Erwin, TN (USA)

Still getting lucky with good hiking weekend weather (and choosing wisely on the direction to go to find it)! After a short work day (teleworked until 1030), headed south via I-66, I-81 and I-26 (got gas in Daleville at 1400). The drive was awesome and I arrived at the AT Trailhead (Iron Mountain Gap on TN-107) by 1700. Sunset was less than an hour away but I was feeling ambitious and decided to try to squeeze in six miles before bed! The section was another “landlocked” orphan (again because of my 2014 map-less hiking trip) so I knew I was only going to get partial credit for the distance but it was still worth the effort to get in a third hike on a two day weekend... Headed SOBO with two layers (third in backpack) - it was brisk and windy with temps in the low 30s when I started. I was actually hiking almost due west on a ridge along the TN-NC border and had a great view of the setting sun behind Unaka Mountain and The Beauty Spot. I could see Unicoi and Erwin in distance to the north and sometimes heard the noises of civilization in the valley below. I also heard several other strange noises and kept thinking there were people or animals nearby. Eventually, I figured out it was the trees swaying in the wind, almost to the breaking point. Never actually saw anyone else. Did get to witness an awesome sunset - bright yellow turned to blazing orange turned to crimson, leaving the distant mountains with a pink halo for 30 minutes after the sun was gone. Should have taken a picture but was keeping up my fast pace to finish the section. There were lots of roots and some mud but none of it bothered me until I started the backtrack (after turning around at Cherry Gap Shelter). At that point, it got much darker and I ended up hiking in the twilight for over an hour. The trail was visible in the limited light (darker than the surrounding ground cover) and I could actually hear the difference because there were very few leaves left on the pathway but lots everywhere else. I occasionally saw white blazes in my peripheral vision so I never took out my headlamp. Made it to my car (after 6.2 miles) by 1915. It had gotten much colder by then - glad I wasn’t staying out for the whole night... Headed north towards Elizabethton (back roads to US-19E) and got dinner at McDonalds in Hampton (1945). Checked into Travelers Inn in Elizabethton (2010). Cleaned up in room and watched TV (remote didn't work). Went to bed at 2300, getting psyched for more AT tomorrow! AT Today = 2.10 miles / Grand Total AT = 1334.12 miles