Photo: Frank Wodarczyk Hiking in the Heart of Appalachia, Virginia Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08209A Price: $625 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 12 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Frank Wodarczyk Our trip will focus on the "heart of Appalachia." Our tents will be nestled in Grayson Highlands State Park, the “best state park in Virginia.” This jewel of the Virginia state park system is surrounded by Jefferson National Forest and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Most of our outings will be on foot - hiking in the park and recreation area. We will coast downhill on the Virginia Creeper bicycle trail and visit cranberry bogs on one day.
 Photo: Frank Wodarczyk We will meet at the campground mid-afternoon on day one. After setting up our tent homes, we will have dinner and a tour of the campground. We will be hiking directly out of the campground or driving a short distance to the trailheads. Our hikes will take us among Virginia’s highest peaks, along mountain streams, and to the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands. Our hikes will range 8-14 miles in length, with elevation gains of 1,000 to 2,000 feet. Mid-week, we will drive to Damascus, Virginia to meet with the shuttle ride for our 17-mile downhill ride along the Virginia Creeper trail. This rails-to-trails multi-use path follows a creek, and it is a beautiful easy ride back to Damascus. One day during the week we will visit a cranberry bog in nearby Shady Valley, Tennessee and have dinner in a private home, discussing the native bog turtle research ongoing and local conservation issues. Getting There Grayson Highland State Park is in southwest Virginia along US 58 approximately 25 miles east of Damascus. The park is easily reached from I-81. The nearest airport is Tri-Cities Regional Airport near Bristol and Kingsport Tennessee. Carpooling is encouraged, as parking is limited at the campground.
We will be staying in the group campground in Grayson Highlands State Park . Only tents are permitted in this area. The campsite is centrally located in the park and we may walk to the nearby amphitheater for park programs. The campsite has showers and flush toilets for our convenience.  Photo: Frank Wodarczyk Our menus are varied and features fresh vegetables and local produce if available. Vegetarian preferences are easily accommodated. Participants will take turns cooking and cleaning up. Grayson Highlands state park does not permit the use of alcohol; please refrain from bringing wine, beer or liquor. (We may have a happy hour at the private home mid-week.) Participants will have a generous “goodie bag” for trail snacking. After our bike trip, we may partake of ice cream in Damascus .
The hikes will be moderate to strenuous. Ranging from 8-14 miles in length, the elevation gains are between 1,000-2,000 feet. Some hikes will cross high mountain balds, and the views should be stunning.
The leaders will provide commissary gear, stoves and food. You will need to bring a wet-weather tent, ground cloth, sleeping pad and bag. You can expect temperatures ranging from the 30 to 50 degrees at night to 60 to 80 degrees during the day. Personal gear should include a dayhiking pack, at least two 1-liter water bottles, raingear, warm fleece jacket, an outer shell jacket for wind, good comfortable hiking boots, and a mess kit (plate, bowl, cup, utensils). Please consult the basecamp equipment list for additional items.
Conservation The Jefferson National Forest hosts 280 miles of the Appalachian Trail - more than 10 percent of its entire length. The forest here ranges from high-elevation spruce-fir forests to lower-elevation beaver-pond wetlands, including 60,000 acres of old-growth forest. Currently, the Forest Service recognizes some 21 percent of the Jefferson as roadless areas qualifying for Wilderness protection. However, only four percent of the Forest is recommended for Wilderness designation. These lands include intact watersheds with high-quality fisheries, mature forest habitat, excellent backcountry recreation, and beautiful scenery. A coalition of citizens from nearby Wise County and conservation groups, including the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, has launched a campaign to stop a proposed coal-burning power plant in rural Southwest Virginia. Among other problems, the power plant would add to harmful air pollution in the region, increase greenhouse gas emission that cause global warming, and accelerate mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Ted and Lissa Jackson have been active Sierra Club outings leaders for over 10 years. They enjoy hiking varied mountain parks, paddling whitewater and flat water alike, and are members in several environmental groups.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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