Katahdin to Kakadjo Road ME October 3-9, 2018 din

May 6-9 2017


AT#25 VA Dicky Gap to Damascus Virginia


AT Dicky Gap to Damascus From Richmond With
2 Mile and Montgomery


May 6/5.2-10.2 miles hikingTravel to Mt Rogers Outfitters 4.5 Hrs Cost $55 for 3 hikersTravel to Dicky Gap1 Hr arrival @ noon Dicky Gap VA 650 mile 518.5/3829Hike 1.5 milesLunch at Comer Falls which was full of water! Next was a flat and slightly descending 4.4 miles then Ascend 1350' Iron Mtn 3 miles; descend 2.5 milesThe trail was easy hiking despite the expected rainfall that came at 3pm when we arrived at shelter. We decided to stay in shelter because of the heavy rainfall. This was an old shelter for 6 people with a new roof and a good water source.


May 7/15.9 milesLeft Hurricane Mtn Shelter (or Old Orchard) 509.2/407 at 7:30 am.Ascend 1300' Pine Mountain 3 miles then Rolling ridge trail for 4.5 milesHiked 2.9 flat Miles's to mtn top thru the Scales and pony pasture. Saw several groups of ponies including a recently born foal. Also walked close to a huge Long Horn Steer.Climbed 1000' over 5.5 miles to top of Stone Mountain and descended for Lunch at Wise Shelter 502.5/4410. After a brief lunch headed to Thomas Knob Shelter. This was a long and difficult ascent through open space with Rock outcropping. Went through the Fatman Squeeze Tunnel which isn't as hard as the Lemon Squeeze in New England! After this area it's a moderately tedious climb to to TK Shelter. It has a piped water source .2 miles downhill off the trail. We tented and ate dinner while seeing. Wild pony foal dancing around the tent area! It was extremely cold and windy at night.


May 8/12 milesLeft Thomas Knob Shelter at 8 am497.3/54132.5 Flat but largely descending.We Descended 1000' to Elk Garden Parking Lot 3 miles To our delight there was extreme trail magic from two old section hikers from Charlotte and a town close to Amicolla Falls in Georgia. It was cheeseburgers in paradise!Ascended 700' to Whitetop Mountain 3 miles up a series of switchbacks.490.8/5082Descended 1700' for 3.6 miles to Lost Mountain Shelter where we joined a huge group of Nobounders. It was pure entertainment listening to their stories!Lost Mountain has an excellent piped spring water source and plenty of campsites.


May 9/14 milesWe left Lost Mountain Shelter at 7:30 am485/3370Rolling hills 6.5 miles easy trail despite the moderate rain. Instead of going to Saunders we opted to stay on the Creeper Trail for 7.5 miles because of the heavy rainfall. By 1 pm it was a mist.Lunch at the Creeper Trail Cafe on Creeper Trail 6 miles from Damascus.478.5/3305 Hiked Road 1 mile to Mt Rogers Outfitters and got a $3 shower at a Hostel around the corner. Ate salads at Mojo's and then drove to Richmond arriving at 8 pm.Damascus/Rt 58470.2/1998


First time hike with Boy Scouts Troop 794 (below):


(7/13/97-7/18/97)


# 25 VA Dicky Gap to Damascus


with Stan (Son)
1665 miles to Katahdin


7/13/97 Hurricane Mtn Shelter (next to a brook)1671;6 mile hike on easy trail to shelter but rising 1000'
7/14/97 Campsite at Wise Mtn Shelter 1682 steady climb up and down to Pine and Stone Mountains with late Thunderstorm.
7/15/97 Thomas Knob Shelter 1687 climbed 1000' to Rhododendron Gap which was in full bloom and smelled like a floral garden...also passed by Greyson Highlands wild ponies and a pasture field (west of Stone Mtn). Crossed Route 58 near a small parking lot).
7/16/97 Lost Mountain Shelter 1699 easy decent day with trail over fences and great views at Whitetop Mtn and took side trail to Mt Rogers ( tallest mountain in VA) with no views. The grassy campsite was fantastic near the trailhead to Rogers.
7/17/97 Camped at Saunders Shelter (piped spring) and later took a refreshing bath in the river. This was a flat easy day of hiking. Hiked a short portion of Creeper Trail.
7/18/97 Damascus 1715
Hiked 10 miles over Iron Mountain and Feathercamp Ridge; beautiful hike but a boring 1.5 miles on road to town. Took shower at hostel (which was really sleezy) and had an Italian dinner a local pizza joint.