Thu, Nov 5 2009, Fri, Nov 6 2009, Sat, Nov 7 2009, Sun, Nov 8 2009 - Roan Highlands Backpacking Adventure (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Tony C, Scott Looper, Danny Participants: Danny, Tony C, Scott Looper, Adam B, Laura Judy, Kelly, Andy Altman

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Write Up:
After a couple of months of anticipation, we were glad to get underway on this trip and with a superb weather forecast ahead of us.   We started out with a 3 mile out and back hike to Jane Bald from Carvers Gap and it was great just getting out on the mountain balds immediately under blue skies...a bit chilly and windy but invigorating.   We then drove to the outfitter who shuttled us to the trailhead and we just had a short 15 minute hike to our first campsite near the Apple House shelter.

There were some thru hikers staying at the shelter...southbounders, and we talked to them for awhile around the campfire.  But it was nice to be snug in our tents at a decent hour and get some rest before starting out the next morning.

Friday we hit the trail at 8:30 and had a relaxing day of just about 8.7 miles/3200' ascent.  We took long breaks...at Doll Flats and at the top of Hump Mtn.  We reached the Overmountain barn shelter at about 3pm.   Tony had to explore a bit more and went for a little short dayhike down the Overmountain Victory trail.  Andy and Danny got a fire started...there was plenty of dry wood in the area and it was roaring before long. 

Saturday we hit the trail just before 8...our second day on the mountain balds and it started with the climb up Yellow Mtn and then up to Grassy Ridge Bald.  A few of us did a nice side hike up there while the others chilled and enjoyed the view.

Then it was down to Carvers Gap and up the massive Roan Mtn where we checked out the shelter, and the highest elevation we would hit on the trip...6285 on Roan High Knob.  From there is was a LONG downhill to Hughes Gap before climbing up Rocky Knob (sweet sunset spot) and down to the campsite....ended up being about 15.8 mi / and 4300' of ascent for the day.

Sunday we hit the trail early right at 7am.  We had some rolling terrain and some nice hiking along ridgelines until we dipped into Cherry Gap where we took a break at the shelter.  Then it was a tough 1300' climb up Unaka mtn.  We took a break at the top in the red spruce forest....definitely had a magical enchanted feel to it.

From there it was mostly downhill...but still with some great views from the aptly named "Beauty Spot"...and then a couple of miles to Indian Grave Gap where we ended our adventure.

It was a challenging trip but the scenery was inspiring and made the long days more than worth it...everyone was full of postive energy and that helped us get up the climbs as well.   The totals came out to about 42 miles of backpacking and just over 12,000' of ascent. 

In the end, we had four days of perfect weather, a great group, and one of the most beautiful stretches of trail in the southeast...a recipe for a very memorable trip and we were glad this one lived up to its potential.  Hopefully we can revisit the area again...maybe in the spring or perhaps in the snow...so many possibilities...

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