It is late June and the temperatures are hot. I'm looking for some relief. Roan Mountain looks like just the spot. It is. It is cool and breezy most of the day.
We let the big dogs loose at 19E and the AT crossing. The rest of us drove up and up to Carver's Gap in Roan Mtn State Park. From there we crossed several balds, ascended and descended. We saw Grey's Lilies.
It was a delightful day in the open balds and shallow forests. In the dip between Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge we came upon the enclosure for the goats that is being used to maintain the bald. This is the third year of this project to try and keep the world’s premier example of rare Southern Appalachian Grassy Balds ecosystems intact. There are forty three goats in the little over one acre enclosure. When the goats have cleared the invasive species, in particular the Canada blackberry, the paddock is move to another location. Botanists study the results and determine when and where to move the paddock. The animals are on constant guard by two Great Pyrenees livestock guard dogs. Just this week a set of twins was born.
At lunchstop rock we met the big dogs coming southbound on the AT. We were about 2 minutes apart. Jon offered everyone a shot of Surry County Lemonade which I believe may be some type of Cornade but tasty nonetheless.
From this spot we headed to Big Bald, the mother of all climbs for today. It had a couple false tops but we all made it in fine shape. From this spot on it was all downhill. I put it in gear and headed home.
That looks like Angry Ben smiling
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