Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Virginia

Date of summit: Saturday - April 26, 2008

Mountain: Mt. Rogers

Summit Elevation: 5.729 feet


We set out on our spring break for an Appalachian adventure. Our goal was to hike to the high point in each of six states - North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. We planned 4 days for the 1,500 mile road trip that would include up to 23 miles of hiking. Each state will get its own post. Unfortunately, you won't find one for Kentucky because we ran out of time and didn't make it! We came home happy (and exhuasted) though with 5 state high points.

Mt. Rogers was our 5th and last high point on our Appalachian adventure and our 8th high point overall.

Mt. Rogers has been one of our favorite high point hikes so far. Most of the mountain is only lightly forested, providing great views along the way. Surprisingly, the very top of the mountain is the only part of the hike that is heavily wooded (and there's not much of a view from the top).

The 9 mile round-trip hike was a good workout in distance, but the elevation gain from the parking lot to the top was only 1,500 feet or so. A nice break from the steep summits we did in Georgia and North Carolina.


Jewels at the top of Mt. Rogers.



We crossed the Appalachian Trail a few times and hiked on it for a while too. We met an interesting English hiker who seemed very dissappointed that he wasn't the only person on the trail. There was also a scout group camping nearby.


The wild ponies up there on the range are very friendly!

What a great family hike!



This is the official geodetic survey marker at the top of Mt. Rogers.

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