Virginia Section Advice?

[mrsmay08]

I am looking to take a group of 6 friends on a section this July. We have been advised to go between the Adkins and Damascus area to see many neat sites and still be a bit of a challenge. None of us have ever hiked any of the AT before. I need advise on where to park the trucks and where to start and finish. Really any advise you could give me would be great. We all visited a friend who gave us wonderful advise on gear, so we feel like we know that well, but as far as making the plans for the trip, we need some HELP!!!

Thanks so much!
:)

[Gambit McCrae]

Didn't say how far your wanting to go so I will assume 2 trips.

Atkins to Damascus is 75 miles.

Weekend Trip 17 miles: Friday night thru Sunday- Park at Elk Garden and head North to Fox Creek Trailhead. Get Sundog outfitter to shuttle you back to your car - They have big white vans driven by a scary wolf.

Highlights: Mt Rogers, The Ponies, open range hiking without trees for 50% of the hike, Thomas knob, the scales, Pine mountain bald right on the AT past scales.

Longer trip: Fox Creek Trailhead to Damascus 41.2 miles. Use sundog outfitter to ride back to car at end of trip.
Highlights:All from trip 1 + whitetop overlook, the VA Creeper trail (walk on this into Damascus)
Damascus (Check eateries before leaving for trip, always seem to have issues with a place being in season or even open while im there)

A weeklong trip: Atkins to Damascus.

[bigcranky]

I will propose an odd plan for this hike, but bear with me. My wife and I did this section this way a couple of years ago, and enjoyed it. (We also edit the ALDHA Companion for this section, so we're very familiar with it.)

This hike is a strange flip flop hike with Damascus in the middle, and will take about a week. If you have a whole week with both weekends, it's very doable even with the driving. Park your car at Grayson Highlands State Park in the backpacker lot. This will cost some money but it's safe. Then hike the A.T. *southbound* to Damascus, about 32 miles. It'll take about 3 days. Then spend the night (or even two nights) in Damascus, resupply at the grocery store, hang around town with the hikers, meet people, etc., then get a shuttle from Damascus to the I-81 Atkins exit where the trail crosses, and hike *southbound* back to your car. This is about 45 miles, and will take 3-5 days depending on your abilities.

Why do it this way?

1. Cut down on food weight -- carry 2.5 days of food for the first leg instead of 6-7 days.
2. Get the quintessential trail experience of walking into town for shower and resupply, and Damascus is a great trail town.
3. Save the more difficult section for the second part of the week.

I'm happy to provide more details if you like. Hope you enjoy the hike -- doesn't matter how you do it, that area is beautiful.

[mrsmay08]

We are looking to be on the trail for 5 days (ish). Thank you.

[Slo-go'en]

The main issue is the size of your group, which sounds like it will be 7 total including you. While your below the maximum recommended (and sometimes legal) group size of 10, a group of that size poses some challenges. Groups always travel slower then solo or couples. There is always at least one in the group who can't get their act together and slows everyone down, either in getting ready to go in the morning or along the trail or both. Since it sounds like your all novice backpackers, this will be especially true. So you have to make your daily mileage realistic.

As a relatively large group, you will have to use designated camping sites. Due to the slow speed of group, going shelter to shelter is about all you can expect to do. In that case, Damascus to RT603 is probably the only realistic distance you can travel in 5 days, but you could make it to VA16 (Dickie gap) if you made the last day a long one instead of a short one. One thing to keep in mind though is that is a popular area and bringing a big group into it only adds to the overcrowding issues. In July you there is a very good chance you'll run into large Boy Scout and church groups overrunning the area too.

[bigcranky]

Do you have 5 full hiking days, or will you have to drive part of the days?

VA 603 Fox Creek trailhead to Damascus is 42 miles, which is probably doable in five full hiking days even for folks inexperienced on the AT.

[mrsmay08]

That's a good idea! You are saying that that path is 45 miles total, correct? Do you know if this trail included the wild ponies still? Also, someone recommended Hikerbox.net to me to find specific trail info. I am clearly not knowledgeable about the trail to use the site. I am tech savvy, but I don't know the trail lingo to use the site well. Any tips or other sites I could use that would "draw up" my route for me?

[mrsmay08]

5 hiking days, big cranky. :)

[Slo-go'en]

Ideally you want to get an AT guide book like AWOL's AT guide. The National Geographic map #318 Mount Rogers High Country Grayson Highlands State Park covers the area your interested in and covers pretty much all you need to know.

[lwhikerchris]

I would recommend starting at Four Pines Hostel (donation only) mile 701, and doing Dragons Tooth, then hitting up the ride to Homeplace restaurant (family style all you can eat fried chicken and sides), then stay at Four Pines hostel again that night. Then the next morning hiking north to McAfee Knob, through Tinker cliffs, and stay in a shelter out there, then hiking into Daleville, VA (one of my fav trail towns on the whole trail; hit Three Lil' Pigs bbq), then continue north to see Black Rock overlook, The Guillotine, and some other overlooks, and end at US 501, vA 130, mile 784.3. Glasgow, VA is on that road 5.9 miles west.

