Sarge from Uncle Johnny's picked us up at the hotel and dropped us off at 8am at Iron Mountain Gap, twenty miles north on the trail. We slack packed back to Uncle Johnny's and arrived about 5pm. It was a dreary day weather wise, in the sixties and we spent most of the day in the clouds with occasional drizzle. We hiked all day in rain gear.
We made good time, arriving at the spruce stand on Unaka Mountain before eleven. We also got to see a fair number of friends who we thought were further ahead than they actually are. Sam I Am and Dusty Pilgrim, Johnny Adventure, Ms Cattywampus (who now goes by the name Onward 'cause she just won't stop), Broke Down, and Trixie and her dog Gertrude. Happy left out of Erwin today, as did Sublime and Chipmunk.
Anchor has been fouled and is off trail, hopefully not for long, with a banged up knee. Coed called late last night needing medical help. He was near Sam's Gap, about a day and a half from Erwin, alone in his tent on a night with bad thunderstorms, vomiting from a stomach bug. Unfortunately, all the shuttles had closed for the night so he had to tough it out. He made it to town today, but will be sidelined a few days to recover. Injuries are almost unavoidable out here. Wilson rolled an ankle today but is still going. My right knee is still bothering me with minor tendinitis.
4/27/15 - Slackpack Second Day
Sarge drove us up to Carvers Gap below Roan Mountain and dropped us off. He about gave me heart failure when he remarked that it was 24 miles to Iron Mountain Gap. My maps and the guidebook show the distance as 16 miles. He left with a long 'Okayyy' that implied disbelief.
We made Iron Mountain Gap by 4pm. Sixteen miles in 7 hours. We met Poppa Bear and his son HB, they are going north on a section hike.
Roan Mountain is now a state park with extensive rhododendron patches. There is a yearly festival. The Appalachian Trail crosses the summit of Roan Mountain, Carvers Gap, and Jane Bald, which is on the opposite side of Carvers Gap from Roan Mountain.
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