June 28 Grassy Ridge Bald

Grassy Ridge Bald is part of Roan Mountain. It is a fairly easy walk from Carvers Gap, the main staging area for hiking on Roan Mountain. I arrived about 10 am to an already crowded parking area. There were still some spots to park along the road but it looked like it would quickly fill. After the heat wave we have recently experienced, the 47 degree temperature was a bit of a shock. I searched the car for a pair of gloves but none were to be found. The sustained 20 mph wind made a windbreaker, or rain jacket in my case, imperative. The hike begins in an exposed meadow but soon enters the forest pictured above. Forest walking gave me a short reprieve from the wind. 

Soon we were back in the wind and moving higher to the top of Round Bald. At 5826' views are spectacular. To the west Roan High Bluff 6267' and Roan High Knob 6285' loom. Easterly, Grassy Ridge Bald 6180' is the view. Being so close to Carvers Gap, there are more folks here than anywhere else on the trail. 

Found only in the Roan and Grayson Highlands area, is Gray's Lily. There were quite a few of the bright red bell shaped flowers gracing the meadows today.

Leaving Round Bald and continuing on the AT, we descend to Engine Gap and then up a minor bald, Jane Bald 5807', which sort of gets lost in the shadow of Grassy Ridge Bald.

The terrain only slightly descends from Jane Bald to an unnamed gap. It is in the gaps, we experience the highest winds of the day. Here the AT turns left and the trail to Grassy Ridge heads straight. It is about a 15 minute climb to the top.

If you wander about the top on the faint pathways which seem to go here and there, there is one which does actually continue along what is shown on the topo as Grassy Ridge. Following this trail involves some trail and error as there are so many deadend spurs and camping spots. I descended slightly to a gap and then gradually ascended along a rocky ridge with views to the south and the Blacks. 

Above, we are looking at Black Mountain, Mitchell to Celo. Just to the left of Mitchell, it looks like Pinnacle make an appearance. Further to the left, we are probably looking at Green Knob. Further, out of the photo, is the very distinctive Table Rock and Hawksbill mountains in Linville Gorge.

At about the 3 mile point, I turned around and headed back. The trail looked like it was heading down and there was a snake across it. So it seemed like a good spot to turn back. On the return, winds had settled down and there were many more folks out enjoying the great day.

The Baatany group has its goats fenced in near the trail. Here we see the rare two headed goat. One head keeps a constant vigil for pesky hikers. While the other can gorge on the lush meadow vegetation. 

Roan High Bluff beyond Round Bald