This will give you a very nice taste of the trail in VA. A good amount of elevation gain, lots to see, famous iconic points, great food, a hostel stay (with hiker culture and corn hole), and several shelter/tent stays. About 83 miles total. I would definitely do this chunk again if I was taking someone new. There is a lot of work and reward payoffs here.

[bigcranky]

That's a good idea! You are saying that that path is 45 miles total, correct? Do you know if this trail included the wild ponies still? Also, someone recommended Hikerbox.net to me to find specific trail info. I am clearly not knowledgeable about the trail to use the site. I am tech savvy, but I don't know the trail lingo to use the site well. Any tips or other sites I could use that would "draw up" my route for me?


42 miles from Fox Creek to Damascus. Yes it includes the ponies. You can do the Virginia Creeper Trail for the last 8 or 10 miles which is nicer than the AT (and flatter).

Get the Nat Geo map and join ALDHA and get the downloadable Companion, or buy the PDF of the AT Guide. Together they will have all the info you need.

[MuddyWaters]

Do you have 5 full hiking days, or will you have to drive part of the days?

VA 603 Fox Creek trailhead to Damascus is 42 miles, which is probably doable in five full hiking days even for folks inexperienced on the AT.

+
great section for people that want to see stuff , and short.
Be prepared for lots of company, Grayson is popular place

[Siestita]

As first time backpackers your principal goal should be to all thoroughly enjoy yourselves and end this adventure all wanting to hike again another time. That's a different way of thinking from the mind set of some prospective "thru hikers" and other veterans who emphasize mileage. Limiting how far you walk can help you avoid becoming injured or developing blisters. And, you may find that the ups and downs of that beautiful section of the AT (or any other AT section in the south) will slow some members of your group down quite a bit. For me backpacking there has not been as easy as taking day hikes was where I grew up in southwestern Ohio.

So, I suggest that you limit yourselves to walking no more than eight miles per day, ideally covering fewer miles per day in the open "Crest Zone" that is located within and near Grayson Highlands State Park. That's where the ponies roam. If I personally were planning a four night, five day trip for newbies in that area I would leave the vehicle at Grayson Highlands State Park's "Backpacker Lot" and use the AT and connecting trails to complete a high country/Crest Zone loop.

[mrsmay08]

Thanks Slo-go'en! With the slower routes that you were suggesting, how many miles per day would those be, roughly? We do realize that we are all novices, but we all are very fit. We would only have 3 small 1-2 person tents. There are also only 6 of us total. Our plan for the pacing issue, was to have the lead person stop and meet up around mid day and let others catch up and then to obviously have the lead person stop at dust and let others catch up. I would love to know your thoughts on all this. I am really open to anyone's input. THANKS EVERYONE! Keep the advice coming! :)

[mrsmay08]

Anyone have a suggestion for quickly looking up all the trails everyone is suggesting? Is there a quick and easy way, as I am not familiar with all the routes and your suggestions?

[Gambit McCrae]

Anyone have a suggestion for quickly looking up all the trails everyone is suggesting? Is there a quick and easy way, as I am not familiar with all the routes and your suggestions?

I don't understand why folks make things complicated. The OP asked for suggestions from atkins to Damascus. They haven't hiked any of the at thru that stretch, the end point makes for a very simple logistical choice to get back to the car, and 17 miles of that choice is one of the most iconic stretches of the 2200 mile AT. People give great advice on here but with a forum comes too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Everyone gives their 2 cents and before you know it the OP has 100 bucks lol

[mrsmay08]

What section of this is the best 17 miles so I make sure I don't miss it if I have to shorten the route at all?

[Siestita]

I have a paper map that I purchased from the U.S. Forest Service that dates from 1995 but is still useful because its trails, roads, and other features have not changed. It is called "Mount Rogers High Country and Wildernesses" but apparently is no longer sold. (You might, however, be able to download that map from the Library of Congress) Fortunately, National Geographic/Trails Illustrated now publishes a trail map of the same area, as mentioned above in post #9. And, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) publishes useful maps. To plan a loop hike you would, I suspect that you would need to have copy of the National Geographic/Trails Illustrated map.

https://shop.nationalgeographic.com/search?_dyncharset=UTF-8&Dy=1&Nty=1&siteScope=ok&_D%3AsiteScope=+&siteIds=ngstore&_D%3AsiteIds=+&Ntt=grayson+Highlands&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchall&Nr=OR%28product.isSearchable%3A1%29&search=Search&_DARGS=%2Fcartridges%2FSearchBox%2FSearchBox.jsp

[4eyedbuzzard]

Thanks Slo-go'en! With the slower routes that you were suggesting, how many miles per day would those be, roughly? We do realize that we are all novices, but we all are very fit. We would only have 3 small 1-2 person tents. There are also only 6 of us total. Our plan for the pacing issue, was to have the lead person stop and meet up around mid day and let others catch up and then to obviously have the lead person stop at dust and let others catch up. I would love to know your thoughts on all this. I am really open to anyone's input. THANKS EVERYONE! Keep the advice coming! :)

Having the lead stop at dusk is a really bad idea, because that means those behind will be hiking in the dark. Definitely bad idea for inexperienced hikers. The lead should stop with enough time for the others to catch up BEFORE dusk.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Adding to above, the lead can gather water, start a fire if desired, start boiling water, prep food, etc while waiting.

