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Date of Hike: Sunday, April 8, 2018 |
| On Sunday I hiked to Little Hump Mt and Hump Mt from a trailhead that's a first time for me. Since it is the shortest, easiest access to these 2 remote peaks, I really wanted to get out and track it for the site. It so happens that the rain on Saturday turned to snow/ice, and the scenery was absolutely stunning for this hike. All of the grass and trees were covered in 1+ inch of rime ice that remained throughout the day. The views were outstanding, even with the low cloud ceiling. Unfortunately the rain and snow, combined with trail traffic made the Appalachian Trail incredibly muddy for the whole trip. I've hiked this area quite a few times and this was by far the least pleasant experience I've had on the trail. Don't let that deter you, but if it rained recently I'd suggest wearing those shoes and pants that you are ok with getting covered in mud. Otherwise, a beautiful day of hiking. Hump Mountain remains one of my top 5 peaks in the Southeast.
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Date of Hike: Saturday, June 10, 2017 |
I did a small sliver of this hike 2 weeks ago, tracking a sister hike for the Roan Highlands that I'll eventually post. This is the first time I've hiked here in the summer in many years, and the parking at Carvers Gap was insane. I drove up there at 10:00 AM and the entire area was full with cars spilling over the narrow shoulders of the highway on each side of the gap. I would estimate there were well over 100 cars, and throngs of people. I left and parked in a secluded area many miles away. My suggestion is to get there very early on summer weekends, or be prepared to wait.
Early- to mid-June is the best time for flowers all over the Roan Highlands, one of the reasons why it is so crowded all summer. The Catawba rhododendrons were excellent from Round Bald to Grassy Ridge Bald. The flame azaleas were just beginning to bloom in most locations, these typically bloom 1-2 weeks after Catawbas. Get out there and enjoy it, the views are always spectacular and the flowers are incredible if you pick the right time.
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Date of Hike: Wednesday, May 3, 2017 |
This is a must-do hike. Of all the hundreds of miles of AT that I have hiked, these few are probably the most beautiful. Just put this on your list and go do it. It's a super easy hike with astounding views. My photos do not do the place justice. Bring sunscreen. There's no shade.
We only did Carver's Gap to Grassy Ridge Bald and back. A knee injury kept us from doing Roan High Knob and Roan High Bluff too, on the AT south side of the gap.
https://mangiabeve.blogspot.com/2017/05/roan-mountain-nctn.html
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Date of Hike: Saturday, June 25, 2016 |
Great hike! I just hiked from Carvers Gap to 19E (Mountain Harbour B&B/hostel) for the second time. Created a general guide if anyone would like it (just email me). Strongly recommend paying the $5/night parking at Mountain Harbour B&B - It's safe and the people who run it are incredibly nice, oh and it has shuttle service. There are plenty of campsites, but my personal favorites are atop the balds. Our group likes to start with night-hiking on Friday nights, so we stayed atop Grassy Ridge Bald (highest elevation) and while it was a little difficult finding a spot because of the clouds covering the peak, it was a great area to wake up to. Water sources can be found in most gaps.
Campsites: Round Bald, Jane Bald, Grassy Ridge Bald, Stan Murray Shelter, Overmountain Shelter, Little Hump Mtn, Doll Flats
Water Sources: Carvers Gap, Low Gap, Overmountain Shelter, Little Hump Mtn, Bradley Gap, the trail from Doll Flats to 19E
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Jason Viper
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Date of Hike: Friday, March 25, 2016 |
| I had to come back! I was hoping to see everything in full bloom, but I was still a bit early. Nonetheless, the temps were perfect and views still incredible. As before, the further away you get from Carver's Gap, the more solitude you'll find. I encountered nobody from Little Hump onward. As I was making my way back to Carver's Gap, there were ALOT of people setting out for a night of camping. Be aware of the AT/Grassy Ridge Trail fork. I went the wrong way and it took about an hour and 2+ miles to figure out where I went wrong. Looking back, I don't mind the detour at all. Next time I come back I'm planning to camp, and want to go past Hump Mountain all the way to the highway and back. The beauty of this place cannot be overstated.
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Jason Viper
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Date of Hike: Sunday, November 1, 2015 |
| Every outdoor enthusiast needs to experience the Roan Highlands at least once, even if you don't do the full hike listed here. The "balds" are such a contrast to your typical hike, and the views I saw that day were absolutely breathtaking. I tackled the full 19.3 miles in 8 hours flat, taking 3.5 out, and 4.5 on the return trip. The march up Hump Mountain is a pretty tough climb, but there was no one section that I would rate as terribly difficult by itself. The difficulty level of this hike comes from the distance IMO. I was drained at 15 miles, so it was slow going up the long ascent at the end to get back to the trailhead. There was alot of activity near the Carver's Gap trailhead, with it tailing off significantly the further away you got. I still spent the better parts of the hike in solitude, which was great. I had originally planned on hiking Mt. Mitchell this day, but one look at the photos of the Roan Highlands and my decision was made!
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