yards, there's a big piped spring. it flows year-round

[homer_at]

Lone Wolf - thanks for the quick reply about the water - you saved me a lot of effort.
homer_at