Questions about Mt. Rogers to Damascus AT

[2009ThruHiker]

After some great advice from an earlier post I've narrowed my Easter hike down to two possible locations, one being the Mt. Rogers / Damascus area of the AT. I'm looking for some more help on this section:

Are there any bald's along this section of the AT? I would love to see this unique area of the trail.

Also, I plan on hitting the trail Thursday early AM and hiking through, arriving in Damascus on Sunday. Any suggestions on the starting point/where to park the car? Hopefully, once in Damascus, I can get a ride back to the car?

THANKS!

[The Solemates]

grayson highlands area has plenty of balds.

park in damascus at MRO and get a shuttle to fox creek. hike the ~45 miles back to damascus taking your time.

[Lone Wolf]

After some great advice from an earlier post I've narrowed my Easter hike down to two possible locations, one being the Mt. Rogers / Damascus area of the AT. I'm looking for some more help on this section:

Are there any bald's along this section of the AT? I would love to see this unique area of the trail.

Also, I plan on hitting the trail Thursday early AM and hiking through, arriving in Damascus on Sunday. Any suggestions on the starting point/where to park the car? Hopefully, once in Damascus, I can get a ride back to the car?

THANKS!
Park at my house for free and I'll give you a cheap shuttle to Va. 603/Fox Creek.

[2009ThruHiker]

Thanks L Wolf! I'll let you know when the plans become finalized. Best to contact you by... email... telephone ... let me know. Thanks!

[Lone Wolf]

E-mail or Private Message is fine.

[joec]

Did the AT up to Pine Mountain several yrs ago. It was beautiful. Last yr. did Summit Cut into Damascus. Nice but not as good as Pine Mtn. Just take SR603 out of Troutdale and find the AT. Worth the climb. Someone made a camp amounst several boulders at the top with firepit and all of this is surrounded by bald mtn top and incredible view. Good luck.

[gumball]

We have a group of four also planning to hike this around the first week of May. Two of us are hammock hangers--will we have any problems with hanging hammocks and the balds?

Thanks.

[Lone Wolf]

Bald = no trees. Guess there's a problem Houston.

[jlb2012]

wrt hammocks and Mt. Roger's area - the trees are there in groups so it is possible to hang but you may need to walk off the bald a ways - for example there is a group of trees below the spring at Rhodo Gap where I usually hang my hammock. Also if the wind is not too bad there are trees up on the ridge in Rhodo Gap that I have used when I wanted to camp near the rest of the folks. On the other hand Lone Wolf is right in that there are a lot more tent sites than really good hammock sites in the area. Biggest problem is the number of dead trees that have cut down the number of hammock sites.

[orangebug]

Although, AT and I can vouch for a dearth of tent sites between Virginia Creeper Trail and Saunders Shelter. A hammock would have been very handy in the rain and snow last November.

[joec]

The absence of tenting sites around Saunders shelter area and into Damascus is the very reason I am going to switch over to hammocks camping. I so not want to be limited to having to hike to shelters to find a camping spot.

[Lone Wolf]

Saunders has great tenting.

[Almost There]

Although, AT and I can vouch for a dearth of tent sites between Virginia Creeper Trail and Saunders Shelter. A hammock would have been very handy in the rain and snow last November.

What are you talking about, that trail up to Bear Gap was the perfect tent site! Nice and flat right in the center of the trail.

[orangebug]

Saunders Shelter has excellent tent and hammock sites. However, there are no level areas for tenting (other than the middle of the trail and Bear Gap trail) until you go north to the Creeper trail. I think there might be some problems setting up a tent right there.

Hammocks have an advantage wrt to broader choices of places to sleep. Tents tend to be warmer and s/w dryer - in my experience.