5/18/99 Overmountain Shelter   Miles Today : 21.1 Miles from Springer : 374.0

First, I want to start with some unfinished business. In Erwin, there was a store called The Hanging Elephant. Its name comes from the fact that back in 1914, Erwin held a public execution of a circus elephant. Turns out that Betsy lost her crap during a performance and went on a stampede, killing a man. After failed attempts to shoot her to death and ELECTORCUTE her, she was hung from a construction crane. I saw pictures of this event, very interesting. Also, I forgot to mention that yesterday, while going to over the summit of Utaka Mountain, I walked through the coolest old growth pine forest. In the middle of the day it was dark and hard to tell where the trail was due to all the pine needles.

OK, now for today. I got a late start, around 9, but I was going pretty good. I could have been going faster, but the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club ( TEHC ) have done the worst trail maintenance that I have seen so far. Erosion is everywhere because of lack of erosion bars and water bars. Parts of the trial have been gutted as much as 3 feet! In many cases, the trail was unwalkable and hikers had begun to make their own trail two to three feet away.

Climbing was abundant today, with the toughest climb being Road Mountain, a 6000+ footer. There was once a giant hotel at the top but that was dismantled in the early 1900's. The AT goes by the foundation and a chimney from the old hotel. The climb to Roan was very difficult covering 2500 feet of elevation in only three miles. It was a hard climb but I enjoyed the challenge. Just off the summit is Roan Know Shelter, the highest elevation shelter on the AT. Nothing special though, a cabin with a loft, but it would have been nice if it was in better condition. I was tempted to stay, but Drive-By had moved on, so I felt compelled to keep going.

Am I glad that I did. I actually passed another shelter to get here (Overmountain). This place is an old renovated barn with a loft that can hold 40 hikers! The loft is completely enclosed, but the downstairs area has two sleeping platforms that face East and into a beautiful valley. I got some great views before the fog rolled in, and hopefully it will clear for sunrise tomorrow. Its raining steady now ( not like the downpour that I got caught in getting here ) but the clouds don't look too thick. The shelter was actually the site of a movie, Winter People with Kurt Russell. I don't know anything about this movie, so spend the three bucks at your own discretion, but if you want to see the shelter I am staying at, give this movie a look.

Tomorrow, I will be shooting for 26 miles and a hostel at Dennis Cove. According to the map, 26 tomorrow should be easier that 21 today, but as always we will see.

-Chomp

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