January 18-21, 2018
Mt. Rogers - The Original Cold Weather Hammock Hang.
Celebrating Our 12th Year!
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REGISTRATION SPREADSHEET HERE. Updates to come. Check back often.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...IdM/edit#gid=0
The Mt. Rogers Winter Hang happens because people volunteer to do stuff! It organizes itself on a Google Spreadsheet.
Please register on the Google Spreadsheet. It helps greatly with planning.
There are (will be) two parts to the spread sheet.
Attendees, general info
Pot luck, raffle donations
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.
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All costs, the group site, fire wood and port-a-john are covered by the raffle.
Tickets to the gear raffle are sold in camp. Bring cash to buy as many tickets as you like!
$5 per ticket or 5 for $20
I don't believe that the raffle has ever failed to exceed (by far) what GHSP would have charged for the group site as well as take care of the port-a-john and firewood. In fact the raffle proceeds we have donated to the park through "Friends Of Grayson Highlands" have been generous.
We love giving back to such a beautiful state park, especially since they have treated our group so well.
In the the event we were to fall short of a worthy donation to cover our event, we would hope individuals would help add to the donation.
The park is working to supply the local wood. Please do not bring firewood from areas infected by the Emerald Ash Borer. http://emeraldashborer.info/
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Wonder what it's like to do a winter hang at Grayson Highlands State Park/ Mt. Rogers Area?
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.
We have had a couple events were it was not so cold but rainy. A couple years ago the in coming blizard was so intense, the rangers made the decision to close the park and send our group else where.
But for the most part, the conditions have been perfect for a "Winter Hang".
If you're looking for a challenge with a bit of a safety factor (because the cars are near by), pack your rig and join us Jan 18-21. You're guaranteed to leave with a story or two!
Short Story from Jan 2015, by Home Run
Gray Jay, The Professor, Mountnman, Nightranger, and I took a Thursday afternoon walk up into the high country and ventured across Wilburn Ridge. The views were spectacular! A 60 mile sweep all around left us breathless. It was simply gorgeous. The crisp air filled our lungs and felt good as we scrambled down the ridge toward our destination for the night, Thomas Knob. About then the wind shifted. It was just another half mile to our hang spot, but something spelled trouble in the sky. With the clouds moving in, we regrettably turned around and made footprints back down the mountain.
Arriving at our Grayson hang site about 5pm, we wondered about the decision to turn back. It all seemed fine here. Hammocks all set up, we cooked dinner and made a fire. Maztrain got out his guitar and we had a ball around the campfire. It was such a pleasant, set-your-spirit-free kind of evening! ...... and then about 6:30 it started to snow. A couple inches, and then a couple more. The wind picked up and we had to batten down our tarps. If this hang's history had taught us anything, we'd better be prepared. Just a couple years earlier 17" of freezing rain, sleet, and snow had put some of our friends in jeopardy! Senses heightened, we settled in that night. The roar of the wind above us would be nothing compared to what would happen the next evening....
The rest of the story is yours to discover! So please....There's plenty of space around the campfire! Bring your chair and join us Jan 18-21. It's always a good time!
HOME RUN
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Organizers: slowhike, Hickery
Location: Group Campground, Grayson Highlands State Park
829 Grayson Highland Lane, Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363
Rangers can be reached at (276) 579-7092 for any questions we can't answer or found on-line.
Parking is available at the store and also near the permanent bathroom, a short walk from our hang sites and the fire ring.
The AT goes right through the park for fantastic day hiking or backpacking before or after the hang.
Lat,Lon 36.63974,-81.487355.
Date: January 18-21, 2018
Camping (hanging) is in the area around the group camp site and beyond he pavilion, same as last year.
Most of our group are hammock campers but we often have a person or two join us with their tent. That is not a problem.
Everyone is welcome.
Note; One year a few of our folks ventured into the main part of the campground to set up their hammock camps. That is not allowed. We are asked to use the wooded areas surrounding the group site and pavilion only. But there is more than enough room to spread out or be near camp central.
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#.Wkz539-nGUm
Park Map and Trail Guide-
Freinds Of Grayson Highlands State Park- http://graysonfriends.org/
Park weather and weather cam- http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...n#.Wkz539-nGUm
Last Year's Trip Report with great pictures and videos!
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...rs+winter+hang
USE EXTREME CAUTION ON PARK ROADS - If weather is snowy or icy, please be extremely careful on park roads.
Even if there is no snow,there may be ice on blind curves where water drains across road and then freezes.
The park plows the roads in the case of snow but driving can still be tricky on steep roadways.
Two wheel drives usually are fine as long as caution is used you have decent thread on your tires.
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 overnighters on the AT.
Most will start arriving Friday afternoon through Saturday morning but some will arrive on Thursday, sometimes doing an overnight backpack trip on the AT.
Take part in a hike or you can just hang at the pavilion.
Saturday evening is potluck dinner and raffle.
Bring some food or drink to share. Can be simple purchased items or food you prepared at home or in camp. But remember in can be cold and windy so be prepared to cook in those conditions.
See spread sheets.
Sunday morning people start packing to leave. Some plan to meet at the Log Cabin for breakfast.
All other meals are on-your-own, 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. Hickery has it.
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: We’ll have a Porta Potty nearby.
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.
In colder conditions, water can be kept from freezing by keeping it in a cooler, maybe with a jug of hot water, heated on stove or fire.
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.
HOW TO HANG IN VERY COLD WEATHER: Originally Doctari had started a thread about the 2014 winter hang which a lot of good info can be found.... https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ang-in-January
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!
Slow Hike
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Originally Posted by Hickery
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