Days 3-5, Curley Maple Gap to Roan Mountain.

Day 3 saw an earlier start as we curled around and dropped into Indian Grave Gap.

There were scary animals that wanted to kill us.  If you can believe this, though, no snakes.  No snakes whatsoever.  Apparently they are at a convention in the Smokies.

I had always heard of the Beauty Spot from my brother and his days at ETSU.  Well, I can't say that it did much for Grady.  Six miles from our start point that morning we have climbed 1500 feet to this point at 4500 feet.  It is very well known to the locals but we couldn't tarry.  The weather was moving in.  In fact, the weather dogged us for a good deal of this trip.  Storms blew in most afternoons and we wanted to be off the high ground.  Sometimes that wasn't feasible since a good deal of this trek was above 3000 feet.  It was now time to ascend to 5200 feet up and over Unaka Mountain.

(Flame Azaleas on the Beauty Spot)

We had a haul up Unaka Mountain.  It was quite the climb. By now a big thunderstorm approacheth and guess where it found Grady and myself?  You got it.  We were on the summit.

The forest here was balsam and spruce dominating.  Soft needles made for great walking but the sun was broken by torrents of wind and rain.  I like walking in the rain, it helps my breathing and moisturizes the air.  (there is someone we know who does not but his initials are UL)  The lightning was another matter.  We remembered the unfortunate event of last week on Max Patch

This is Unaka Mountain from a distance the next day,  still enveloped in a fogbank.

                                        Treebeard watches the spiderworts, Ledge.  Billions of them, everywhere.

Now we came to the most unusual encounter of the trip.  As we rounded a corner, Grady and I heard this awful yelping.  It sounded like someone strangling a child.  Then came this horrendous racket around the corner.  What we saw was both unusual and frightening.  This little fawn came bolting down the trail while being chased by a dog that had it by the neck!  The dog was trying to bring the fawn down and we couldn't determine whether it was playful or malicious.  Either way, the fawn runs directly to me as I was in the front.  It wanted us to get rid of the dog which turned around when the fawn approached us.  The little fawn stood there in front of me for half a minute breathing heavily.  It was like the little dude was wanting me to pick him up and rescue him.  I snapped pictures as the dog retreated.  The fawn looked at us as if to say thanks and stumbled into the bush.  Poor little dude.  I've never seen a deer that small.

Some of the forests we passed were within Pisgah and some were in the Cherokee National Forest.  We passed through all the terrain the Southern Appalachian Highlands has to offer.  As far as traffic, I would surmise that the AT is seeing a good deal of increase in section and thru hikers but we were lucky in that there were many stretches that were free of any hikers.  (Grady is starting to stink heavily at this point)

Shortly after this picture we had some trouble making it to the Clyde Smith shelter.  The mileages on the AT are sometimes approximations, I think.  We had a big day and got caught in another storm.  We thought the shelter was a mile but actually was two.  You know how that affects your psyche when ready to be done for the day.  Nevertheless, we arrived very wet with the intention of pushing on another couple of miles closer to Roan High Knob.  It was not to be.  We were whopped and holed up here.

We hung with Jasper and Cagle at this shelter.  Cagle is a thru hiker who does about 25 miles a day.  Oh the joy of youth!

Clyde Smith shelter was a little nicer than the other three but I had to put Grady on the bottom bunk because he smelled like a skunk ape.  He did sleep next to two latecomers, some nice women who were sexion hiking.  That is, until they smelled Grady.

Last day, Monday, we began our approach to the ascent of Roan High Knob.  It was four miles to the base and 2200 feet in three miles.  How long did it take?  Three hours.  That's one hour per mile with no breaks outside of one five minuter and another two or three.  Talk about great training, wow.  It beats the stair stepper for certain.  Of course we had weather with which to contend.  We began that day on the trail at 7.45 and arrived at the car at around 1 pm.  That was a short day!

This is the top of Roan High Knob.  Not much of a view that morning.  It's okay, we had a shuttle to catch and were like horses headed for the barn anyway.

We did side trip in the rain to Roan High Knob shelter.  It is unusual in that it is a true cabin.  Kind of neat.

As we approached Spivey Gap, the rhododendrons did not disappoint.  After all, this is what this area is known for.

Grady says that Dennis looked so good he could kiss him on the mouth. After an uncomfortable pause, Dennis politely declined.

We were done and Grady had a pack stuck on his arm.  He didn't care, there was still a free arm for beverages.

This is the rhodo field at Spivey Gap.  Absolutely marvelous!

Stunning.  Of course the sun emerges as we roll down the hill through Roan Mountain and are headed back to Knoxville.  Again, many thanks to Dennis for the shuttle and Grady for putting up with me and to me for smelling him.  It was magnificent.  Overall about 45 miles give or take.  Only 95 left and we are done with the Appalachian trail in Tennessee.

Tips:  Northbound is easier, purchase the thru hikers companion, we didn't.  Bathe whenever a creek is available, and pack light, light, light.  Ounces make pounds and pounds make pain.  We split a tent and filter.  In retrospect, we should have split a stove, first aid kid and little things like that.  I took too much food.  I will pack lighter and so will Grady.  We were eating well, sleeping little and traveling as much as we wanted.  Having a tent gives you flexibility provided you can find water. My clothing was dialed in.  I wore everything I took.  Oh, take crocs.  Your feet appreciate the break from your boots.  Two pair of socks is plenty.  You can only wear one at a time.  Rinse them out and dry them if you can't wash them.  The salts accumulate especially in the heat.  Jerky Mike led a group up to Injun creek, I am told on saturday.  I am off for the Caucasus on monday for an attempt on Mount Elbrus.  Will try to post on the comments page, if possible.  Sally D may post any hikes there as well but the heat is on and they retire to the lake.