Doodles
Active member
Myself and Mr Underhill just came home from another section of the AT.
Day 1.
We started from Indian Grave Gap just north of Erwin TN on Sat 5/13. The first views appeared at Beauty Spot Gap which was a great 180 degree view looking back towards Erwin in into TN. The climb continued over Unaka Mt. (5180') which is the mountain I had to retreat from on a trip six weeks ago during a snow storm which dumped 4 to 5 ft. of snow. (Who would think of 5 ft on snow down South on 4/29). Any way the snow was now gone and we made it over. We camped at Clyde Smith Shelter with about 10 other hikers. (Thru and Section).
Day 2.
We left in good weather, but by mid morning the skies had turned gray and stormy. We had doubts about crossing Roan Mt (6200') with the distant thunder and lightning, but as we climbed, the storm seemed to be going some where else. We felt that we would be cheated of the views, but as we reached the summit the clouds were racing over our heads and gave way to views to the North. We had our lunch at the site of the old hotel and continued on. Next we crossed Carvers Gap (5512') which also managed to give great views of TN to the West and NC to the East. It was raining on and off all day, but the view
Gods were on our side. Next we climbed Little Hump Mtn. (5459') and Hump Mtn (5587') which were two spectacular balds. The weather had cleared, but the constant high cross winds had made very difficult to stay on two feet. We had to put on all our rain gear to break the wind and low temps. We came down off the balds to camp at Doll Flats.
Day 3.
Today was an uneventfull day which was more of a walk in the woods at lower elevations with a partly cloudy day. It was a bit warmer while our elevations stayed between 2900' and 3500'. We camped stream side at Laurel Fork.
Day 4.
This day took us over White Rocks Mt and down to spectacular Laurel Fork Falls. This was a falls of about 100' wide and maybe 70' high dropping to the pool below. The water was quite high which added to the magic of the falls. We hiked along the creek for about a mile before climbing up the mountain to Pond Flats for our camp destination for the night. This would be the first night we had clear skies for a star filled sky, although at some point in the night the rain had returned to once again soak our tarps.
Day 5.
The rain had stopped by morning, and gave way to a partly cloudy day. This day we hiked the Southern part of Watauge Lake at water level then after crossing the North end Watauga Dam we climbed up to put us up on a ridge walk with views of Watauga Lake. The hike along Wautauga Lake at lower and higher elevations was about 10 miles. The views from Vandeventer Shelter of the lake were spectacular. The lake was formed by a large flooded valley for hydro power. We continued about 3 miles past the shelter to camp, for about 30 hikers destined for Damascus had stopped at Vandeventer.
Day 6.
Once again we had to pack up camp in the rain. This morning produced some vilolent downpours, but we continued on. By mid morning the rain had stopped, but the fog and clouds remained. Just about the time you started to dry out another storm would develope and soak us. We continued past our planned destination and ended up at Abingdon Gap shelter. (10 miles South of Damascus). This put us in a good postion to get into Damascus by lunch the next day. At this site there were about 25 of us destined for Trail Days the following day. The rain had stopped long enough to set up our hammocks and tents and eat some supper, then the sky had blackened and another vilent thunder, lightning, rain and high wind storm had developed which sent everyone scattering for shelter. Everyone except three good ol' boys from Tennessee who seemed to celebrate around the campfire they managed to keep going through all the rain. This was their sixth year in a row of hiking into Trail Days and no storm was going to keep them down.
Day 7.
By morning the rain was gone and one by one camps were broke down and all had departed saying "see you in town".
Mr. Underhill and I made it in to Damascus by 12:00 noon. We entered town and walked past all the gear vendors and continued through town to the North end where we had started last year. We needed to connect the blazes. We believe in touching every blaze. We found the shower trailer behind the Baptist Church and waited our turn to wash off a weeks worth of trail grime. (Boy did that feel good). We were meeting some friends (Repeat and Rodney) from Ashville and Bristol who were coming in for the festivities. After hooking up, we ate some lunch and checked out Tent city then back to the vendor area to check out the new gear. As the day progressed, most of the hikers we had seen and met during the week had filtered into town for a great reunion. We met up with Attroll from Whiteblaze who hung out with us for the evening. All of us being hammock hangers had made our way back into the woods off the trail for the night for one last good rain storm.
Day 7.
Saturday morning the rain had stopped once again and we proceeded back to Tent city and then back to town to meet up with Tarheel (thruhiker back in the 70's). It seems like over the two days we had walked Damascus 10 times greeting and meeting all the people that make Trail Days the experience that it is. Mr. Underhill and I were glad that we were able to tie in Trail Days on this section with all that magic that it brings.
