Date: 2004-05-09
From: Erwin, Tennessee

To: Dennis Cove Road, TN
Miles today: 0.0

OK... finally made it through the new relo from 19e to Dennis Cove Road. For those who were horrified by it in 2000 and 2001 it is different and beautiful! Great Job to Bob and the CREW for their hard work... From Erwin we slack packed from Iron Mountain Gap back to ERWIN. I cooked breakfast with Miss Janet for all the hikers. I made my infamous three layer Frittata. We arrived at the Gap around one in the afternoon. Shot a potato canon... I do have a small video file that will be uploaded later in life. The 19.3 mile hike was awesome. It goes thru absolutely some of the most amazing territory on the AT: Unaka Mountain, home of lost garden gnomes and unicorns... and Beauty Spot. Unfortuneatly we got such a late start that we did not have time to fully appreciate the views. We hiked all day with Chasqui. It is interesting to note that when one hikes the AT you meet people you never would talk to in "normal" life. I really enjoyed talking to Chasqui. Ended up back in Erwin after dark, ate pizza, had Beer and two liters of Mountain Dew.The next day we got to the trail and hiked north. I was in pain and did not feel like hiking today. We stopped every three steps to take the pack off and look around. Got to Little Rock Knob and decided to call it quits. There is an amazing campsite up top. Built a fire, roasted sausages and watched the sun go down in honey. Amazing.Started off the next morning and hiked onto Hughes Gap. Decided to have a big snack before the long up to the top of Roan Mountain. Just then Miss Janet, Goddess of the Trail, happened thru. She wasn't even driving anyone here to this remote dirt roaded gap. She offered to drive us to Bob's Dairyland for BBQ sandwiches then back to the trail. Once again I have some amazing fottage on Miss Janet that will air when I get home. STAY TUNED!!! Needless to say, hiking big miles wasn't in the program today. We hiked 4.8 miles to the top of Roan (6,285') and stopped. Found a huge field near the site of the old Cloudland Hotel. Soon we rangled Rob, Momma's Boy, Sheriff, Keytone, Swiss Miss and others into star gazing with us. Cooked more Cheddarwurst and watched the sun go down in honey and the moon rise up in wine...The next morning we hiked into and thru the Roan Highlands... This is one of the most amazing and awe inspiring sections. If you want to have your ass kicked with amazing views - hike here. I adore Grassy Ridge. Both Lisa and I thought of her folks and my folks. I would love to bring them all here to show them in a nutshell what the AT is about. Words can only cheapen the experience. I absolutely love walking from Overmountain Shelter over both HUMPS and down to Apple Orchard Shelter. We tried to contact Miss Janet to go to her party, but that failed.The next morning we hitched to Bob's Dairyland and had a huge breakfast. Hiked thru the new relo. Camped past Walnut Mountain Road. On the way to our site we got caught in our first lightning storm. When the time between flases of lightning and the echoing boom of thunder shortened, we stopped and set up the Chateau. Hail the size of jumbo marbles fell on us. Thank god for sil nylon! One feature of this section was Jones Falls. Stop and see it. Very very nice.AswahI will expound a bit on this section BUT it is very early and I am in need of more coffee