Andy's 2010 Roan Photos


Captain Blue's

2009 TN-NC
Appalachian Trail Hike

Photos by Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp

 

March 21 - 24, 2010
AT Section:
Carver's Gap (TN-NC) to Erwin, TN

Northbound - 34.1 miles

 

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Starting my hike on a cold, windy and foggy day at Carvers Gap. 3/21/2010 My shuttle driver Kent Garland. 3/21/2010 Carvers Gap sign. 3/21/2010 Captain Blue getting ready to make the best of a bad weather situation. 3/21/2010
The trail had deep snow and lots of pine tree branches had dropped everywhere. 3/21/2010 A foggy outlook. 3/21/2010 There were lots of downed trees in the deep snow. 3/21/2010 The sign indicating where the shelter is. The sign is about six feet off the ground. 3/21/2010
I set up my tent in the shelter and hung my wet clothes to dry. Nobody else was there that night. 3/21/2010 The view inside my tent. I will be warm and dry tonight. 3/21/2010 Captain Blue just before bedtime. 3/22/2010 Roan Mountain Shelter. 3/22/2010
The trail down Roan Mountain. Notice the deep footprint hole. I made many posthole footprints along the way. 3/22/2010 These white blazes are painted six feet off the ground. You can see how deep the snow is. 3/22/2010 The remains of an old chimney. 3/22/2010 A bald on Roan Mountain near the site of the old Cloudland Hotel. 3/22/2010
The snow was melted in the areas that did not get shade. On the summit of Roan Mountain. 3/22/2010 A trail sign showing hikers which way to go. 3/22/2010 After I descended Roan Mountain the show was not very deep. 3/22/2010 In Ash Gap. It was foggy. 3/22/2010
Mushroom on a log. 3/22/2010 Captain Blue south of Ash Gap. 3/22/2010 Some parts of the trail had no snow on it at all. 3/22/2010 Trail just north of Clyde Smith Shelter. 3/22/2010
Trail just north of Clyde Smith Shelter. 3/22/2010 The snow started to fall again just south of Clyde Smith Shelter. 3/22/2010 Captain Blue bundled up. The snow is starting to fall again. 3/22/2010 The spring at my campsite was flowing good. 3/22/2010
I camped in this old apple orchard just north of Iron Mountain Gap. 3/22/2010 The view from my tent to the old apple orchard. 3/22/2010 Captain Blue bundled up for the night. I wore every bit of clothes I had to bed and was still a bit cold. 3/22/2010 My tent in the old apple orchard. My boots were totally frozen in the morning. 3/23/2010
It was a cold, snowy and foggy morning. 3/23/2010 About three inches of snow had fallen during the night. 3/23/2010 The trail just north of Iron Mountain Gap. 3/23/2010 Trail sign at Iron Mountain Gap. 3/23/2010
Icicles on a rock. 3/23/2010 Cherry Gap Shelter. I spent four hours here resting and staying warm in my tent. 3/23/2010 On the way up Unaka Mountain. The temperature rose above freezing, the snow started to melt and the sun came out! 3/23/2010 The sun was a wonderful sight on the way up Unaka Mountain. 3/23/2010
On the summit of Unaka Mountain. 3/23/2010 There was deep snow on the summit of Unaka Mountain. 3/23/2010 Captain Blue on the summit of Unaka Mountain. 3/23/2010 It was very pretty on the summit of Unaka Mountain. 3/23/2010
Heading down from the summit of Unaka Mountain. 3/23/2010 I camped on Forest Service Road 230 in Deep Gap. This was a flat, dry place to camp with no snow. Unaka Mountain is in the distance. 3/23/2010 Sunset from Deep Gap. 3/23/2010 The trail climbs just south of Deep Gap. 3/24/2010
Snowy pasture just before Beauty Spot. 3/24/2010 Captain Blue in the pasture just before Beauty Spot. 3/24/2010 Looking back at Deep Gap. 3/24/2010 On the way up to Beauty Spot. 3/24/2010
On Beauty Spot. 3/24/2010 View from Beauty Spot. 3/24/2010 View from Beauty Spot. 3/24/2010 Captain Blue on Beauty Spot. There was snow and it was cold on Beauty Spot but this would change as I descended. 3/24/2010
Descending from Beauty Spot. 3/24/2010 Spring is trying to spring. 3/24/2010 Tennessee state line marker at Indian Grave Gap. 3/24/2010 North Carolina state line marker at Indian Grave Gap. 3/24/2010
There was no snow at this lower elevation but the trail was rocky. 3/24/2010 View of the town of Erwin from the trail south of Indian Grave Gap. 3/24/2010 Descending towards the Nolichucky River. 3/24/2010 Small footbridge. 3/24/2010
Captain Blue near Curley Maple Shelter. Notice I am in shorts and a t-shirt now. 3/24/2010 Bridge over Jones Branch. 3/24/2010 Jones Branch. 3/24/2010 Railroad bridge over the Nolichucky River. 3/24/2010
Captain Blue at a trail marker. 3/24/2010 The Chestoa bridge over the Nolichucky River. 3/24/2010 The Nolichucky River. 3/24/2010 Uncle Johnnys Hostel where I ended my hike. 3/24/2010

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