I finally listened to the ranger at Mount Rogers who said skip the AT section and loop the crest instead

Jennifer Jenkins · 2026-10-21T15:10:03.350967+00:00

Last October I ran into a backcountry ranger at the Massie Gap trailhead in Grayson Highlands, and he flat out said the 12 mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail I had planned was a muddy slog with zero views. He pulled out his own map and traced the Crest Trail loop instead, about 9 miles with the ponies and the rock outcrops. I was annoyed at first since I had planned that AT section for months, but I did the loop and it was the best day of the trip. Now I want to know what other rangers have talked people out of and whether they were right.

Babble Community

Loading…

I finally listened to the ranger at Mount Rogers who said skip the AT section and loop the crest instead | Backpacking Routes - Babble Community