Date: 2003-05-20
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Damascus
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This entry will cover several days of my hike from Indian Grave Gap to Dennis Cove road. I started hiking out of Indian Grave Gap on 05/03/03. A few miles I crossed the Beauty Spot for the second time and for the second time it was covered by a cloud so once again I can't tell you why its is called the Beauty Spot. It must be real pretty up there though, so much so that it causes people to want to drive up there and spin doughnuts with their 4 wheelers. The day went pretty well for me and I got in about 14 miles and camped at a spot called Greasy Gap Creek. I was the only one there so I had my choice of the best tent site. At about 2 am I felt the need to go out side and much to my surprise the night sky was crystal clear and the stars were out in full force. I sat outside for about 45 mins or so and enjoyed star gazing.The next day I got in about 14 miles or so again and then found a nice spot to set up my tent about 1.7 miles short of the trail to the Overmountain Mt Shelter.The weather was starting to turn bad. I checked out the wind direction and set up my tent facing the wind just like you are suppose to. About 10 mins after I got in my tent it started to pour and then the wind switched direction and really kicked up. The wind was hitting the tent broadside and pushing in the side a good bit all night. But the tent held up well and I remained dry and warm. I had planned to wait out the storm but the radio said it was only going to get worse as the day went on. AT about 9am I packed up in the tent and then packed up the tent in the driving rain and headed the 1.7 miles to the Overlook Mt Shelter, a large barn that can hold about 40 people. No one had that had been there the night before had left and more hikers pouring in all the time.I got a spot in the far back corner and and hung out my tent to dry and act as a wind break. That night was the night a tornado hit a city in TN and killed 10 people. The barn was jammed and to walk you had to jump from one small spot to the next but I was glad to be there.The next morning I got an early start out and as the day went on the weather got better. I climbed Roan Mt and had great views. I stopped on the top to eat and met several nice people who asked about the hike. I got in about `14 miles again that day and camped alongside the Elk river that night. Three other hikers also stayed at the same spot and we had a real nice talk. There is a trail relocation in that area that takes the trail by a waterfall that I did not see in 1999. What a great waterfall, it is called Jones Waterfall and is one of the 3 best on the trail in my view, the added miles are well worth it to see the fall.14 miles, for some reason seem to be my limit in this section, once again after 14 or so miles I set up my tent at a nice site, with water close by. I was tired but could not sleep because all night I kept hearing a machine running, at times sounding close and then far off.The next day I got to Dennis Cove Road and went to Laurel Creek Cabins and used the phone to check pocketmail to see if Diane had tried to contact me. There was a msg from Billie, our neighbor, telling me that Diane had found a place to stay and the phone number. I called her and she came to get the me the next morning and we drove to the cabin she had rented, where we have been since.We are planning to go on a three day hike late this week and hope to do another 3-4 day hike then next week, getting ready to start hiking again if all goes well.3/3rds.