Highpointing: Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia

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Mount Rogers is the highest point in Virginia at 5,729feet but that was not always the case. Over its history it has laid claim to some of the highest points in North America. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Jefferson National Forest, Mt. Rogers and its immediate fellow peaks are the only place in the state where you can get over a mile high. This area also has some of the most interesting geology around. Join us as we explore America and go highpointing!
Hosted by Skye Marthaler, www.rooftopsofamerica.com
Music is by Kevin MacLeod and Alexander Nakarada
#highpointing #virginia #blueridge

[@LaiseJetsam]

Great Video, my favorite view in the area would be the central peak on Wilburn Ridge.

[@Curtis2336]

Definitely an enjoyable video. As a hiker it is easy to enjoy the beauty of the trails, but knowing the history of the area adds a sense of respect for the area. You should do guided overnight hikes with information sessions along the way to the highpoints. I'd sign up!

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Some of those guided overnights would be epic...Grayson Highlands area of Virginia is a beautiful place.

[@BrendaHaltom-cs6ck]

Beautiful Mt Rogers! I’m been up through Galax and seen it from below but never the top! I have a friend who lives on its slopes! Thank you! I live in the New River Vally! I’m originally from Boone NC!

[@tedd8055]

Hiked Mt. Rogers many times in my youth. I grew up in Smyth county and loved it all. Great video!

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thank you! I love hiking out there.

[@rtpoe]

At 22:30, it was nice of the people coming down to wait for you to finish talking / filming before they came closer!

[@debbieroyal1728]

Thank you teaching. even didn’t know,my family are from up there, Whitetop is also awesome,people do live around there,but don’t go when it snows also there was a train that went across the Virginia Creeper.

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Glad you enjoyed it Debbie! Thanks for watching!

[@dianemorgan5482]

Another great adventure. That is such a pretty area. Thanks for sharing.

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thanks Diane! I lived in Virginia for close to 10 years and I still feel that I didn't explore enough of it. Cheers!

[@mikepreslar8686]

One of my favorite places hike. Not far from home for me although I prefer parking at the Trailhead at Elk Garden and taking the AT North. Thomas Knob Shelter is great if weather turns nasty and Rhododenron Gap has the best Campsites not far from there. Loved the Informative nature of this piece!

[@debbieroyal1728]

And by the if go on Whitetop Mt,look at the trees you faces in the bodies real cool.Thanks for telling the true history of the mountains.

[@streamlinetreecare182]

This was very informative and entertaining. Thanks for the hard work puttting this together.

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thank you! Virginia was a lot of fun to film and hike!

[@mottodan]

Ok I'm addicted to watching all your videos,another well done history lesson.

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

I appreciate it! Thank you!

[@karinandlarryathome8711]

Great video, thank you. You really put a lot of time into this project. We hiked Mount Rodgers March 2022. See our video at Karin and Larry at Home. Take care, Larry

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thanks Larry! Mt. Rogers in March sounds like quite the adventure. Over the years Rooftops of America has basically become my other job and I wouldn't have it any other way. Cheers!

[@danielcoleman4807]

Sir, thank you again for an educational and entertaining video. I have been there but didn't know about the trails to the summit. I believe another visit is what I need. Regards, Daniel

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thanks for watching Daniel! The hike across Grayson Highlands is a favorite of mine. In the spring you get the rhododendrons in bloom and in the autumn some pretty amazing colors.

[@BrianJMurray]

Interesting & informative, well done!

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thank you! It was a fun episode to pull together.

[@rbryant100]

Definitely a fan of your series! I hiked Mount Rogers last fall. I hiked the AT from Elk Garden trailhead to Mount Rogers. Beautiful views of the Virginia highlands. Mount Rogers, while lacking the vistas, has a quiet serene beauty in the cloak of the firs.

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Both times I have been there my favorite parts have always been entering the spruce fir woods at the top. It's otherworldly.

[@whelancommunications]

Great history section!

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thanks Mike! I really enjoyed creating this episode!

[@steveseale5393]

Really great episode... love the longer format! Also very much appreciated the amount and variety of research that went into this... can't imagine how long that must have taken. I know this isn't your primary goal, but this has got got be a salable commodity!

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thanks Steve! I probably went a little overboard but I really enjoyed making this episode.

[@steveseale5393]

Not overboard at all! Very enjoyable! Also loved... "some of the best views are behind you." So true on many levels.

