A Hike on the Appalachian Trail
Sunrise Hike
Carvers Gap is the gateway to the World Famous Roan Highlands and The Worlds Largest Natural Rhododendron Garden in the World. Roan Mountain is not actually one mountain, but a high ridge about 7 miles long that ranges from a height of 6,286 feet at Roan High Knob to a low of 5,512 feet at Carver’s Gap.
This section of the AT is one of our favorites. We’ve marveled at this view in several different season over the years.
One, in particular, was in the Spring and the Rhododendrons were in full bloom for as far as the eyes could see. Spectacular.
Prep Work
For this sunrise we preferred to spend our night at home and get an early start rather than camp overnight. So we prepared everything the night before: our packs loaded with our Petzel headlamps, a flashlight (because you never know), hiking sticks, and layered clothing to prepare for worst case scenarios.
We awoke at 4:30 am for a 5:30 am departure which will allow driving time and hiking to the spot to be ready for the sun.
Start the Adventure
There weren’t any delays on our drive and we arrived at the trail head around 6:45 AM which allows us time to get in place for a 7:10 sunrise.
Heading up through a thick forest
Round Bald at around 0.5 miles.
Good Morning!
After the morning show of colors, we continued the remaining 2’ish miles to Grassy Ridge Bald. The trail is popular and well traveled so the path was clear and groomed. You climb a total of 1,079.4 feet over the course of the 2.5 (ish) mile hike from the trailhead to Grassy Ridge Bald. It’s an easy graded uphill path with no true obstacles.
Heading North toward Grassy Ridge Bald we follow the white blaze to stay on trail
Jane Bald is at mile marker 1.5.
The trail is rocky and travels through tunnels of rhododendron.
A large mountain ridge with lots of grass, flowers and small trees.
A view from Roan Mountain.
Hanging out on Grassy Ridge Bald
Let’s protect and enjoy our natural world together and we will continue to enjoy places like these…….
PSA Announcement. We found the campsite at Round Bald had been used the night before and the partiers had left two pizza boxes with food in them, water bottles, soda cups, and other trash in the fire pit. In addition, the trees have been chopped up for (presumably) fire wood.
Because we still had 2+ miles and several hours of exploring ahead of us, I bagged the trash and was going to pick it up on my way out. Unfortunately, a forest creature got to it and ate the leftover pizza, calzone and sauce. This breaks my heart!
We ended up hauling out two grocery bags full of trash (including a pair of speedos) and two pizza boxes.
We give this adventure a……
Dream Big, Travel Far, Live Well…
What’s Next?
More adventures in Tennessee’s Tri Cities area.
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