Elizabethton, TN (USA)

Woke up early and, when I went outside, discovered that the clouds were departing and it was suddenly t-shirt weather (50s)! It was still a bit dark and I got to see a lot of Christmas decorations in the hills around Elizabethton. Got gas and breakfast (0730) and made a game time decision about the section I'd hike: it looked clearer to the north but I wanted to finish a section near Roan Mountain so took my chances in that direction. Despite there being more fog and low clouds on the ridges (US-19E), I was not disappointed with my choice. Parked at the entrance of a muddy dirt road (hoping I could later get the car out...) on the side of Campbell (Cambell) Hollow Road at 0815 and headed NOBO. The section was shaped like a bowl, with steep descents and climbs indicated in the AWOL guide. But I felt energized as I started and cut the hike into manageable portions - telling myself that I only had two miles down to the river or up to the ridge seemed to overcome the fatigue in my muscles. The clouds were almost completely gone by the time I reached Jones Falls (very pretty cascades but I didn't take a picture). I only had to go down a little more to find a long, flat field that followed a river for a bit before climbing right back up onto another ridge. I had to fight through some sections where lots of trees had fallen - one entire bluff was a mass of devastation (but nice views). It was quite muddy in places and several streams were swollen so much that I had to walk in the water to cross. All day long, I was alone (no wildlife) and it was nearly silent. Occasionally, I'd hear running water, gun shots from distant hunters or dirt bike sounds. I stopped a few times and enjoyed the peace - marveling that I could find such silent places. Another highlight of my day was when I crossed a creek below Mountaineer Falls - pretty! Turned around at the nearby Mountaineer Shelter and then backtracked towards the car. The temps had risen into the 60s by then and I laughed to myself that I was sweating in December! Used the same "bite sized pieces" strategy to finish the section - slowed down a lot near the end but still wrapped up around 10.5 miles by 1230. Changed clothes (the road was so deserted I only saw one car) and later chatted with some locals who were out for a morning walk. Just had to get home (dreaded the drive but that's the price for this adventure)... Drove northeast to Boone and then used US-421 (lots of fog west of Wilkesboro), I-40 and I-85, with a gas stop at Raceway in South Hill, VA (1700). Switched to I-95 in Petersburg and finished the trip in good spirits. This is probably the way I'll have to drive every time I hike south of Virginia but I still have some more hiking to do near Elizabethton before I'm forced to change my driving route. The weekend was great - accomplished everything I'd planned and felt even better to discover that I'd hiked 200 new miles of AT for the fifth year in a row. And I still have time for more! AT Today = 5.20 miles / G.T. AT = 1262.22 miles