May 31st - June 1st   

DAY #1 - 11.2 Miles Hiked 

I began this hike at Iron Mountain Gap (elevation 3723') just outside of Unicoi, Tennessee at 6:00 a.m. in the morning.  Shannon was suppose to go along on this one, but she wasn't feeling well, so I decided to go solo and spend my last day before turning 40 years old on the trail.  Since I was alone I had to carry more weight ... I believe I had right at 45 pounds, which was 7 or 8 pounds more than I normally carry.    

The weather was nice and cool, and with the early start I was able to knock out some quick miles.  I made the summit of Little Rock Knob by around 9:15 a.m.  This was a sheer rock cliff at an elevation of 4920' and the views there were wonderful, so I stopped for a rest and a breakfast bar.  

By 10:15 a.m. I had made Hughes Gap and was already 9 miles into my hike.  I was feeling great and hoping to make many more miles, but my water supply was very low.  All three springs that I had passed since Little Rock Knob were completely dry, and I had less than a pint remaining for the big ascent that I was about to make.  I called Shannon to check in, and briefly considered having her come get me since there was a road at Hughes Gap, but I decided to press on.  I knew the climb up Beartown Mountain was going to be tough, but I didn't realize how tough it would be without plenty of water...

The ascent on Beartown has a 1400 feet elevation gain in less than 1.5 miles.  At some points, it seems straight up.  I conserved water by only taking a drink every quarter mile (by checking my GPS unit), but a quarter mile on this section of trail seemed like forever.  I think I got a little dehydrated because my legs were starting to cramp, so I went very slow and had to take a bunch of breaks along the way.  At one point I found a big, cool, flat rock to stretch out on for a half-hour or more.  By the time I reached the summit of Beartown (elevation 5480'), I was totally spent, cramping, and out of water, so I knew I wouldn't be climbing Roan today.  

I traveled another .5 mile down to Ash Gap where I found and flat campsite and the most beautiful spring I've ever seen in my life, so I decided to call it a day.  Unfortunately, as soon as I arrived at the gap a thunderstorm hit and I had to set up camp in the rain. But it soon cleared up, and I had a nice evening...

I drank a ton of water, made dinner (mac and cheese), got settled in, and finally started to feel a little better.  Two thru-hikers also passed my camp later that evening, which were the only two people I'd seen all day.  Both of them stopped for a half hour or more each to talk and to re-supply their water.  I enjoyed my conversations with them both.

At 6:00 p.m. I was in my tent reading and worn out.  By 7:00, I was asleep.

(Click all images for larger photos)

Wonderful Vista From Little Rock Knob Looking Toward Unicoi

Campsite... This is the Place Where I Turned 40 Years Old

My Bear Bag... Hung Between Two Trees About 100 Yards from My Tent 

DAY #2 - 3.4 miles Hiked

I woke up 40 years old, but felt much younger than the day before.  Twelve hours of sleep did me wonders, and by 8:00 a.m. I was all packed up and on the trail again.  I had about 1000 feet of elevation gain, and 1.5 miles directly ahead of me to get to the summit of Roan Mountain...

This ascent was tough as well, but beautiful.  Many rock outcroppings, narrow passages, and scenic vistas though conifer forests kept my mind off the climb.  By 9:00 I'd reached Roan High Bluff (elevation 6150')... a grassy bald which is the former location of the historic Cloudland Hotel built in 1885.  There's not much left at this place except for a sign commemorating the spot, and a few stones that were once the foundation.  However, the history behind this hotel is very interesting, and it's hard to imagine a bustling resort in such a desolate and hard to reach location in the wilderness... especially in the late 1800's.  

The 300-room hotel was actually set half in Tennessee and half in North Carolina.  At that time alcohol was prohibited in North Carolina, but not in Tennessee, and rumor has it that the hotel had a line painted down the middle of the building to designate the state line (which ran directly through the main dining hall).  Supposedly there was a North Carolina sheriff who roamed this area waiting to arrest someone who accidentally imbibed on the North Carolina side.  Guests included many politicians of the day, and aristocrats such as the Vanderbilts and Astors.  It was a peculiar feeling standing alone on this isolated mountaintop, and wondering what it must have been like at this spot 100 years ago.           

After exploring Roan High Bluff and the Cloudland Hotel site, I made a call to Shannon and asked her to pick me up at Carver's Gap.  I'd considered to just keep on going, but didn't want to spend my birthday alone, and I also missed my hiking partner.  

After the call, I kept ascending to Roan High Knob, taking a blue blazed trail which passed by the highest shelter on the A.T.  A couple hundred yards past the shelter was a large boulder, and on top of that boulder was the 6285' summit benchmark.  I'd found my destination, and was at the highest peak thus far in my life at the age of 40.

I made a quick descent off Roan heading toward Carver's Gap finishing up a 14.5 mile hike.  I felt so good that I ran a lot of the last 1.5 miles down though the long switchbacks.  I beat Shannon to the gap, but didn't have long to wait long.  She and I spent the rest of the day by the pool, eating at El Matador, looking at books at Barnes and Noble, having dessert at Starbucks, and going to see a movie.  What a great day!              

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