Unfinished business, that is what was on the table for Monday, to finally complete the Appalachian Trail (AT) Section from Allen Gap to Devil's Fork Gap. The hike was to Shelton Graves from Round Bald Recreation Area. I could have done this hike back in September, but at that time I hadn't hike out of Devil's Fork Gap, so I went no further than Big Butt.
I would come to regret not going to Shelton Graves that fall, because I would hike to it from Devil's Fork Gap in December, leaving 1.5 miles to complete the section.
My first attempt to bridge this gap in March met with failure. I tried to hike up the Middle Springs Ridge Trail from Horse Creek Recreation Area and stopped, at Buzzard Roost, a half-mile short of the AT with another 1.5 (one-way) on top of that to the graves.
I still wanted to finish this section and the combination of good weather plus longer days meant Monday was as good a time in summer as I was going to get. As I explained above I had hiked out of Round Knob before, but let me say that the road was rougher than September and there was a tree hanging over the road I hoped would wait to fall after I was done.
Once I got to Round Knob I had it to myself, again. So, I started out and the first thing I spotted on the trail up... was a big pile of bear scat. Then I heard something big off in the woods. I figured if it was a bear I would hike past him. The two-mile hike to the AT was the toughest stretch of this hike.
Once on the AT the hike was pretty pleasant, passing two peaks, Bald and Andrew Johnson Mountain before arriving at Jerry's Cabin Shelter. This is one of my favorite shelters and it had a new feature...brand new mileage sign.
I would also pass a spot where it looks like the Carolina Mountain Club is rerouting the trail. This was part of this hike that is my favorite...Coldspring Mountain and across the beautiful bald meadow. I just love this spot I need to camp here in the near future.
When I arrived at Big Butt, which I hiked past, it signaled the start of the section I needed to finish. The first thing I passed was a small meadow. Besides being lovely it is also where the trail would have come up if I had made it this far in March. I will say this section of the trail is well maintained and no really steep patches.
It skates just under the summit of Gravel Knob and it isn't too much further before one reaches the sign for Shelton Graves. Getting here meant I had accomplished my goal of finishing the section. Before heading back I played my respects at the Graves.
Since I was hiking to get here I saved my stops for the return trip. First I took the trail up to a campsite and then up to Gravel Knob. It was here I got a little spooked. There was an old jeep road that goes over Gravel Knob. As I went up to the campsite I heard a bird sound, but I knew it wasn't that it was a person. It was at that point I heard banjos in the distance and decided to get back on and up the trail. I didn't want to squeal like a pig (neither did Pete).
The trail brought me back to Big Butt, where I had lunch. Then it was back across the meadow of Coldspring Mountain and after that down to Jerry's Cabin where I met a hiker headed back home to Maryland on the AT.
Once I finally left the AT it was back down the old jeep road that is the Round Knob Trail. It is just as steep and rocky going down as up...and my knee was hurting. What seemed longer than two miles I finally made it back to the recreation area...no bears, the tree didn't fall and nobody had to squeal.
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