Date: 2013-04-22
From: Little Rock Knob

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

Day Forty Five - Little Rock Knob to Overmountain ShelterI woke up just before dawn and was out of my hammock in time to catch the sunrise. Hobo and Pete were soon up and Pete soon had coffee/hot chocolate waiting for us. This guy is amazing! We packed up and after a group photo session we headed toward the big looming mountain in front of us. As we walked we talked about how amazing people have been to us and that even though we had read about trail magic before we never expected it to be like this! As we approached a road we had to cross Melkie started barking, I jokingly told him he shouldn't bark at our next trail magic. As soon as the words were out of my mouth we could see the truck and two chairs waiting for us. As if this is way too good to be true! Sure enough Dan popped out of his truck as soon as we arrived and offered us pop and a variety of junk food. Dan has wanted to hike the trail since he was ten and is retiring this fall and is planning his 2014 hike! Way to go Dan! Thank you for the trail magic and have fun planning your trip of a lifetime! While we were sitting in chairs (a trail luxury) Bah Alla Na arrived followed by Tracy McG. After another photo shoot we were off again this time headed for a long up. It wasn't bad! Really! The forest was beautiful and occasionally there were views of tiny villages below. We talked prettymuch talked non stop the whole way up that's a big deal for me because usually I can barely breath let alone talk. We stopped on top (Roan Mountain 6212ft) at the site where a famous hotel once stood. It had been built right on the state line and the bar room had the border painted across the floor. It is said that a sherif used to hang around waiting to arrest anyone who crossed into Tennessee side with alcohol (alcohol was banned in Tennessee but not in North Carolina). We sat and ate our lunch on an old foundation and while there I saw the perfect tree to climb, so I did! It's been decades since I've done that! As we started back down the trail we found an old stone chimney standing near the trail (possibly part of the old hotel) and then entered what I call the enchanted forest. It was tall pines with a moss covered floor and sparkly rocks on the path. Hobo was laughing that I described it that way and was telling me that I was missing the gnomes! I didn't care, it was beautiful with rays of sunlight filtering through and mossy streams every so often. When we got to the bottom there was a road we were supposed to cross but off to the side there was a parking lot for tourists and a restroom. We absolutely headed for a real toilet! There was a sign with info about the Appalachian Trail, I took pictures because it had the mileage to Springer and to Kathadin. It also said that only about four hundred people actually finish the trail per year. While we were there we became celebrities when tourists and day hikers started asking about our trip. It was fun telling them about the snow and ice in the smokies. I didn't hear this but I found out later that a local hiking club member had made a comment to Hobo about how hard that last mountain was. The same mountain that I had talked the whole way up and not ran out of breath! I felt awesome, maybe I am getting in shape! We headed back to the trail and over several grassy balds stopping to talk to the day hikers we passed. It was fun! Next we entered a dead forest, and I joked about how if we were in an enchanted forest earlier than this would definitely be where the wicked witch would live. It was cool and as we went on the place reminded me of an old, neglected apple orchard with dwarfed trees that were all gnarly. I was totally enjoying the contrast between the stunningly beautiful, majestic forest from Roan to this seemingly desolate place. I was wearing my red fleece jacket and said I felt like Little Red Riding Hood, I don't think Hobo was amused he only admitted that the place looked rugged and that he hoped it wasn't like this as the shelter. All of a sudden there were ramps all over the forest floor so we stopped and Hobo picked a few to have with his dinner. Just as the day was ending we arrived at Overmountain Shelter. It's really an old barn that had been adapted for shelter use. I love it! We are sleeping upstairs (I hung my hammock from the beams) but if it had of been warmer there are platforms downstairs that are open to the outside that have an amazing view of the countryside. Today has been another perfect day! It is so hard to describe all the beauty that surrounds me, pictures really don't capture it and I'm finding that its not just the landscapes, sunsets or sunrises but the beautiful people I have been surrounded by so willing to give up a piece of themselves to help us live our dreams. I know I've said this before but I truly am loving every minute of it!Confessions of a thruhiker:"I love that toilet! I could sit there as long as I want and use as much toilet paper as I needed." I laughed so hard because its so true we ration toilet paper out here like its money and we are always in a rush in case someone comes around the corner.Trouble"I feel beautiful when I make other people smile." Jennifer Phar Davis