Well, Pete here, and it was supposed to be round two of the Rumble on the Cliffs at Rocky Fork State Park, but the park rangers and the Lummox prevented me from getting me a bearskin rug and a couple of coats.
I was at Rock Fork because some environmental hippies needed the Lummox to lead a hike (which really meant me). So, it was an easy hike up the Rocky Fork and Flint Creek Trails and seeing where brave John Sevier battle some Indians. Just like I was going to do going up the White House Cliffs Trail, Hiking Machine style! But when we got back to the parking area and dragged the Lummox towards the White House Cliffs Trailhead it was closed because of that bear and its cubs I was denied my rematch. I know the Lummox was happy because I could hear his nobby knees knocking before we saw the trail closed sign...🐰🤦♂️
The Roans are known for many things...natural bald, fantastic view, and one of the best stretches of the 2,000 miles plus Appalachian Trail (AT). In June, the sea of pink is also known for the blooming of the Catawba Rhododrons that grace the Roans. Oh, I am finally getting this blog up.
Roans camping 2020
Anyway, because of this, I decided to once again head up to Carvers Gap to see the flower show. I would say it is an annual event but I missed three June's on the Roans before returning in 2019, but just missed out on flowers two years ago, but did make see them last year camping on Grassy Ridge Bald. I couldn't go the third week (camping at Rock Creek) and I wasn't going on the weekend of the 20th. Besides learning my lesson from going on a Saturday in 2020 it was also Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival Weekend. I figured it might be worse than normal as the 2020 edition was canceled by COVID.
Anti-Clockwuse: Gray's Lilies ('19), Rhodondendron Festival ('14) & Rock Creek ('21)
Then because of the weather, Monday was out and Tuesday didn't look good and I was dog-sitting the Wolf Pack starting Wednesday so it looks like just a day hike in the cards. Then the weather forecast for Tuesday started to improve a bit. The rain was supposed to end Tuesday afternoon, but with it being the Roans you never know but I decided to risk it and head up to camp Tuesday night.
Bax & Lester...the Wolf Pack
By the time I left St. Clair the sun was peaking out so I was hopeful. When I arrived at Carvers Gap conditions were very similar to last June. It was mostly cloudy and chilly, but there was one big difference...it wasn't even close to being as crowded as last year. While it took over 20 minutes to snag a spot on this day I drove up and got a choice spot.
Clouds on the Highlands
The North Carolina sign was replaced
Crowd in 2020 (T) & 2021 (B)
As with most times on the Roans, clouds rolled in and out When I reached the summit of Round Bald the vista into North Carolina was open, but not into Tennessee. Then heading down to Engine Gap I looked up and Jane Bald was there and then gone (behind some clouds).
Round Bald
NC Vista
Jane & Grassy Ridge Balds
Jane was there...
...& then gone
At the big Rock on Jane Bald
It was mostly cloudy heading up to Grassy Ridge Bald but when the sun peaked out the temperatures would jump at least five degrees. When I got to the cloud-covered summit I only stopped for a couple of minutes. Unlike last year, when I stopped and camped near the summit, this time I was heading out to the saddle between Grassy Ridge and Roan High Ridge.
Going right to Grassy Ridge
It was cloudy on top
My 2020 campsite
Summit rock
So, I had a little further, but it would be well worth it. I had won't camp here when I first saw it years ago and thought about it last year for multiple reasons. However, in 2021 this was my spot. It is a stretch small stretch of bald between rhododendron thickets. It has a view on both ends and a trail on the eastside heads down a short distance to a piped spring. I will say it is one of the best campsites I have had and it was all mine (alone that is).
I meant this because of the lack of people at Carvers Gap I wasn't surprised I had my campsite to myself, but the summit rock on Grassy Ridge was shocking. I decided to hike back up there for sunset and unlike last year when there were close to 15 people, this time I had it to myself and I got an actual sunset (unlike 2020). The evening was great too, despite it being wet, I had a good fire and remarkable temperatures for June (a tick below 40 degrees).
Evening time
Is that a Wood Booger shadow?
Sundown
Back at the campsite
Fire time
Moon over my campsite
One of the reasons was that it cleared off overnight and, except for a few clouds, it seemed nice out. morning. This campsite was positioned to make for a great sunrise (like 2020) and it started out looking that way. As I waited for sunrise a guy with a puppy and a camera came into my site to take pictures of the sunrise. It was around this time I noticed dark clouds to the south and guess what it was moving east. Before I knew it the orange glow was replaced by gray. The guy said the forecast was for clear skies and I responded..."that's the Roans."
It did look like a good morning
Sunrise ('20) & not so much ('21)
The one thing the guy who came through my campsite signaled the return of the masses to the mountain. It started as a trickle on Grassy Ridge Bald and became a wave as my hike back continued. The one thing it took a while to change, the clouds They were thick on Grassy Ridge but started to lighten at the trail junction. It was here I took a slight detour to find the old Grassy Ridge Lean-to site. This gave it a little more time for the clouds to lift but it was still in and out when I reached Jane Bald. But they lifted on Round Bald just before I reached the summit.
Just before heading into the woods and then Carvers Gap I got a look at the parking area at the trailhead and it was packed. So much so that I would later see them parked beyond the overflow spot. Now, this looked like last year. I had one more stop to make and that was up to the Rhododendron Gardens. Actually, I didn't know if I would get to because of the sinkhole that closed the road up in early June. I guess it was all that snow in February, but they got it fixed because the road was open when I got to Carvers Gap.
Grassy Ridge Bald...
...& Round Bald still misty
View of TN-143 & looking back later
Tennessee side
Dr. Brown's Trees...
...& campsites I might have to try out sometime
More cars than Tuesday
Some of the Flame Azaleas...
...& Catawba Rhodondenrons I saw on the balds
Speaking of snow, while I wanted to go and see the Rhododendron Gardens my main reason for going up was to see the contrast from my last visit. As I blogged about here, I snowshoe to the Cloudland Parking Area which was covered in a foot of snow (two in some spots). It was amazing that it was the same place...what a difference four months make. I only had a short window because I needed to get home to the Wolf Pack and I had a date with a Boss Burger at Bob's Dairyland...
Febuary & June
Split of Winter & Summer
It is hard to believe it is the same place
Look how deep the snow drifted
The Rhododendron Gardens
They were park to the curve up TN-143
One more look at the difference of Winter & Summer
