REUNION
Christy and I met up with Myron, Dorcas, Bob, and Laura for a hike on Saturday. This was something of a reunion, as we hadn't seen each other in months. Saucony and Izaak also enjoyed getting reacquainted.
Our destination was Roan Mountain, where we hoped to catch the end of the rhododendron bloom before it disappeared. We didn't have high hopes though, as Myron and Dorcas had been at Mt. Rogers the weekend before only to find most of the blooms gone.
For a change of pace, we started our hike at Hughes Gap, which is the first road access west of Roan Mountain. We managed to squeeze three cars into the tiny parking area amid the broken beer bottles. We started on the AT around 10:30 and quickly came across two guys doing trail maintenance. We gave them our thanks and continued to climb. Over the next 3 miles, we climbed 2000 feet. Along the way we passed through oak forest and between boulders. A couple of rock outcrops would have provided views, but the mountain was fogged in. About halfway up we reached a campsite area and took a LONG side trail down to a spring to get water for the dogs. The spring turned about to be little more than a mud puddle. I can't imagine what it's like in a dry year.
After the gap we resumed our climb. Soon the forest changed to spruce and fir, and the wonderful aroma was almost overpowering. Towards the summit we passed a few rhododendron shrubs still in bloom. This seemed encouraging, so we pressed on to the top.
We reached a high point near the old Cloudland Hotel site. It was foggy, windy, and cold, so we searched for a sheltered lunch spot. We found one behind some fir trees and ate quickly. Everyone was chilled, and we decided to forgo our original destination of Roan High Bluff. The fog would hide the view anyway. Instead, we walked down to the Rhododendron Gardens. We ran into a few tourists here, but the nasty weather seemed to have scared most people off.
We were pleasantly surprised to find the rhododendron only a little past peak color. We walked for about a mile on the paved walkways, enjoying the flowers and taking pictures.
Around 3:00 we decided to head back. We followed the same route, which proved to be slippery going down. Along the way, we passed a couple of dayhikers and a pair of AT thru-hikers. They were the first people we'd seen on the trail all day. It was a nice hike, and it provided a final chance for us to enjoy the rhododendron bloom. More importantly, it provided us with an opportunity to get together on a Saturday afternoon.
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