Scout Trip to Roan Mountain Area

A group of Scouts went to Roan Mountain over the weekend of April 25, 26 and 27, 2008. A group started at 19E near the Apple House Shelter. We spent the night about 3 miles up in Doll Flats. On Saturday we hiked across Big Hump, Little Hump and over to Carvers Gap. We spent Saturday night at the Roan Mountain Shelter (which is the highest Shelter on the AT). On Sunday we hiked up to Cloudland and had a great view from the deck up there. We hiked back down and picked up the cars at Carvers Gap and met the other group which had traversed the same area in the opposite direction. Our group spent most of Saturday hiking up and the other group spent most of the day going down. The Roan area is a really nice area and the views up on Big Hump and Cloudland are awesome. The total hiking for the weekend was about 20 miles. Most of the miles were done Saturday and everyone was pretty tired.
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Day Hike to Charlies Bunion

On Wednesday May 7, 2008, I took some time during the day to make a great hike up to Charlies Bunion. I started at Newfound Gap which can be accessed off of State Road 441 through Cherokee. There was quite a crowd at Newfound Gap but as I have always heard and witnessed, most of the millions that go through the Smokies never get out of their car and really explore. I hiked up the AT to Icewater Shelter. Then on up the trail to Charlies Bunion. The Bunion has some really great views. It is at about 5800 feet and looks down into the valley below which settles in at under 4000 feet. The sign at the Bunion says to make sure you have control of children. I think this is excellent advice. I spent about 45 minutes talking to a few folks (there was agroup of students from Indiana university up there exploring plants in the Smokies). I hiked back down pretty quickly so I can get to TN by dinner. The entire trip was about 8 miles an took me a little less than 3 hours. Its a great hike for a day hike and can be made into an overnighter but the camping up there is limited.