Date: 2018-04-28
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overland Mt Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: clear sky

The moon was bright last night but I slept dry and soundly. Didn¢t get out of camp til nearly 10 despite our goal of significant mileage. We knew we had to get over Roan Mt and several balds before we would make it to the overland mountain shelter tonight. Just as we were approaching the road gap before the climb up Roan, we spotted a group set up with trail magic. The hiking gods must¢ve heard our cries  yesterday and the response was strong. Silver Lining was a thru hiker from last year and he and his crew brought everything. I indulged on chocolate chip pancakes, hot dogs, cookies, candy, hummus and fresh veggies. Glow stick, ibex and I shot the shit with them for 45 minutes and had to pull ourselves away eventually. They insisted we take anything we wanted for the trail so I grabbed more cookies and candy and we left with a Coors banquet apiece to enjoy atop Roan. The nearly 5 mile climb up was steady but not grueling and the dense pine forest provided nice cover against the rising temperature. I topped out first at the grassy clearing that once held the Cloudland Hotel. It was built in the late 1800s and lasted only a few decades before shutting down. All that is left are a couple crumbling walls and the old stone fire place that now sits quietly in the dense pines right on the trail. The three of us enjoyed our beers in the sun before we lit out again.No sooner had we scurried down to the next road gap that we found yet another trail magic bonanza. ¢Hiker!¢ the group yelled to me as I started across the parking lot. I raised a trekking pole in greeting as I approached and found another massive spread of free goodies. A burger, cole slaw, fresh veggies and cold Coors light were all there for the taking and we again sat with a crew of former thru hikers from last year and swapped stories and solicited advice. I learned once again that the White Range in NH is going to kick my ass completely. It was doubly difficult to get myself moving again but we still had 5.5 miles to the shelter and it was now past 5pm. I stuffed a couple Rice Krispie treats in my pack and started the climb up over the next three balds. The hiking was good and the weather was still fine so no problem getting in a little later than usual. I passed a group on my way down into the valley that I later dubbed the Denim Parade. A group of about a dozen college aged kids were staggered along the trail, struggling to get up to the balds. No fewer than 9 of them wore blue jeans and they had clunky gear awkwardly strapped to the outside of their packs. I gathered these were not thru hikers. They were all friendly enough if not totally confused about where the hell they were actually going to camp that night. I bid them good luck and continued on until I finally got to overmountain around 7. This is one of the cooler shelters on the entire AT as it used to be a barn but has been converted for thru hikers to sleep in. You could probably fit 50 people in this thing if you had to. As usual, I opted to tent instead out on the flat grass that looks down valley. It will be a full moon tonight and despite predicted cold temps and wind, it¢s too beautiful not to be outside. We ate only snack food for dinner as we were all still stuffed from the killer trail magic feasts and I even helped Bear Box polish off an extra pbr that she had carried out but didn¢t want. Today was a very good day on the trail and tomorrow we will head into Roan Mt, TN for an overnight at mountain harbor hostel.