Looks like we need to pick dates for the Roan hang!
Looks like we need to pick dates for the Roan hang!
When you have a backpack on, no matter where you are, you’re home.
PAIN is INEVITABLE. MISERY is OPTIONAL.
If it's in Feb, I can make the Higher and Colder Hang, right after the Mt Rogers Hang, which is right after the MN Freeze Your Butt Off Hang!
Hmm... maybe I can do SoRuck too...
- MacEntyre
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
www.MollyMacGear.com
Nice to see that area again ....... lucky for you .... SNOW!!!!!!
Shug
Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven
The other issue would be the amount of snow. If it goes like last year, there were not many melts. By mid Feb. there was over 60" of snow that lasted well into March.
OK February 11-13, 2 bitter/cold/windy nights on the Roan.
Who likes these dates?
Closest roads are, as Doctari mentioned Hughes Gap...which is south of Roan High Knob and has a 2500 foot climb to the shelter area; the other road is at Carvers Gap from which is roughly 700 foot climb to the shelter area.
In February either road may be impassable.
if you are thinking 'shake-down' as getting gear in order then Mt.Rogers would be the less severe of the two based on past winters/record colds/etc.'
Agreed, the odds are very strong that the Roan in February will be a snow hike but at that altitude and temps something interesting happens with the snow; I'm sure the eskimo/inuit in all of their 100 words for different types of snow have one that describes the phenom but often there you can walk on 3 feet of snow that has compacted over and over again....but snowshoes will be on my pack just like they were at Mt.Rogers last year.
There is another consideration...that time of year one is far from outside help there. At Mr.Rogers the state park office is what 3 miles away? At Roan its closer to 12 and 4000 feet lower (gestimates).
It's not a trip for the meek but Mt.Rogers isn't either...but at Mt.Rogers there was a huge team of helpers if needed be. I'd bet 4-6 might take this one on.
I'll take before or after. I just have to make sure it does not butt heads with my Dominican Republic work trip in January. As long as we're not having to crawl thru Rhodo tunnels.
We'll try our best to park at Carver's Gap....the trail from there to the shelter area is as easy as it gets with nice gentle grade up several very long switch backs...first 1/4 mile is actual trail with neat little bridges; last 1.25 miles is old jeep trail the Fire Warden used going and coming to the tower (removed I think in the 40's)....
If we park at Hughes Gap we're in for a workout When I was on Katahdin I asked several thru's to name 5 mountains they remembered; Roan was on everyones list because of the climb out of Hughes Gap
In the meantime I'll call the park and ask if the state maintains the road to Carvers if at all.
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