Date: 2018-04-15
From: Greasy Creek Gap (Hostel)

To: Carvers Gap
Miles today: 13.8

DAY 40Actually did this part of the trail southbound (Carvers Gap to Greasy Creek Hostel).Up pretty early today to see if we can arrange things for a slackpack today. I'm glad we were in the bunkhouse last night as the wind blew strong all night and I heard a couple of bouts of rain on the metal roof. Just started to sprinkle steady as we went in for a cup of hot tea and breakfast. Met the owner, Connie, who said it shouldn't be a problem to add two more to the shuttle to Carvers Gap. Packed up Mary's pack with just the essentials for today's hike. Just hats, gloves, buffs, down jackets, lunch, snacks, and water. I'll hike with Mary's pack today, and she will be pack free. We stowed the rest of our stuff and donned our rain coats and rain pants. Soon Connie's neighbor, Erica, arrived to bring "Jo", "Two", Mary & I up to Carvers Gap for the 13.8 mile hike back. When we arrived at the gap it was foggy, windy, and there was a steady rain. It felt strange not to be hiking with our heavy packs, and we made really good time by "Earl Grey" and "Purple Haze" standards. The trail was a river, and the rain and wind were howling, so the rain gear kept us warm but not totally dry. We were quickly to the top of Roan Mountain and visited the shelter which is the highest shelter on the AT. Signed the log book and checked out who else had stopped in. Brand new log book at the shelter, so only a couple of entries. Got a couple of pictures and headed back down the trail. Took a quick peek at the site of the old hotel when we reached that little trail and continued on. Conditions were really dreadful, but knowing we were going to end up warm and dry made them tolerable. We felt bad for the hikers we saw along the trail as we knew some were not going to really get out of the weather and would be spending time in their damp tents or wet shelters. It was kind of fun going southbound as we got to pass by hikers that are just ahead of us. We met "Wicked", "Waterboy", "Knotty Boy", and "Sourpatch" as well as the group that provided trail magic yesterday. Mary was flying today with no pack, at times I was having trouble staying with her on the downhills even though I had a tiny pack today. We were soaked to the bone when we made it back to the hostel around 3:30, but happy to have made such good progress on such a miserable day. We stood around quite damp for a while but eventually 10 of us piled into Connie's Suburban and headed toward Erwin to either be dropped off or to get food. "Jo" and "Two" had decided to come back to Erwin also, rather than zero at the hostel. We were glad to be back at the Super 8 where we can spread out a little and get dry. Two other little bits of trail magic today: 1. when we checked in our room I went to put my water in the fridge and I found an unopened bottle of wine. That means we'll have wine with our take out pizza tonight. 2. when we arrived we needed a couple of items to do our laundry, so I decided to brave the rain again in shorts and a rain coat to run down to Walgreens about 1/2 mile away. I didn't want to get my hiking pants wet, and my rain pants were soaked so I figured I'd just tough it out in my shorts. I didn't get more than 100 yards when a white suburban stopped and said "where are you going"? When I told them they said hop in and we'll take you. Turns out it was section hikers "Smurf" and "Cub". They are also staying at the Super 8 and are doing a 70 mile section that "Cub" has yet to hike. They brought me to Walgreens and waited for me to get my supplies and brought me back to the hotel right under the awning. Many thanks to them, hopefully we will see them on the trail. Dinner of pizza and wine, along with rest, icing of Mary's knees, Epsom Salt soak of Mary's feet, and redoing our laundry in Dr Bronners and white vinegar to get out the nasty Tide Sport Pod residue that is making Mary break out in a rash. Tomorrow should bring more rest and hopefully we will catch up on the rest of the journal.