May 14 Mile 379

We had decided to have short mileage days here in the Roan Mtns, and we're very glad we did. This area is extremely beautiful and one that should not be rushed through. After getting up fairly early, we left our camp at about 8:20 and hiked down to Carver's Gap where there is a highway to bring people up to the state park. The hike down was all through a spruce forest, and smelled like a Christmas tree farm. Supposedly at the gap the rocks are 2.5 billion years old and this mountain is one of the oldest in the world. Anyway, we hiked across the hiway and to the top of this huge bald. The view was tremendous and we stayed there for about an hour enjoying the views. I actually got cell service and called my Sweety. Our hiking goal was only about 7 miles today- good for the body and soul- and we planned to reach a shelter area right off the trail that featured an old barn as the shelter . We got there at around 2 PM, had lunch and decided to tent camp as there was a family in the barn and knew that we would be having different schedules. But that turned out to be a great plan as we set up our tents in this huge field near the barn with a million dollar view of the mountains and valleys to the south. I wish I could put up a house with a big front porch on this spot. We passed the afternoon relaxing, built a fire, made dinner, and watched the light show down below as thunderstorms moved through. Then it was time for bed. A great day and the reason folks hike the AT. This park is definitely one to return to.