4 days and 3 nights Grayson Highlands/AT May 2015

[wa4chq]

Hey timd....I wish I was closer to good hiking spots. Even driving to the SNP is a good 3 hour drive. Good luck with testing the new gear..... I will be heading out there again, that's for sure.

[medicineman03]

Looked like a great hike indeed! Grayson Highlands was one of my favorite sections on the whole AT. I've been back several times since my thru and it never disappoints. Took my wife 3 years ago from Fox Creek to Damacus. Just last weekend we took our two year old, Grayson to meet her namesake. We car camped at the state park campground and did some day hiking up from Massie Gap to show her the ponies and she loved it. Thanks for sharing.

[Gqgeek81]

In the picture at 0:41 seconds if you look in the distance where the gravel path fades away you can just make out the tops of the fence posts for the corral around the water. (36.668697, -81.511434)
So close.

I've missed it there before too. The wooden sign on the post and the icon on the map make no sense.


It looks like you're using Trails Illustrated map #786 (Mount Rogers National Recreation Area [Jefferson National Forest]) which is what I started off with. I highly recommend #318 Mount Rogers High Country which has more accurate trail lines, additional trails missing on the other map (like the final leg of Bearpen) and it gives the mileage for all the trail sections between each intersection. Ironically I discovered the map when my brother and I came across two girls who were completely lost but had this map. They were at the top of Wilburn Ridge at the main trail junction there (AT, Pine, Crest ect) and asking if they were close to Wise shelter.

[wa4chq]

Thanks Medicineman3.....oh, I bet little Grayson loves seeing the wild ponies....I know I did!

[wa4chq]

Hey Gqgeek81....looking at the original photo, the trail goes right past the fence posts so the sign they have must be way off....TallPaul had the same problem about its location. And yes, the map I purchased and used is the NG Trails Illustrated map. I will look into the map you suggest. I missed a few turns/trails during my trip. When I was on the Scales Tr. to Wise Shelter area I had hoped to take Bearpen....never saw it....but that's ok, I still had a great hike.
Hey, thanks again for the info!
de wa4chq

[wa4chq]

Just remembered the map I have is the #318. In my slideshow, the map showing my route I downloaded from the internet and then overlayed my route using GIMP. Mine does show mileage between sections....wished the scale was a little larger!

[wa4chq]

I've put together an album of pictures from my recent trip out to Grayson Highlands.
Day 1 - 4.3 mi.
Day 2 - 14.5 mi.
Day 3 - 5.9 mi.
Day 4 - 2.7 mi.

One of the things to do different next time is to keep track of the time better between trail marks. I brought along some portable ham radio gear...band conditions were terrible the one day I brought it out of the pack. I'd leave it home and only take it with me if that is the reason for the trip. Add more water then you think to the dehydrated meals. The beef stew was edible but adding more water would have made it perfect. I carried instant potatoes if things were too watery.... I didn't take enough video. I need to purchase a spare battery and mount for my trekking poles.....