Date: 2014-06-29
From: Roan Mountain High Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: few clouds

It rained like cats and dogs last night on Roan Mountain. Praise the Lord for that cabin and not the typical 3 sided AT shelter. All was well this morning for as far as I could see. About 100 yards! Fog on the mountain again. We couldn't tell how the weather was until we hiked to lower elevations. No exaggeration here. Most of the trail down to Carver's Gap was a creek. Slippery rocks and tree roots are certainly not how one wants to start a two mile or so down a mountain...and on Sunday to boot.Carver's Gap is a major tourist attraction. Day hikers by the dozens hike to Jane's Bald and Grassy Bald. Many hikers were coming down as well after weekend hikes. Most used the AT and overnighted at the Overmountan shelter which is only 5 miles from Carvers Gap. Talking with a family heading down I learned of a program wherein goats are being used to maintain the balds. It's an experimental program and this family volunteers and spends one night each year helping. Last night was their night. The two children, both girls who each looked to be under the age of 10, were cute in hiking gear. They had a cold, windy, and wet night in a tent. The goats are kept confined/protected by an electric fence. It's moved so they graze in different locations. The short hike ended with about 30 minutes or 1 mile of rainstorm. Soaked pretty good and discovered that my left boot is no longer waterproof. Go figure it's only been used for about 900 miles now. It will do fine to finish this section but must be replaced for future hikes. By the time I reached the Overmountan shelter the rain had stopped. The sun was out and the view awesome! It would rain on and off the rest of the day. That made it impossible to rig a clothes line so the sun could dry my things. My line in the shelter was only minimally useful. Good thing I will be able to wash and dry at the hostel tomorrow.When I arrived there were already a few hikers there. Three sisters and one of the sister's husband and two local day hikers. Those guys clued me in and revved me up for tomorrow's summit of Hump Mountain. They also provided much comforting news that Crazy Pete had stopped in but moved on. I do not want to share shelter space with him again. Upon the arrival of others who had been with me last night at Roan Mountain, I learned he is the likely culprit who stole an item from one of the ladies as he left the shelter first and early this morning. Later on Wounded Knee showed up. Sort of expected him to go much further than this shelter.Wounded Knee is a guy I first met last Monday when I started at Sam's Gap. He does long long miles. For example, last night he was at Roan when I hit the sack. Sometime around 10 he hit the trail for more miles. I thought he was still asleep upstairs when I left Roan this morning. Lo and behold as I passed a shelter just two miles before Overmountan there to my surprise was Wounded Knee crawling out of his sleeping bag. He hiked through the storm until 3:30 am! Now at this shelter just two miles from where I saw him. He had other plans. At this location the AT is crossed by the Overmountain Trail that comemorates the men who crossed the mountains here during the revolutionary war. Wounded Knee took off on that trail with his slack pack in search of the city of Roan Mountain and beer. Sort of crazy in my book. It continued to rain, got dark and no Wounded Knee. He got back about 10:30 soaked of course and of course no beer. He did get to town. Odd young man but a strong, very strong hiker.Just advertised the view from Overmountain was awesome..in sunshine, rain, fog and mist, and in the dark. And I could see it all from my sleeping bag!We also had good cell phone reception. Even got a call from my good friend Walter. I think he thought he was calling Cathy. Walter will be picking me up in about two weeks in Damascus. I think he was as surprised as me! This is the second call I've gotten, except from family while in town. All in all another great day with awesome views. Just one of the main attractions of the AT.Blessings,