View Full Version : Grayson Highlands south towards damascus.
Jayboflavin04
07-02-2009, 11:42
Well I am planning a trip for me and my son. A highlite of the trip is going to be the ferrell ponies. If we get on at massies gap and head south are we sure to hit a herd of the ferrell ponies? I think I am going to plan for 5 mile days, but we are going to try to make it back to Damascus. This all depends on how my 8 year old does mileage wise.
OldStormcrow
07-02-2009, 12:00
Yep, the place is crawlin' with the wee beasties. It's a pretty easy hike from Grayson down to Damascus and you can always get off the A.T. and take the Virginia Creeper Trail into town if the youngster is having a tough time of it.
Jayboflavin04
07-02-2009, 12:13
Sweet! Thanks. Just wanna plan my trip accordingly since this will be his first backpacking trip. If I plan for 5 mile days and he does 8 and 10 we will be golden. Just dont wanna stress and push him too hard. Planning south because it looks easier than north.
Rockhound
07-02-2009, 12:17
Done that section 4 times in the past month. Twice north, twice south. You will certainly see ponies. Lots of em'. I'm sure you have it all planned out already and it's probably similar to this: Day 1 camp near Thomas Knob shelter Day 2 camp on Whitetop Mt. (There is a good piped spring just south of the camping area with room for a couple tents) Day 3 camp at or near Lost Mt. shelter. Day 4 camp at or near Saunders shelter or take the Creeper and camp down by the river.(i suggest the Creeper. More scenic and easier for the lad) Day 5 into Damascus. Have a great hike.
Every time I've camped anywhere between the beginning of the Federal land, just South of Massie's and shelter just before the Mount Roger's trail, the name escapes me, I've seen plenty of ponies. There are several good camping spots just North of the shelter, with two springs in a short walking distance. Both are fenced in to keep the ponies out. I personally like camping in the area between the two high peaks of Rhododendron Gap, but there is no water. You can see the lights of Troutdale or maybe it's Troutville. If there is a chance of storms, I like to camp lower, just as you get onto federal land, by the big sign that welcomes you to the Grayson Highlands Park. Nice camp site there right beside the trail that the ponies keep mowed like a putting green.
Have a great trip.
Rockhound
07-02-2009, 12:20
Misread your post. You said you were planning 5 mile days and not a 5 day trip. My bad. I still think a robust 8 year old could do this without too much trouble.
Jayboflavin04
07-02-2009, 12:55
After reading your post I took a look at the mileage you posted. That helped a ton and not far off 5 miles a day.
Tennessee Viking
07-02-2009, 13:06
I usually see the ponies at the trail junction with the blue blaze and around the rock croppings heading north.
They also herd together down in the hollow below Wilburn Ridge at the springs.
Whitetop will probably be your only challenge. Then a small climb from 58 up Feathercamp Ridge. You will have lots of downhill grades most of the way with only small climbs.
Mrs Baggins
07-02-2009, 14:31
We day hiked from Massey Gap to Mt Rogers summit and back. Ponies everywhere! Stopped off at the Thomas Knob shelter privy and a pony wandered into the shelter area and started nibbling on packs. The hikers were having a heck of time running the little guy (or gal?) off! Lots of foals (this was in May),too.
Blissful
07-02-2009, 14:42
Have a great time, he will love it, I'm sure.
Massie Gap area is pony central.
Our family spent a least a weekend up there about every year for the past 30. It's a great part of VA.
The short blue blaze up to the Mt Rogers summit is worth it for that type of forest experience. There is no vista from the top. Have fun.
jjj
Plodderman
07-02-2009, 16:41
Just out there last year and your son will enjoy the ponies especially around Mt Rogers. They came right up to the shelter as well as a deer looking for food. Didn't feed them but they like the short grass around the shelter and hung around for awhile. The hiking is not to difficult.
The camping area just north of the Thomas Knob shelter (SO just N of the Mt Rogers summit) is a nice place. Be prepared for wind, or at least a stiff breeze there.
I sort of remember when I was an 8 year old, I would absolutly have loved the rocks & stuff to climb over on the way down Mt Rogers.
I remember plenty of water along the way, may have to look for it just a bit.
That is a real nice hike you have picked!
Big Dawg
07-02-2009, 19:31
What a great section! I just finished this section a month ago. Came up on a group of 4 ponies eating & playing. Too cool! My 3 year old daughter was mesmerized by my pics. The views are awesome too. Hope you have good weather. Enjoy!!
bullseye
07-02-2009, 20:01
Have a great trip and let us know how it goes!
OldStormcrow
07-06-2009, 10:06
Your son is going to love playing around in "Fat Man's Squeeze" in Grayson Highlands.
Flush2wice
07-06-2009, 10:17
This was in late May. 5 minutes later about 8 more showed up.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/3694267834_588b286f07_o.jpg
Last week I found a gorgeous camp at the intersection of the Crest Trail and Lewis Fork Trail (200 yards from the Pine Mountain Trail). It's a about a mile east of Rhododendron Gap, in a copse of trees with a 240 degree view to the front. While there, a herd of abotu 16 ponies wandered through for dinner, and they returned the next morning for breakfast.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/bearpawat99/Blue%20Blaze%2009%20VA/107.jpg
Some day, I gotta get back to this place. When I passed by on my thru it was foggy the whole time (no views) and I never saw ANY horses.
Sigh.
David
Rockhound
07-06-2009, 13:03
I love the views but even when the weather is bad it's great. I find the rain the wind thefog the lightning exciting. There is a great rock outcropping about 1/2 north of Thomas Knob I love to climb up on and experience it all. (well maybe not the lightning)
Jayboflavin04
07-06-2009, 17:48
Now I am getting really excited about the trip. I think this stretch is gonna be a good one for Ethan. I am gonna just focus on the trip more than miles. Work on gettin my pack weight down, and getting his gear/ weight rounded out. Thanks for the info folks. I cant wait to get out again.
Mrs Baggins
07-06-2009, 19:52
Yeah, the forest going up to Mt. Rogers summit is pretty eerie. As a Lord of the Rings obessesed fan I turned to my husband and said "Mr Baggins, we are not in the Shire anymore!" Very creepy. There's nothing to see up there but we did meet a family that goes around the US to bag the "highest" points in each state. I prefer to "bag" cathedrals in Europe - stairs up and up and up and up...........
Yeah, the forest going up to Mt. Rogers summit is pretty eerie.
My heroic teddy bear laughs at Nazgul. He was pretty mellow up on top of Mt. Rogers.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/bearpawat99/Blue%20Blaze%2009%20VA/113.jpg
I think it's the walk from the openness and light of the AT intersection upward to the thicker, darker forest that creates that kind of creepy feeling.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/bearpawat99/Blue%20Blaze%2009%20VA/115.jpg
bumblebee99
07-10-2009, 23:32
I'm so excited, I'll be here in about a week!
Jayboflavin04
07-14-2009, 10:52
Took ethan on a little shakedown yesterday. Not hiking. We did a section of the towpath trail on our bikes. We did 26 miles. He did that on his little bmx huffy (1 gear) so I am sure he peddled twice maybe 3 times as much as I did. No complaints a little tired and petered at the end, but in good spirits. I am getting pumped up for the trip.
Plodderman
07-14-2009, 12:29
Have fun making some memories.