Tazewell County Highpoint Trip Report
BM "Maiden" on Garden Mtn (4,710 ft)
Date: September 21, 2006
Author: Michael Schwartz
The many posted trip reports will get you to the summit by various routes.
As I drove into Burkes Garden, on a perfectly clear day, the "swag" was clearly
visible, as were the summit, the 4680-foot contour to the north, and the
ridgeline all the way to Hutchinson Rock. There was an unbroken line of pasture
from the valley floor all the way to the swag, that beckoned irresistibly.
I drove to the end of the road shown in Delorme as VA 666 but which is signed as
Litz Lane. I did get permission to leave my car and hike the pastures to the
swag but would prefer not to elaborate on details on the public website.
Please contact me privately for details.
This route made for a gloriously easy and scenic hike, as the pastures are wide
open with unlimited views. Aim for the extreme northern end of the swag,
from where it is a steep but easy bushwhack to the summit ridge through open woods.
Follow a heading of about 250 degrees and avoid angling right, as it's easier to
gain elevation on the ridge top than angling more toward the summit. From where
I gained the ridgeline (37.0780° N, 81.4096° W), NAD27 datum,
it was 0.34 mile to the summit on gentle grades and a use path near the rim.
See posted reports for directions to the USGS marker.
This route took 2:05 up and 1:20 down.