January 19-22, 2017
Mt. Rogers - The First Official Cold Weather Group Hammock Hang For Hammock Forums. Celebrating Our 11th Year!
REGISTRATION HERE.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...IdM/edit#gid=0
Updates to come. Check back often.
The Mt. Rogers Winter Hang happens because people volunteer to do stuff and we look out for each other! It organizes itself on a Google Spreadsheet.
Please register. It helps greatly with planning.
The sheet is set up so you can change your answers at any time if your plans change or if you need to add or delete information. It is more or less self-explanatory, but don’t hesitate to ask questions. Expect it to change substantially, so check back shortly before the hang.
Tickets to a gear raffle are sold and pay for the event. Bring cash to buy one ticket or more! $5 per ticket or 5 for $20
Camping fees to park, Port a John & firewood are paid for by the raffle. If raffle fails to raise enough money, a small additional donation will be requested from group.
Usually there are some donations to the raffle from our fine cottage vendors of hammocks & gear.
Also some from the camping group will buy or donate lightly used gear.
Wonder what it's like to do a winter hang at Mt. Rogers?
Mt. Rogers can be an interesting place in winter! Over the last few years, she's given us some eventful times...to say the least. If you're looking for a challenge with a bit of a safety factor, pack your rig and join us Jan 21-24. You're guaranteed to leave with a story or two!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Organizers: Hickery & slowhike.
Location: Group Campground, Grayson Highlands State Park
829 Grayson Highland Lane, Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363
The AT goes right through the park for fantastic day hiking or backpacking before or after the hang.
Date: January 19-22, 2017
Lat,Lon 36.63974,-81.487355.
Camping (hanging) is in the wooded area around the pavilion and the group camp site; same as last year.
No need to stop at the ranger station or pay a parking fee. They know we're coming!
Some more links:
Park Information; http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-pa...al_information
More Information; http://www.sherpaguides.com/virginia...highlands.html
Park Weather Forecast http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...n#.WGmcBRsrKUm
Park Map and Trail Guide; http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-pa...nhighlands.pdf
Current Weather Conditions At GHSP; http://weather.graysonfriends.org/
Last Year (2016) the Mount Rogers Area got such a blizzard that our group went off to find others places to camp.
Here is a Trip Report with some pictures from the year before (2015)... https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...+rogers+winter
USE EXTREME CAUTION ON PARK ROADS - If weather is snowy or icy, please be extremely careful on park road. Often there will be ice on blind curves where water drains across road and then freezes. The park doesn't clear it. You don't see it until you are on it. Go slow, be safe. People behind you will appreciate your safe driving.
SCHEDULE of EVENTS – This hang is less structured than some others. Some people will post about hikes or backpacking on the AT for Thursday and Friday. Most will start arriving Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. Hikes will materialize for Saturday. Or you can hang at the pavilion. Saturday evening is potluck dinner and raffle. Bring some food or drink to share.
Sunday morning people start packing to leave. Some plan to meet at the Log Cabin for breakfast/ lunch.
All meals are on-your-own except the Saturday Potluck Supper, but they have a communal feeling, as people cook around the group fire near the pavilion. A big tarp provides coverage for the fire pit area. In addition, it’s nice to have 3 or 4 tarps on the windward side of the pavilion. Sign-up on the Google Spreadsheet if you can bring one.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Family-Friendly Event: We pride ourselves on being a family-friendly camping hang. As an advertised family friendly event, we ask all hangers to use appropriate language and actions in front of our young people. Kinda like Hammock Forums itself so not a big deal for our group.
The Winter Hang is a great way for beginners to try winter hanging. Your car is parked next to the hang spot so you can bring as much gear as you need to stay warm. There are experienced hangers who can show you how to improve your winter hang. Plus you will see all the latest and greatest equipment that winter hangers use.
Bathrooms, Showers, Water: None of these are supplied by the park except for water at the Park Office. Bring your water from home or get water at the park office. The campground water is turned off, and the bathrooms are closed for the winter.
We will be renting a Port a John and have it close by.
Covered Pavilion: Yes! – it is used mostly for the raffle, though you can cook meals under the roof if you’re neat. (It’s warmer around the fire ring.)
Vendors Sales: People often ask if vendors will be selling at group hangs. The answer is no. The vendors have discussed this and say it's not something they want to do. You can see their hammock setups, tarps, quilts, etc. any time during the weekend and during the hammock tours. And the vendor donations make up a lot of the raffle prizes. There's no better place to see winter hammock gear.
ANSWERS TO FAQ
* Contact info for the State Park available on-line at Grayson Highlands State Park.
* Rangers can be reached at (276) 579-7092 for any questions we can't answer or found on-line.
* We have confirmed the dates of 1/19 Thurs thru 1/22 Sunday.
* The Port-a-John will be ordered & paid for in advance and placed near the camp store earlier in the week.
* We will be working to have someone local deliver a load of firewood so all we have to do is pay when we get there.
* Parking is available at the store and also near the permanent bathroom close to our hang sites and the fire ring.
* No need to stop at the ranger station or pay a parking fee.
* We can come as early as Thurs and leave Sunday afternoon.
* Map of park and campground available on the park's website.
Many thanks to the people who make this happen. And to the people who attend who make it worth organizing. This is Hammock Forums' oldest winter hang!
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