Daily Diaries (8/29/10 - 8/30/10)

Date:  8/29/10
Trail Section:  Carvers Gap - US 19E
Distance:  14.4 miles

With Roan Mtn. at our back, we begin today with a climb to the top of Round Bald.  This is the first of a series of balds that we will climb today.  FYI, balds are areas on mountain tops where there are no trees. While none of the southern portion of the Appalachian Trail rises above the tree line, scientists are mystified as to why there are no trees.

On Round Bald the USFS is conducting an experiment to remove non-native plants on balds.  There is a herd of Angora goats that love these plants, especially Canadian blackberry which is taking over the balds.  Guarding these goats is a pair of Great Pyrenees dogs.  When I got near the fence these two dogs let me know, in no uncertain terms, I should leave.  The fence is an electric fence that is solar powered, and there are warnings to the curious hiker to keep off it.

About five miles into the hike we reach Overmountain Shelter.  The shelter is an old red barn that has been renovated into a shelter for hikers and served as a back drop in the movie “Winter People”.

With movies on my mind I could not help but think of Julie Andrews and the “The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music” as we were on top of both Little Hump Mountain Bald and Hump Mountain Bald.  They reminded me of the scene where she was running across the top of the mountain and singing.  It was very pretty there.

Seasonally, on the top of Hump Mountain, there is a herd of longhorn cows.  We just missed the season and therefore, the cows.  It looked as if they had been moved within the last week.

After the vigorous climbs to the tops of all the balds, the five mile descent was not going to be outdone in how hard it was.  At times the descents were very steep and over large, loose rocks.  This was very hard on the feet and the legs.

Today’s hike was a beautiful hike that I would recommend to anyone fit enough for it.  If I have the opportunity to do it again, it will be a two to three day hike so that I can enjoy all the beauty there is at different times of the day.
 

Roan Mountain as seen from Round Bald

Great Pyrenees guard dog telling me to move on!

Angora goat telling me not to listen to dog

Overmountain Shelter

Hump Mountain Bald

Trail descending off Hump Mountain

Date:  8/30/10
Trail Section:  US 19E - Walnut Mtn. Rd
Distance: 10.4 miles

When we started this morning, the weather was cool and clear; however the vegetation was saturated with dew, thus we got very wet.  In addition to getting wet, this section of the trail was one of the most poorly marked sections that we have been on.  When we came to intersections with other trails we had to search for the right trail.  At times we had to go up the trails as much as 200 ft before we found a blaze letting us know we were on the right trail.

Other than these minor problems this was a pretty hike that was up and down.  It provided us with a couple of waterfalls, about a mile of hiking along a creek, and plenty of climbing.

This hike drove home the point to me the need for drinking, eating and resting periodically.  Due to the nature of the trail (not that strenuous or that hot), I nearly went too far without doing this.

Jones Falls

A creek we followed for about a mile