Date: 4/11/04
Starting Location: Cherry Gap Shelter
Destination: Overmountain Shelter
Miles: 21.7
Total Miles: 385.7
Not much excitement today other than a big climb up and over Roan High Knob, the last big mountain between Erwin, TN and Damascus, VA. Feels good to have it out of the way, especially since it was the toughest climb I've seen on the trail so far, and it's the last time I'll be above 6000' all the way until New Hampshire on Mt. Washington.
Finally got rained on for a few hours between Carver's Gap and the shelter on this long day. But, I'm warm and dry in my sleeping bag now at this really neat barn shelter with an incredible view emerging from the clouds.
Really strange to be out here on Easter Sunday since it's the first time I've ever not been with my family on a major holiday. I really miss them all today more than usual.
Had a mini-version of an egg hunt this morning when I gave chocolates to Footloose, Rumbler, and Rex, and Footloose asked me to hide his so that he could hunt for it.
Since it's a holiday and it's been just over a month since I left Amicalola on the Approach Trail, here's a quick highlight reel of the trail so far:
Highest point: Clingmans Dome (6643')
Coolest shelters: Fontana Hilton, Icewater Spring
Highest shelter: Roan High Knob Shelter (6285') (stopped in to check it out today)
Miles: 376.9 (not including the Approach Trail)
Amount of time hiking in the rain: 5 hours
Amount of time hiking in snowstorm: 2 days
Best moments: Sunrise on Clingmans Dome with Professor T, and hanging w/Wounded Knee, Hoss, Honeypie, and Nunn at Miss Janet's
# of cute single female hikers: Not nearly enough