Date: 2007-04-06
From: Rte 19E

To: Carvers Gap
Miles today: 13.7

Friday, April 6, 2007Rte 19E to Carvers Gap, 13.7 milesStart 7:30AM. Temps in the low 20¢s. Broken auto glass at the trailhead, hope the Element doesn¢t get vandalized today (it doesn¢t).Quick stop at Apple House shelter to sign register.Footway is soft easy walking, switchbacks.Snowmobile or ATV trail crossing the AT.Crunchy ice-crystals on the track. I love the sound these make underfoot.An overlook with some vegetation carefully removed to open the view.More stone work masterpieces by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoe Club, a continuation of the phenomenal stone work seen on yesterday¢s hike.Rhodo leaves are curled and drooping, some of the more tender plants zapped by frost.On the right a sheltering rock overhang to wait out a storm.Blue blaze trail to the right.At Doll Flats a view of gloriously-frosted Hump Mountain. I hope I can get to the top to see the rime-coating before it all melts. Memere and Gray Feathers, starting today at Carvers Gap, must be being treated to a white and ice fantasy land. Hope it isn¢t too slippery or windy up there.Easy rocky section cutting across the mountainside.Four deer run off, switching their wide fluffy white tails, 2 to the left, 2 a short distance to the right. The 2 on the right stop, well-camouflaged among spotty gray-brown tree trunks. One of them makes a sort of braying/crowing caw. I attempt to mimic the sound. Both lift their heads and stare at me.Backlit new growth, a sweet vivid yellow-green.Where are all the hikers? I met no one yesterday, and so far no one today.I¢m just thinking this when I meet NOBO¢s Pinky and The Brain, started Feb 26.Showers of sparkly gossamer glints of snow none big enough to be called flakes.NOBO¢s Garrett, Garrett, Golden Boy, Fahrenheit, Running Wolf and Trips, coming down Hump Mountain.NOBO Aquaman from Georgia, slaloming down Hump. He just lets his calves take over and flows down the mountain. An amazing sight. He says a few of the previous group are friends attending school in Rochester NY.I spend about 15 minutes on top of Hump. I have it to myself. Most of the early morning rime is gone, but it still clings to all the trees and to the dead flower stalks of last year¢s Queen Anne¢s lace and to the blades of last year¢s grass. I slip in the mud and fall. Might as well take a picture of the frosty grass while I¢m down here.A sweet little bird companion treks the trail about 15 feet in front of me, hopping fast to maintain the distance between us. Brown and speckled. ID later.Now another favorite spot, Bradley Gap between the 2 humps. Masses and masses of spring beauties. Stop for a drink and something to eat. Plenty of places to camp.It¢s still cold. Haven¢t been able to take any layers off yet.Top of Little Hump. Fantastic view is all directions. Sky is looking a little gray, it¢ll be good to get off these mountains as early as I can, feels like snow coming. Here are the rocks Fred Mike and I ate lunch at May 7, 2005. Smoky blue mountains off to my right. Where are Memere and Gray Feathers? Seems like I should have met up with them before now. I start to worry.Gray Feathers and Memere!!! They¢re OK. A slow start today due to a long road trip on 143, freezing cold, high winds, winter whiteness and ice all over the woods and balds. The frost and rime was something to see! They ate lunch at Overmountain Shelter.NOBO Flick from Ohio, started March 2. Beautiful views of ice and snow coming down Roan this morning. The views were socked in but you can always go back to see the views and how often do you get a chance to see wintry spring frosting.Hello to 3 dayhikers, a Dad, a Mom and a boy. They drove up the road to Overmountain shelter.Another junco. That¢s 3 in the last few days. This one is a slatey bluish gray.NOBO¢s Coco and Monkey, started March 3, in Pennsylvania. They have their own website for their AT hike. They also say the ice-rime coming down off Roan was spectacular. They had intended in Erwin to stay at Miss Janet¢s but there¢s a NOBO bubble right now. I decide to go in Overmountain Shelter because I missed it last time. 4 crows fly out of the barn as I approach. Beautiful valley views. Read and sign register.Robust healthy leaf-clumps, ID later. Some lily-of-the-valley leaves. A burst of green. May apples. The first Dutchman¢s Breeches.NOBO¢s Dirty Blond and Backbend. She was cold last night. Has only a 20 degree bag. Hope to get out to Mountain Harbor in time to stay there tonight.3:30 Stan Murray Shelter. I¢m weary. Can hardly drag myself up this next ascent. Out of steam.Grassy Ridge, windy and cold, snow starts.NOBO Fish from Great Britain. Snowing harder.NOBO Freight Train from Maine, walking home.NOBO Pack Horse from Great Britain.NOBO¢s Hellbender and Johnny Hand (?). Trying to get to Overmountain tonight.NOBO Tom from Great Britain.NOBO Numb Toe and Shadow.NOBO¢s Sarah and Justin.NOBO Tony.No opportunity to talk to these last hikers, it¢s too late and cold and windy and they¢re trying to get to shelter.Out at 6PM. I drive to the 19E trailhead to wait for Gray Feathers and Memere, but they¢ve beat me out. Everyone¢s safe