[@OrangeLibrary]

I just binge watched all your high point episodes. I hope you can keep going when Covid-19 finally passes. I've been to the highest points of 3 countries and I went to Delaware's Ebright Azimuth in 2014. All so far ridiculously easy but hopefully that will change soon with more higher and difficult high points (country or lesser jurisdiction).

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Thanks William! I've got a whole season's worth of scripts just waiting to go once things get back to sort of normal and I continue to write more. Stay tuned and best of luck on your highpointing adventures!

[@n9sferatu261]

I live in independence

[@Eric_Hutton.1980]

A most excellent video about Mount Rogers. The tallest peak of my native Virginia. P.S. it's spelled Smyth, but pronounced as Smith.

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Pronunciations are a challenge at times. LOL. Thank you for watching!

[@purplenights1]

It is called "Smith", Smyth County, not Smythe.

[@moonshinerphd9523]

LOL... Hey brother, it's Smyth (Smith) County not Smythe.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

What time of year did you hike Mt. Rogers? It looks like early spring in your video

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

The filming in this episode was split by six months. All the background stuff was filmed in April. Originally the hike was going to be as well but bad weather prevented me from filming that day. Instead the hike section happened in the middle of October, which yielded some fantastic autumn colors! Cheers!

[@hunterhinke6133]

Hey Uncle Skye

[@hunterhinke6133]

Reason my name is Hinkle is because Hinke is taken for some reason

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Hello nephew of mine!

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

@@hunterhinke6133 No worries! I'm glad you found the channel and hope you enjoy it!

[@hunterhinke6133]

Yeah me too

[@emilyavidon2421]

How hard was this hike, do you think that it could be done in early November (could there be snow).

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

It actually is not too challenging, but it is fairly long and rocky and that could trip you up. If I was to go in November I'd at least bring microspikes in case there is ice on trail. There could be snow, but it may only be icy, or you could get a really pleasant late fall day and perfect conditions. The big thing for Mt. Rogers is the wind. It can cut through you as you trek across the highlands.

[@BlastFromYesterday]

Curious - what do you do that allows you to have all this time to dedicate to traveling around the country to do this high point project of yours? I have some hiking goals, but it's difficult to accomplish them with work...

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

Great question that gets a big answer. There is a bit of dedication to all this. For starters I have a wonderful and patient wife who supports this creative outlet. As of April 2020 it will be four years since I first put "pen to paper." I write for at least an hour or two pretty much every night/ early morning when the family is still asleep. Not always Rooftops stuff but often. There are notes and research for every state, territory, and "bonus material" so when there is a chance to go somewhere everything is fairly well planned and comes together quickly. Living in Nashville put me around a bunch of highpoints that could easily be filmed in a day trip (to varying results lol). Others have been combined with family vacations, visits to my folks, (they live in Wisconsin,) or with work-related travel. There is enough flexibility with my job when I do travel for work it is easy to add a day or two of annual leave to the trip to go highpointing or film something. For the big ones, such as Elbert, the upcoming Wheeler episode, or other points west it is dedicated personal travel with friends. Usually about five days (two travel/ three film days.) We all fly out, film, hike, drink beer, etc.

[@BlastFromYesterday]

@@RooftopsofAmerica Very cool! Do you find for the higher peaks like those out west that they require more formal mountain climbing background, or can they be managed with regular backpack hiking?

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

@@BlastFromYesterday Almost all the highpoints can be driven up to, done in a day trip, or a weekend. Of the 50 there are five that are considered a bit more technical - Mt. Hood, OR; Mt. Rainier, WA; Gannet Peak, WY; Granite Peak, MT; and of course Denali in Alaska. Most of the western peaks I have tackled/ filmed so far have been a day trip for the actual hike itself.

[@gcharocks]

I've seen multiple sources say that the top of this peak is a temperate rainforest. Did you find anything about this in your research?

[@RooftopsofAmerica]

I'd be hesitant to call it a temperate rain forest though it does have some similarities. It is a very cool, almost otherworldly spruce/ fir forest in pretty good shape with minimal balsam wooly adelgid infestation. If you are looking for a cloud forest near a state highpoint you should check out the one on the shoulder of Brasstown Bald in GA.

[@rbryant100]

Rooftops of America I agree. It’s very similar to the 6,000’ peaks in the Smokies.

[@lederhudler]

The summit reminded me of the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic Natl Park in Washington State. Very unusual - many other highpoints have an almost tundra-like flora. Mt Rogers has no view - lots of trees, moss-covered - and yes, it is somewhat other-worldly. There are - by my count - at least three large boulders in the summit area, any of which could be the actual high point. So if you are obsessed - touch or climb on all of them. I saw benchmarks on two of them.