Day 32 - Greasy Creek Gap to Overmountain Shelter

Slept great last night, but awoke with a feeling of semi-dread about the climb up and over Roan Mountain. After Steve told us to give that mountain a kick for him (or words to that effect), I was a bit nervous. He’s the fastest hiker I’ve seen.

Left after Tim but before Dave, Beano, and Stretch (Phil) to get a jump on the day. Did quite a bit of climbing over peaks, which seemed odd since Roan was just ahead. I guess each hiking club gets to route its own section of the trail. Was expecting a sign, but didn’t see one – so I actually started climbing Roan without knowing what it was. Maybe that was a good thing.

Tim, aka Chops

About half-way up, I heard a man screaming something about “1,000 feet” and “this f----in pack”. I really thought it was Tim and that he was about to go (or had already gone) over the edge. Started walking after a minute and caught up to a man I hadn’t seen before. It didn’t dawn on me immediately that he’s the one I had heard. Saw Tim and took a break. I left ahead of him and quickly passed Tumbling Tom, who explained that he thought we were a lot higher up the mountain than we actually were.

Parts were pretty vertical, but it was more interesting to climb over rocks and roots than just back and forth switchbacks. Anyway, made it 7 ½ miles to the top of Roan in about four hours – pretty good time. Took a blue-blaze to the highest shelter on the AT – a former fire warden’s cabin. Was expecting a great view – as the woman had promised us the day before – but there was none. The top of the mountain is covered in pine trees. Waited for Dave for a while. Matt came up and said Dave must have missed the blue blaze, so I kept going. Soon came to another series of balds – quite beautiful and reminiscent of Ireland.

Overmountain Shelter from afar

We planned to stay at the shelter that is a converted barn and was used in the filming of “Winter People,” starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. What a spot! Nicest place we’ve stayed yet! The view was just amazing – hopefully the pictures will do it justice. A bunch of us (eight or so) stayed in the loft, while the others were down below or tenting. Lots of people we hadn’t met before were there – Mountain Dew’d, Derby, Bear, Alias and Morning Dove (from Somerville), Chef… also the Outlaws – Sasquatch (16), Torch (14), and Boo (12).

 

I guess they got on the trail at Newfound Gap and were hiking with Breaking Wind for a while. They are home-schooled, and Sas said it took six months to convince their parents to let them go. (Real names are Glory Be to God [both girls] and Ezekiel…). Quite mature kids. Would make a great story if they finish. I guess “the law” is out looking for them; hence the name Outlaws.

Beano, Longshanks, and Chops