George
Day 1.
We started from Indian Grave Gap just north of Erwin TN on Sat 5/13. The first views appeared at Beauty Spot Gap which was a great 180 degree view looking back towards Erwin in into TN. The climb continued over Unaka Mt. (5180') which is the mountain I had to retreat from on a trip six weeks ago during a snow storm which dumped 4 to 5 ft. of snow. (Who would think of 5 ft on snow down South on 4/29). Any way the snow was now gone and we made it over. We camped at Clyde Smith Shelter with about 10 other hikers. (Thru and Section).
Day 2.
We left in good weather, but by mid morning the skies had turned gray and stormy. We had doubts about crossing Roan Mt (6200') with the distant thunder and lightning, but as we climbed, the storm seemed to be going some where else. We felt that we would be cheated of the views, but as we reached the summit the clouds were racing over our heads and gave way to views to the North. We had our lunch at the site of the old hotel and continued on. Next we crossed Carvers Gap (5512') which also managed to give great views of TN to the West and NC to the East. It was raining on and off all day, but the view
Gods were on our side. Next we climbed Little Hump Mtn. (5459') and Hump Mtn (5587') which were two spectacular balds. The weather had cleared, but the constant high cross winds had made very difficult to stay on two feet. We had to put on all our rain gear to break the wind and low temps. We came down off the balds to camp at Doll Flats.
Day 3.
Today was an uneventfull day which was more of a walk in the woods at lower elevations with a partly cloudy day. It was a bit warmer while our elevations stayed between 2900' and 3500'. We camped stream side at Laurel Fork.
Day 4.
This day took us over White Rocks Mt and down to spectacular Laurel Fork Falls. This was a falls of about 100' wide and maybe 70' high dropping to the pool below. The water was quite high which added to the magic of the falls. We hiked along the creek for about a mile before climbing up the mountain to Pond Flats for our camp destination for the night. This would be the first night we had clear skies for a star filled sky, although at some point in the night the rain had returned to once again soak our tarps.
Day 5.
The rain had stopped by morning, and gave way to a partly cloudy day. This day we hiked the Southern part of Watauge Lake at water level then after crossing the North end Watauga Dam we climbed up to put us up on a ridge walk with views of Watauga Lake. The hike along Wautauga Lake at lower and higher elevations was about 10 miles. The views from Vandeventer Shelter of the lake were spectacular. The lake was formed by a large flooded valley for hydro power. We continued about 3 miles past the shelter to camp, for about 30 hikers destined for Damascus had stopped at Vandeventer.
Day 6.
Once again we had to pack up camp in the rain. This morning produced some vilolent downpours, but we continued on. By mid morning the rain had stopped, but the fog and clouds remained. Just about the time you started to dry out another storm would develope and soak us. We continued past our planned destination and ended up at Abingdon Gap shelter. (10 miles South of Damascus). This put us in a good postion to get into Damascus by lunch the next day. At this site there were about 25 of us destined for Trail Days the following day. The rain had stopped long enough to set up our hammocks and tents and eat some supper, then the sky had blackened and another vilent thunder, lightning, rain and high wind storm had developed which sent everyone scattering for shelter. Everyone except three good ol' boys from Tennessee who seemed to celebrate around the campfire they managed to keep going through all the rain. This was their sixth year in a row of hiking into Trail Days and no storm was going to keep them down.
Day 7.
By morning the rain was gone and one by one camps were broke down and all had departed saying "see you in town".
Mr. Underhill and I made it in to Damascus by 12:00 noon. We entered town and walked past all the gear vendors and continued through town to the North end where we had started last year. We needed to connect the blazes. We believe in touching every blaze. We found the shower trailer behind the Baptist Church and waited our turn to wash off a weeks worth of trail grime. (Boy did that feel good). We were meeting some friends (Repeat and Rodney) from Ashville and Bristol who were coming in for the festivities. After hooking up, we ate some lunch and checked out Tent city then back to the vendor area to check out the new gear. As the day progressed, most of the hikers we had seen and met during the week had filtered into town for a great reunion. We met up with Attroll from Whiteblaze who hung out with us for the evening. All of us being hammock hangers had made our way back into the woods off the trail for the night for one last good rain storm.
Day 7.
Saturday morning the rain had stopped once again and we proceeded back to Tent city and then back to town to meet up with Tarheel (thruhiker back in the 70's). It seems like over the two days we had walked Damascus 10 times greeting and meeting all the people that make Trail Days the experience that it is. Mr. Underhill and I were glad that we were able to tie in Trail Days on this section with all that magic that it brings.
George
