I just returned from an overnight trip to Roan High Shelter. Two friends and myself drove over to Carver's Gap on Tuesday the 28th. There were lots of dayhikers at the parking lot when we got there at 3pm. We headed up the trail with lots of snow and some ice. We arrived at the shelter just at twilight and there were 2 thru hikers already there. They had passed us on the way up. We had a couple join us and three more joined the thru hikers in the loft. Good food was shared and we had a cold night. Good thing I had just ordered a -5 degree Quallofill sleeping bag. (I got a real deal on it at Sportsman's Guide for $49.95!) It kept me toasty all night and actually I had to remove my fleece top. The next morning we said goodbye to the thru hikers and I got a phone number to contact their family and let them know they were ok. After breakfast we packed up and said goodbye to the young couple that were staying for a few more nights, BTW Happy Anniversary, Rob and Debra! We hiked back to the parking lot by the road and got some great views on North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains. After a post hike meal at Cracker Barrel we made it home by 8 pm.

I can only imagine how cold Roan is at this time.

I just returned from an overnight trip to Roan High Shelter. Two friends and myself drove over to Carver's Gap on Tuesday the 28th. There were lots of dayhikers at the parking lot when we got there at 3pm. We headed up the trail with lots of snow and some ice.........etc,etc,etc,.......................... ................... great views on North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains.


Yo Karo!

Roan Mtn/Carvers Gap...one of my FAVORITE places on the trail!

I did a day hike there on Dec 1st this year.

It was @ Carvers Gap in the year: 2000 that i decided i would section-hike the A.T.

& its ironic that i'll finish up the 1st part of my section hike this coming Spring (2005) atop Roan Mtn/Carvers Gap. (before i shuttle to Damascus to continue NOBO for 2 more weeks) :D

How cold was it atop Roan, anyway?

i stayed in the roan high knob shelter with a group of people on december 29, 2001. our thermometer dropped to 4.9 degrees during the night with sustained winds of 30 mph. you can, of course, read about it here (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=10125).

How cold was it atop Roan, anyway?

It got very cold, I would say in the teens at least, but that wind was relentless. That is why I brought along a small catalytic heater and everyone brought along a coleman propane bottle to take the chill off. The wind chill outside had to be near zero. Just a guess, I would not have wanted to stay outside except in a good tent and my -5 degree bag. I did use the bag in the cabin and it kept me toasty all night, even tho my face got cold all night.

Good thing I had just ordered a -5 degree Quallofill sleeping bag. (I got a real deal on it at Sportsman's Guide for $49.95!) It kept me toasty all night and actually I had to remove my fleece top.

Karo, how much does this bag weigh?

It has 3.5 lbs of Quallofill insulation, and weighs about 4 lbs. It is twice as heavy as my 2 lb. 32 degree Quallofill bag. But I figured that I needed one for colder weather. I plan a hike to Frozen Head in March on Good Friday and it got cold there on Good Friday in 2004. Ya'll are welcome to join us. It is posted on TT and with TN Trails Assoc.:cool: