April 30, 81 -Roan High Knob Shelter to Two miles North of Elk Park. Camped-
The last day of April! Made 12 miles into Elk Park and got groceries, picked up mail from my
dad. Hiked approx. two more miles to private home where man let me set up tent up on hill in
woods. This was a very long day. I got started at 7:45 a.m. and it is 9:00 p.m. and I haven't
stopped. I had to walk one and a half miles into town also since I could not get a ride. Got
lucky and got a ride back out of town. I did a total of 16 miles of walking today. I came over
some very beautiful terrain today. There were five balds over 5200 feet. You could see for
miles. This is a place I will have to return to someday. It is well worth seeing again. After Elk
Park going up the next hill was like a fairy land. It had just rained and had cleared. I was
walking through an apple orchard with green fields surrounding. I can only imagine what this
place looked like when people lived here and it was a working farm. I was unbelievable
beauty. I came to a boxed in spring several families used and washed my clothes and
cleaned up in the overflow pipe. I tried to find shed that I got permission to stay in from lady
down the hill, but could not find it. It worked out alright because it did not rain. My stub
candle is almost shot so I'll close for now. Plan to get up early in the a.m.
The last day of April! Made 12 miles into Elk Park and got groceries, picked up mail from my
dad. Hiked approx. two more miles to private home where man let me set up tent up on hill in
woods. This was a very long day. I got started at 7:45 a.m. and it is 9:00 p.m. and I haven't
stopped. I had to walk one and a half miles into town also since I could not get a ride. Got
lucky and got a ride back out of town. I did a total of 16 miles of walking today. I came over
some very beautiful terrain today. There were five balds over 5200 feet. You could see for
miles. This is a place I will have to return to someday. It is well worth seeing again. After Elk
Park going up the next hill was like a fairy land. It had just rained and had cleared. I was
walking through an apple orchard with green fields surrounding. I can only imagine what this
place looked like when people lived here and it was a working farm. I was unbelievable
beauty. I came to a boxed in spring several families used and washed my clothes and
cleaned up in the overflow pipe. I tried to find shed that I got permission to stay in from lady
down the hill, but could not find it. It worked out alright because it did not rain. My stub
candle is almost shot so I'll close for now. Plan to get up early in the a.m.
Flaming Azalea - Roan Mountain
May 1, 1981 - Camped two miles north of Elk Park to Moreland Gap Shelter-
Left early, around 7:15 a.m. and made it to trail on road at 7:28 a.m.. It did not rain. I had to
walk over re-located part of trail today. A lot of ups and downs. The relo must have added a
lot of miles because I thought I had passed the shelter. It took me two extra hours to get here
than I had expected. I got here at around 4:00 p.m. Made good mileage. 13½ miles. Turning
chilly. I have got a fire going.. There is no one else here tonight. It is getting dark early. It is
7:40 p.m. and almost dark, and is trying to rain. Hope it rains tonight and is clear for
tomorrow. Going into Watauga Dam tomorrow. Got mouse traps, two of them. Going to get
em tonight!! Saw three moonshine stills today. (Got five mice)
May 2, 1981 -Moreland Gap Shelter to Monback Shelter [Watauga Lake Shelter]
1981 name 2005 name
Got unusually cold last night. Didn't leave shelter until 8:45 a.m. Made a whopping 18 miles
today. Walked until 8:00 p.m. It is 8:30 p.m. and getting dark. I am getting ready to eat my
supper now. Very hard 8 miles of walking over Pond mountain.(pain). The dam area in which
I am at now is very nice. Hope to make good time tomorrow. I hiked passed and took pictures
of Laurel Falls and one of a lady slipper flower. Feet are sore after today. I am staying at a
brand new shelter. The name is Monback. In the middle of this night a flying squirrel raided
the shelter and I got a picture of it.
Left early, around 7:15 a.m. and made it to trail on road at 7:28 a.m.. It did not rain. I had to
walk over re-located part of trail today. A lot of ups and downs. The relo must have added a
lot of miles because I thought I had passed the shelter. It took me two extra hours to get here
than I had expected. I got here at around 4:00 p.m. Made good mileage. 13½ miles. Turning
chilly. I have got a fire going.. There is no one else here tonight. It is getting dark early. It is
7:40 p.m. and almost dark, and is trying to rain. Hope it rains tonight and is clear for
tomorrow. Going into Watauga Dam tomorrow. Got mouse traps, two of them. Going to get
em tonight!! Saw three moonshine stills today. (Got five mice)
May 2, 1981 -Moreland Gap Shelter to Monback Shelter [Watauga Lake Shelter]
1981 name 2005 name
Got unusually cold last night. Didn't leave shelter until 8:45 a.m. Made a whopping 18 miles
today. Walked until 8:00 p.m. It is 8:30 p.m. and getting dark. I am getting ready to eat my
supper now. Very hard 8 miles of walking over Pond mountain.(pain). The dam area in which
I am at now is very nice. Hope to make good time tomorrow. I hiked passed and took pictures
of Laurel Falls and one of a lady slipper flower. Feet are sore after today. I am staying at a
brand new shelter. The name is Monback. In the middle of this night a flying squirrel raided
the shelter and I got a picture of it.
Flying Squirrel
13