View Full Version : Any suggestions for a 40 +\~mile section in the Roan mountain area
saltysack
01-13-2014, 14:31
I want to do a 3-4 day hike with my dog in the next few weeks over roan mtn. Any reccs for a good hike
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flemdawg1
01-13-2014, 15:38
4 days Hughes Gap to Dennis Cove is one I did 4 years ago and highly reccomend. Hughes Gap up Roan though is a butt kicker right out of the gate.
Erwin to U.S. 19E. Should be right around 50 miles.
johnnybgood
01-13-2014, 16:12
Did Indian Grave to 19E in October, exactly 40 miles. Lots of climbs but well worth the struggle.
Get Terry at Mountain Harbour can shuttle you.
Be ready for high winds 0 deg. Temperatures and snow. It is brutal up there this time of year.
Slo-go'en
01-13-2014, 17:54
Doing a 40 mile hike through there this time of year will be brutal. That's a tough section even in good weather and mild temps. I would only do this if you can pick the days you go based on the weather and there is a good chance of having a good window. If you have to go on specific dates and leave it up to chance the kind of weather you get, your probably going to be in real trouble as you can bet those days are not going to be good...
saltysack
01-13-2014, 19:42
Thx..all...weather dependent for sure. I'll go if forecasts are decent but snow and cold is part of the fun... If your prepaired for it.. If weather calls for 15 deg or higher ill concisely ir
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saltysack
01-13-2014, 19:43
Consider it......
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If you plan to cross the balds, remember that temperatures there are often 10 - 15 ° lower than those in the town of Roan Mountain. With wind, temps can be almost intolerable for those who don't prepare. Consider a jacket for your dog (I use a Kurgo Wanderdog but plan to upgrade to a Ruffwear Cloudchaser) and something to pull over his ears, such as a polar Buff.
Alleghanian Orogeny
01-14-2014, 09:44
May I suggest that you familiarize yourself with Ray's Weather (www.raysweather.com). Ray steadfastly refuses to forecast more than a handful of days out, but as far as I'm concerned, he pretty much nails the considerable variants related to the weather along the NC-TN border, the central Blue Ridge from Boone to Asheville, and far Southwest VA.
Best of luck with your plans!
AO
Firefighter503
01-14-2014, 11:55
Erwin to U.S. 19E. Should be right around 50 miles.
Seconded. That is a great section, and you can start/end at Mountain Harbor Bed and Breakfast. Going over Roan Mountain NOBO is sure to be an ass-kicker this time of year. My brothers and I will hopefully be doing Greasy Creek Gap to 19E in the Spring (25ish miles IIRC)
saltysack
01-14-2014, 12:40
My jack Russell has s coat but I just ordered a cloud chaser from backcountry on sale for $55.00...he only gets cold when stopped or at camp. If it's that cold he will sleep in bottom if my 15 deg down bag w liner.
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saltysack
01-15-2014, 10:35
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/15/je7e5a4y.jpg
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SouthMark
01-15-2014, 10:48
Did this section in October. Day one from 19 to Overmountain shelter was nice. Woke day 2 to sleet, hail and gale force winds. The balds were brutal. Was snowing by time we reached Carvers Gap.
saltysack
01-15-2014, 12:46
South mark
How far was that hike ?
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You might want to check with Mountain Harbor before counting on them. They arent able to house as many hikers as before and I forget what the other problem was. I believe they are only able to take in 4 hikers daily now. Our plans are to install tent platforms in the vicinity of the old Apple House Shelter prior to the arrival of the Thru hikers.
saltysack
01-15-2014, 23:18
Planned on using them for shuttle and car parking only.
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SouthMark
01-16-2014, 00:17
Well our hike was from Hwy 19 to Devils Fork Gap - 83 miles.
Hwy 19 to Carvers Gap - 15 miles.
Hwy 19 to Erwin, TN - 50 miles.
South mark
How far was that hike ?
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Matthew82
01-17-2014, 10:12
Is the Roan area really that tough of a hike? My grandfather grew up in Buladean and just told me him and his brothers were constantly crossing that range on foot. I'm taking him down there in a few months to place a new stone on his mothers grave, think I'll check it out.
HikerMom58
01-17-2014, 10:27
Is the Roan area really that tough of a hike? My grandfather grew up in Buladean and just told me him and his brothers were constantly crossing that range on foot. I'm taking him down there in a few months to place a new stone on his mothers grave, think I'll check it out.
Yes, it's quite the butt kicker but well worth the effort. Roan Mountain is beautiful! :)
MuddyWaters
01-20-2014, 01:12
Is the Roan area really that tough of a hike? My grandfather grew up in Buladean and just told me him and his brothers were constantly crossing that range on foot. I'm taking him down there in a few months to place a new stone on his mothers grave, think I'll check it out.
I dont recall anything about it being very tough. Its not flat, and there are decent climbs, but not really tough or anything. Top of Little Rock Knob is fun, reminiscent of Albert mtn.
I met a thru hiker 74 yrs old, that did his longest mileage yet (13 mpd) thru that section. He had been on trail about 6-7 weeks.
My favorite section hike yet was a 4 day hike that lead me SoBo into Erwin. You will go over Roan, Hump and Lil Hump, Beauty Spot (one of the most amazing spots on the trail), Unaka Mountain, and the Barn.