Joan planned a weekend of camping and hiking at Roan Mountain. I met Sara in Crossville to ride with her. We arrived at Roan Mountain State Park and explored the campground looking for the group camp. We found a Ranger that gave good directions along with a reminder of the 5 MPH speed limit in the park. We found the other campers all set up, and a few ready to hike. I hung my hammock by the river. We hung out and waited for the hikers to return so we could have dinner. Dick had appetizers ready, drinks and all, along with Jean's Blue Moon. We had quite a spread for dinner with chicken, baked beans, broccoli salad, slaw, quinoa, and Sara's brownies and cookies for dessert. The Park had musical entertainment at the amphitheater which was conveniently located close by our camp. We clapped and laughed with the Roan Mountain Moonshiners. Great entertainment. And then a nice campfire with our group. Joan and her sister Jean along with MaryEtta and Jane had a cabin in the Park rented for the weekend.
Saturday morning we drove to Carvers Gap to start our hike on the AT to the Rhododendron Garden and the Cloudland Trail to Roan High Knob. The fog on the mountain top limited some of our views, and after we read the info at the Cloudland Hotel site, our leader took us back to the AT and we started descending. I remembered when Craig and I were here, the Garden was on TOP of the mountain. I voiced my doubt about going down the mountain so we voted to climb back to the hotel site and get our bearings in the fog. We heard cars so I checked out the parking lot and got directions to the Gardens. We explored the trails and found the overlook, with a cloud sitting on top of the mountain, there were no views here. A lot of the blooms had passed their prime and the storms had knocked off a lot of the blooms. But we still saw some really pretty ones. The Cloudland Trail led us to High Knob. We were in high winds at the overlook at Roan High Knob so we found a less windy spot for lunch, then retraced out steps to the parking lot at Carvers Gap. The number of cars had multiplied and maneuvering out of the lot was challenging. Back at camp we snacked and started a fire. The cabin crew came back ready to cook hot dogs and chili, and all the leftovers from last night. Jane's strawberry cake was delicious! Campground music again tonight, Southern gospel trio from Piney Flats. I knew most of their songs.
Sunday morning thunder woke us up and we hit the ground running to pull down our tents and hammock before the rain started. I just barely got my stuff in the car before the storm broke. We sat in our cars in the downpour, then cooked breakfast under the canopy. It had stopped raining when Jane showed up to show us how to take it down. Loaded up, said goodbye to Marietta, Jane, Dick and Jennifer. The rest of us headed back to Carvers Gap hoping to get above the fog.
We hiked North on the AT climbing the balds. The clouds were moving fast. We found the Gray's Lily on Jane's Bald, then found more, and then more. I was a happy hiker! First time seeing these beauties. Found bluets, and some other flowers that I can't name or find in my wildflower book. We took the Grassy Ridge trail to the rocky top where a plaque is set into the rock as a memorial to a man that loved the Roan. Along the way we heard coyotes howling on the ridge. We had a windy lunch the returned to the AT watching the sun break thru giving us a few views. Then the clouds returned, with the howling wind gusts blowing us around on the trail. It didn't stop MaryEtta from singing "The hills are alive." We got back to the car just as the rain started. We parted ways with Jean and Joan who were heading out to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The rest of us got back to the campground, and started a convoy to Sycamore Shoals State Park. None of us had ever been there. Fort Watauga is there, they do reenactments of the siege of the fort and the mustering of the Overmountain Men. The town is the home of the oldest standing frame house. The ladies got their State Park books stamped.
This was my third trip to Roan Mountain. Once to see waterfalls and blooms staying at the Mountain Harbor Inn, once backpacking in the rain, and this camping trip to see the blooms. The next trip will be.....
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