| Trip Report: |
Hike started at Hughes Gap with temps already showing dropping below 30 per the gauge in the Chevrolet Blazer we go shuttled in. The wind was howling and the first snow of the year was beginning. Finally got on the move at around 11:00 AM. The wind and snow mixed with the 3000 ft. climb to Roan High Knob made for an exhausting day. We were rewarded though with an awesome yet eerie from from a lookout near the top before the parking area. Stopped in amazement at the sight of the parking area atop Roan High Knob as it looked like an arctic zone! The parking lot itself looked like a frozen pond. After gazing and taking picutres for about 20 minutes we continued on to the Roan High Knob shelter for the night. We were too cold and it was too windy to even try getting a fire started. We got some needed water, cooked inside, explored the general area, read some of the shelter/trail journal, and then decided to hit the sack. Me and my brother had the shelter to ourselves, in fact we didn't see another living soul until the Carver's Gap parking lot the next morning. We actually kinda slid into Carver's Gap. The roadway was frozen and we just used our ski/trekking poles to push us down. From Carver's Gap onward we hiked with a youth group of about 15-20. Leading the way for the group were 3-4 Chinese foreign exchange students that didn't seem to be effected at all by the wind, cold, or climbs!! and the guy was hiking in jeans!!! Well the temps might have finally climbed out of the 20's sometime mid to late afternoon once in the shelter of the trees. My brother and I stayed ahead of the group all the way to the Stan Murray shelter where we were slowed down by having to get water from the spring down hill from the shelter itself. From there on we hiked with the group and chatted along the way, finally reaching the Overmountain Shelter. After resting and cooking some dinner we made our way 'upstairs' to pick our plot for the night, as there turned out to be about 25 sleeping there that night. Our neighbors were all cool though and they even shared some No-Bake oreo cheesecake with us.....YUMMM!!! We sat around the fire and talked while some walked about in the moon-lit meadow below. Such a beautiful place for a shelter! Only 2, the group leaders, braved the cold winds on the lower deck for the night. After warming a pop-tart in my sleeping bag from body hit(it was frozen solid) I ate and me and my brother started to get packed. Go to put my boots on and.......... well I can't. They're frozen solid! Not wanting to waste anytime I just decided to hike in my Waldies. Me and my brother were the first to leave as we were planning to get to and camp at Doll Flats for a third night. I think it must have been at least 45 minutes to an hour before we had completely climbed out of the Yellow Mountain Gap where Overmountain Shelter resides. The winds were relentless. We pushed on and took a nice breather on the shoulder of Little Hump Mnt. Somewhere between Little Hump and Hump mountains a friendly dog-neighbor from the shelter caugh up to us and joined us. We guessed he was at least 1-2 miles ahead of his owner! Well he kept us company all the way to Doll Flats and made us sick by making the climb up Hump Mountain look easy. We however struggled, stopping to take breathers every 10-15 minutes. Once to the top the winds started blowing us off the AT by about 3-4 ft. We could lean into the wind like 80-75 degrees with full packs on. Shortly thereafter we dropped back down in the quietness of the barren trees and woods finally reaching Doll Flats where we stopped and waited for the group to catch up so we could return their dog.(he was an awesome dog) My brother and I had already decided to just finish off the 8 mile stretch to US19E since I was doing so well hiking in my waldies. The rest of the trail was nice and wooded with a steady descent and many little clearings/lookouts. We eventually came to Apple House Shelter and finally US19E. For the record, I would NOT recommend staying at Apple House Shelter as it seems way to close to the roadway and just begging for disruption from locals. |
One reply on “Appalachian Trail - Yellow Mountain Gap - November 24, 2004 - Member Trip Report”
Very cool to see the shelter/barn in the winter from a distance. Great write-up.