2020-09-18 AT Backpacking Thomas Knob Shelter
Be sure to revisit and review any UPDATES at bottom of page
9/18/20
10:45 AM. We will meet at the Food Lion in Jefferson NC and carpool to trailhead.
Google address. 733 E Main St, Jefferson, NC 28640
This location is about 2-2.5 hours from REI Northlake.
Please don’t be late… anticipate morning traffic.
Feel free to carpool from Charlotte.
Be Covid safe.
​
BRING A TRAIL MAP or have a GPS Hiking App available.
In the event of an emergency any one of us, including me, might have to exit the hike early. Being prepared will help reduce inconveniences to other hikers.
Additional detail under "GPS Apps" at bottom of page.
​
11:00 AM. We will carpool to the Elk Garden Trailhead in Troutdale VA.
About 45 minutes away. Temps should be around 60º with a 15% chance of rain.
We will hike northbound on the Appalachian Trail to the Thomas Knob Shelter.
About 4.5 miles with an elevation gain of about 1200 ft.
We can then take a side trail to the summit of Mt Rogers. The summit is only
about a half mile away and only a few hundred feet up from the shelter.
At 5722 ft it is the highest peak in VA.
​
Important notes:
_I’ve never been on these trails so we can explore together.
_Bring food, water and filter. Online info suggests a few water sources along the route.
_Be prepared for cooler weather. Overnight temps could drop into the high 30s.
GPS Apps
I use Gaia GPS. I publicly posted this hike named "VA AT Elk Garden VA 600 to Thomas Knob Shelter 4.5 m 1500 ft" so you can access it from the app. The app will work offline and provide you with GPS tracking allong the route.
​
​
UPDATES
​
_I heard back from the Forest Service and confirmed that bear boxes are at the shelters and there have been NO reports about problem encounters with bears.
​
LETS PLAN on having lunch either at the store or at the trailhead before beginning our hike.
​
​