[Siestita]

"I don't understand why folks make things complicated. The OP asked for suggestions from atkins to Damascus. They haven't hiked any of the at thru that stretch, the end point makes for a very simple logistical choice to get back to the car, and 17 miles of that choice is one of the most iconic stretches of the 2200 mile AT. People give great advice on here but with a forum comes too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Everyone gives their 2 cents and before you know it the OP has 100 bucks lol."

Gambit McKee--Please refrain from making assumptions about other posters. Some of us have both have both hiked the AT section in question (Fox Creek to Damascus) and also walked various connecting trails, including much of the nearby Iron Mountain Trail.


"What section of this is the best 17 miles so I make sure I don't miss it if I have to shorten the route at all?"

Staying exclusively on the AT, I especially like Fox Creek/Virginia Highway 603 to Elk Garden/Virginia Highway 600. That 16.9 miles passes through both designated wilderness areas, which are forested, and scenic open balds.

Or, continuing on the AT slightly further southbound, you could additionally visit open areas up on Whitetop Mountain. To do that you would end your hike at either Whitetop Mountain Road (19.4 miles from Fox Creek/VA 603), or at Beech Mountain Road/USFS 89 (22.6 miles from Fox Creek/VA 603).

If you instead decide to walk into Damascus. descending along the Virginia Creeper Trail rather than the AT, you will pass along a beautiful creek. But, while doing so you will probably find yourselves sharing that trail with many cyclists.

[mrsmay08]

Right. I guess that's what I meant, but I didn't say it that way. We won't be hiking in the dark! They would have to catch up because chances are that someone ahead has their tent! ;)

[mrsmay08]

Great idea! I'll make sure I stay at least 2nd behind! :rolleyes:

[MuddyWaters]

I don't understand why folks make things complicated. The OP asked for suggestions from atkins to Damascus. They haven't hiked any of the at thru that stretch, the end point makes for a very simple logistical choice to get back to the car, and 17 miles of that choice is one of the most iconic stretches of the 2200 mile AT. People give great advice on here but with a forum comes too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Everyone gives their 2 cents and before you know it the OP has 100 bucks lol


Heres what the op said:

:
I am looking to take a group of 6 friends on a section this July. We have been advised to go between the Adkins and Damascus area to see many neat sites and still be a bit of a challenge. None of us have ever hiked any of the AT before. I need advise on where to park the trucks and where to start and finish. Really any advise you could give me would be great. We all visited a friend who gave us wonderful advise on gear, so we feel like we know that well, but as far as making the plans for the trip, we need some HELP!!!

Thanks so much!
:)


What part of "any advice" dont you comprehend?

[mrsmay08]

Yes, any advise is fine! :)

[Gambit McCrae]

Heres what the op said:
:
What part of "any advice" dont you comprehend?

Show me another trail that goes from Damascus to Atkins VA.
Why give more complicated plans for inexperienced people that haven't even hiked the logical plan yet?

And to be REAL specific, the OP states that they have never hiked on the AT before, putting an emphasis on THE AT. AND WHERE TO PARK< IN TWO TRAIL TOWNS.

No where did the OP say " Hey I would like to park in a town that the AT goes thru, but would like to somehow get on some other trails, but then get back on a track to get to Damascus."

Even at that this is in the "trail towns and services" So what part of offering different routes falls into a town, or service? I guess none of us comprehended that part.

Way to be you muddy

[Siestita]

"Show me another trail that goes from Damascus to Atkins VA."

No trail goes all the way, but the Iron Mountain Trail (AMT) can get a hiker over half way from Damascus to Atkins. However, the AMT is less scenic than the parallel section of the AT. So, for views, I believe either staying entirely on the AT, or perhaps instead doing a loop incorporating the Crest Zone adjoining Grayson Highlands State Park, would make more sense for our original posters then would focusing on the Iron Mountain Trail.

The original posters will travel to Virginia from Northwestern Ohio. They tell us they have will have five days available for their hike. Will some portion of that period need to be devoted to automotive transportation, reducing the trail time?

The OPs also tell us that they have consulted with a friend recently about gear selection. In other words this will apparently be their first backpacking adventure. So, in light of time constraints, perhaps this time visiting trail towns to simulate attaining a long distance "AT experience" should not be a high priority for them. Loop hikes require doing more planning that does staying exclusively on the AT. In compensation loops eliminate the need to spend time and money taking shuttles. The area in question offers scenic looping possibilities of varying lengths.