WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
Results 21 to 32 of 32

Thread: Thomas Knob

  1. #21

    Default

    Ponies? When I hammocked near Thomas Knob last May, I was awakened around 1 a.m. by a woman yelling for help. I knew there were medically trained people in the shelter (an army medic and an MD), and I heard people getting up, so I didn't go myself. What had happened? A herd of ponies had surrounded a tent and were bumping into it, and the hikers apparently panicked.

    As others have said, the ponies are beautiful, very used to people, and not exactly aggressive but very insistent. At one point, with a pony nearby, I stupidly sat down to eat a granola bar, and the pony practically ended up sitting in my lap begging for a bite. I just rubbed his nose and told him I needed it more than he did, and after the last bite, he wandered off.

  2. #22
    Registered User tagg's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-03-2009
    Location
    greenwood, sc
    Age
    51
    Posts
    295

    Default

    If y'all decide to overnight it and your buddies are set on staying in the shelter, I'd definitely take my tent if I were you. These were taken from my campsite just a stone's throw north of the shelter...

    5.107 mount rogers.jpg
    5.135 grayson highlands.jpg
    -tagg

  3. #23
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-20-2002
    Location
    Damascus, Virginia
    Age
    65
    Posts
    31,349

    Default

    the shelter is ugly, the campsites are beautiful

  4. #24
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-14-2012
    Location
    Kingsport, TN
    Age
    52
    Posts
    75

    Default

    I stayed at the shelter this past summer during a very windy and rainy night. It was the one and only time that I've slept in a shelter. It will definitely be the last time....

  5. #25

  6. #26
    Registered User carouselambra's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-29-2012
    Location
    Raleigh, North Carolina
    Posts
    133
    Images
    33

    Default

    I have been in that area many times in many parts of the year. Usually stay at the campsites north of the shelter. About ten years ago I got snowed on pretty hard with temps in the 20s on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Be prepared.

  7. #27
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-20-2013
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Age
    64
    Posts
    56

    Default

    Has anyone taken the forest road up to the Scales? I'm curious what kind of shape it's in. Good shape, bad, don't try it without a 4X$, bring a winch 'cause you might need it, etc.

  8. #28
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-20-2013
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Age
    64
    Posts
    56

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Kolo View Post
    Has anyone taken the forest road up to the Scales? I'm curious what kind of shape it's in. Good shape, bad, don't try it without a 4X$, bring a winch 'cause you might need it, etc.
    oops, without a 4X4....

  9. #29
    Registered User
    Join Date
    11-20-2002
    Location
    Damascus, Virginia
    Age
    65
    Posts
    31,349

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Kolo View Post
    Has anyone taken the forest road up to the Scales? I'm curious what kind of shape it's in. Good shape, bad, don't try it without a 4X$, bring a winch 'cause you might need it, etc.
    took it 2 months ago. i go up there 2-3 times a year. it's the same as always. ya need a high clearance vehicle. but i've seen small cars up there. no 4WD needed

  10. #30
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-20-2013
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Age
    64
    Posts
    56

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lone Wolf View Post
    took it 2 months ago. i go up there 2-3 times a year. it's the same as always. ya need a high clearance vehicle. but i've seen small cars up there. no 4WD needed
    Thanks for the info Lone Wolf.

  11. #31
    Registered User Shooting Star's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-27-2008
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Age
    65
    Posts
    140
    Images
    9

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by July View Post
    Why? Ponies are in no way a threat to camping.
    We camped in the open field north of the shelter once. Overnight, a dozen horses
    moved in and milled about the tent. Several tried licking condensation off
    the tent but we're not a bother. It was a treat to camp with them.

    SS

  12. #32
    Registered User Kaptainkriz's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-28-2015
    Location
    Leonardtown, Maryland
    Age
    55
    Posts
    650
    Journal Entries
    57
    Images
    19

    Default Pesky Ponies

    Had a great time staying at Thomas Knob. Shelter was quite nice.
    Pesky Ponies...be sure to treat your water:

    Plaid is fast! Ticks suck, literally... It’s ok, bologna hoses off…
    Follow my hiking adventures: https://www.youtube.com/user/KrizAkoni
    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alphagalhikes/

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 1 2
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •