Date: 2013-05-08
From:  Ash Gap Campsite at the base of Roan Mountain

To: Elk Park TN
Miles today: 17.4

Woke up to a dreary foggy day. It wasn't raining but it wasn't dry. I wondered how long I would have to lay there in my damp sleeping bag before Jim would come looking for me. I got my kindle out and read for awhile. I really thought about staying in my sleeping bag all day and not going out into the dreadiness at all. But then I remembered my friend the mouse. At the very least I had to get up to hang that food bag so I might as well get up and get moving. Decided I was only walking as far as it took me to get a call out to Jim to come get me. The plan was to come home this weekend to see my daughter so I would just make it a few days early. More rain was expected anyway. I heard rumours that some areas around Watauga Dam werent even passable because of flooding. I was filthy after packing up my tent and that tent was not going to be usable again until it could be cleaned and dried and with more rain coming I didnt see that happening. I started up the dreaded Roan Mountain at about 10. It was an interesting climb through old spruce forest with lots of rocks. It was muddy and slippery. I met another Warrior Hiker, Momma Goose, along the way. She was hiking south back to Greasy Creek Hostel. Got to the top of the mountain and still had no phone signal. I had no choice but to move on. Walked through the woods to Carver's Gap. This area is a well maintained area of the trail. Somebody has labored hard to make nice gravel pathways through the woods here. There is a nice road that crosses the AT at Carvers gap but still no phone signal so I traveled on with my wet yucky gear. It would rain sporadically through the day but it wasnt bad. I wore my rain gear all day and I was never hot in it. It actually helped a lot to keep me warm traveling across the many open, windy balds I would traverse today. As I crossed Jane Bald the large wooden sign stating that you are on Janes Bald blew over about 15 feet in front of me. It was very windy and cold. I was finally able to get a call to Jim on top of one of the balds. The wind was howling so bad he could hardly hear me. At this point the closest pick up point was my original destination of Elk Park. It was going to be a long day with a pack full of extra water weight. Chatted with Gray Beard while crossing a fence on top of a bald. I told him he had definitely made the right choice to move on last night. He wasn't sure he agreed. He said it was a long miserable wet hike and someone was sick in the shelter. Hopefully whatever they had will not be spread around. Made me a little glad that I had camped. Momma Goose had told me it would be an easy downhill hike to Elk Park once I got across the balds. I'm sure it is if its not muddy and wet. There are many rock scramble areas to get across on the way down. It was a treacheroud hike and several times I slipped on those rocks and went down. I had mud in my boot that rubbed constantly on the back of my achilles tendon and rubbed it raw. I have made it 40 days with no blisters or foot problems (thank you Merrill!!) and now this mud is going to do me in. It was very painful. I made it to Elk park at about 7:15. It was a long wet dreary day but I did see some interesting things along the way. I am sad that I didnt get to stay at Overmountain Shelter along the way. It is an old red converted barn and there is lots of history in the area. This area is where the Overmountain men rallied before the Battle of Kings Mountain. I might have to section hike this area again and stay there. Today I am thankful to know misery is only temporary and if we just perservere we can make it through.