Tue 05 Oct - US 19E to Carvers Gap, TN

Cold night and morning when we started hiking. Low 50s for a high here in Erwin but only in the 30s on the trail with rain sleet and snow.

We hiked in the northern end of the hiking around Erwin - from US19E back south to Carvers Gap (near Roan Mtn.). This was an easy, convenient slack pack which we did to test Wendy's knee. The knee passed although it did get sore at the end of the day. It was not easy however.

The weather was colder than predicted, and even colder at altitude, and I was not dressed for it (one shirt and a rain jacket). We hiked up to the first bald. The temperature dropped, the wind increased, there was more fog and the grass was wetter on the balds (causing wet shoes and socks). Then it rained lightly, changed to sleet for about 20 minutes, and then rained some more. We stopped for lunch and then more rain. As we started hiking again, it changed back to sleet, and finally we got almost 90 minutes of snow. It snowed quite hard at times.

We only had our day packs so we had only the clothes on our backs. But we made it and are going out in morning. Knee hurt some but did not lock-up.

We are going out with full packs tomorrow and will complete the trail north of Erwin. Then on Friday, we go out again for 3 days south of Erwin to complete this section. Not the way I planned it, but it works.