Date: 2005-05-31
From: Clyde Smith Shelter 

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

The Road to Damascus Day 3!Before going to bed last night, I had time both to get my journal done and to gather wood for a small campfire - something I really enjoy, but don't often have time for.I was up early this morning, and got my earliest start ever - 6:15AM. The three section hikers, all retired guys like me, were up at the same time, and left camp before I did. We were all aware of what was waiting for us about three miles down the trail: the infamous Roan Mountain - a 6,300 foot monster.Before Roan, however, we would face a little warm up exercise called Little Rock Knob. The first few hours of our day, therefore, looked like this: Little Rock Knob (1,500 ft. elevation gain) then down 700 feet to Hughes Gap. Then UP another 1,600 feet, then DOWN 300 feet to Ash Gap, then UP another 1,000 feet to the summit of Roan Mountain.On the ups, the grade turned out to be pretty steep, greater than 45 degrees mostly and sometimes steeper. My approach to these sections is to go up for about 25 paces, and then rest my legs and catch my breath; then another 25; etc. I figure for every 1,000 foot elevation gain, I only have to repeat my 25 step drill about 40 times. Or, in today's case, about 160 times over a 5 mile stretch. It's all about attitude. You have to know that the uphill on any given mountain is finite. Eventually, you will get to the top. But you have to enjoy the process, because - if you didn't - it would be way too much like work!The downs today were also especially steep, which is murder on my knees, and kills my pace. The latter is what really bugs me, since I had hoped to get in a high mileage day today. I am happy to do long days, but it comes down to where I will spend the night - which has to have a water source and space to tent. So my mileage is generally determined by things totally outside my control.The shelter I'm staying at tonight is a really cool place - a converted barn. It has an upper loft, where I've set up my tent, and a lower level with a fantastic view of the valley spread out before it. The only trouble with the lower area is that the wind tends to come whistling up the valley and straight through the lower level. With a storm moving in, every one has opted for tents or the loft!Staying at shelter tonight are the three section hikers from last night, Spike, Beckam, Kentucky, and Paul, a Canadian. I was especially pleased to see the SBK trio, as I really enjoy their company and they had gotten a half a day ahead of me as a result of their 19 mile slack-pack on Sunday. Apparently, Roan Mountain took a lot out of them the day before, and then on of the section hikers at their shelter last night snored so loudly that no one else got much sleep. After a six mile day, therefore, they were too pooped to go any further.Unfortunately, Spike's hip is still troubling him (he'd laid up a week in Hot Springs because of it), so he's talking about cutting back and just doing some section hikes. I have a lot of sympathy for his position. It's really hard to enjoy the experience when you're hurting! Today's hike is dedicated to all those hikers who have had to face the issues Spike is grappling with tonight. May you all find comfort and peace of mind in whatever decision is right for you. Stay tuned, LonghaulSent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com