Roan Highlands Adventure: A Taste of the Appalachian Trail
Day 1: Fog, Wind, and a Tough Start
Our Appalachian Trail journey through the Roan Highlands began late on a Friday evening as we arrived at Carvers Gap. Darkness was closing in, but we were eager to get going, so we hit the trail despite the fading light. Almost immediately, the wind picked up, and within minutes, a thick fog engulfed us, limiting visibility to just 10 feet. What we had hoped would be a scenic start turned into a misty, eerie walk.
We didn’t make it far before deciding to set up camp—only about 1.5 miles in. Unfortunately, our lack of preparation left us setting up on the side of a windy hill covered in tall grass and thick moss, which made securing the tent a nightmare. The wind knocked it down again and again, and frustration quickly mounted. Finally, we got the tent secured, though my patience was worn thin after a long day of driving and fighting the elements. Dinner that night was pork ramen, with dehydrated pork roast and some freeze-dried peppers. It wasn’t great, but it filled us up.
Sleep was a challenge. The wind howled relentlessly all night, and Carly kept waking up, spooked that someone—or something—was lurking outside our tent. We managed to get some sleep, but Day 1 had already tested us in ways we didn’t expect.
Day 2: Embracing the Appalachian Challenge
After a rough night, we were up early, packing up and heading out around 7:30 AM. The wind still hadn’t died down, and the fog clung to the hills like a veil. We quickly left our windy, sloped campsite behind and stopped at a clearing to stretch—a daily ritual to keep our bodies in check on long hikes.
From the moment we started, it was clear that the Appalachian Trail was unlike anything we had hiked before. Back home, trails were mostly flat, these were not lol. Not only that. but the weather can be brutal at times. It didn’t take long for us to realize how much of an undertaking thru-hiking the AT would be. It wasn’t just another challenge to tick off the list; this trail demanded respect. We had been living comfortably for so long that the idea of a challenge we might fail at was thrilling. We knew then that this would push us to our limits, and that only made us more determined to see it through.
The Roan Highlands were beautiful, with sweeping views of the Appalachian Mountains, but we quickly realized water sources were scarce. Carly passed up two off-trail water sources, thinking they weren’t worth the detour. That decision came back to haunt us when she became too dehydrated to continue. Being the problem solver I am, I hiked ahead to the next water source—a 2.5-mile round trip—and brought her the water she needed.
Refueled, we pressed on, but by 6 PM, after a long day of hiking, we were exhausted. We began looking for a campsite, but the designated spots at the base of Hump Mountain were already taken. With no other choice, we faced the steep climb up Hump Mountain, unsure if it was the right decision. The climb was tough, and we were running on empty, but the view from the top was absolutely worth it.
As we set up camp at the summit, Carly spotted a storm in the forecast. She was nervous about lightning, especially at such a high elevation. Instead of packing up immediately, I suggested we wait it out and see if it rained. After the long day we had, we both needed some rest before making any decisions.
Day 3: A Trail Blessing
Carly barely slept, her anxiety about the storm keeping her on edge. By 3 AM, she couldn’t take it anymore, so we packed up and started hiking down the mountain in the dead of night. We made it about halfway down before reaching a trail junction and realized we weren’t sure which direction to go. It had now started raining so we set up a quick lean-to shelter with our ground sheet and bear bag line and started figuring out our next steps.
Once we had sorted out the route, we hiked down to a flat area and grabbed a quick nap. After resting, we made breakfast—our super oatmeal mix, packed with flaxseed, almonds, almond butter, milk powder and hemp hearts. It was a welcome energy boost, but as we packed up, my heart sank—I realized we had lost our tent back sometime after we left the makeshift shelter.
I reluctantly hiked back up the mountain to search for the tent, but it was gone. Exhausted and dehydrated, I headed back down, where Carly met me with some much-needed water. We were without a tent, with two nights still ahead of us. Our only option was to hike to the nearest road crossing and hope for the best.
We reached the road and used Google Maps to locate a nearby hostel—Mountain Harbor and Breakfast(Highly recommend you visit if you're ever in the area). We walked there, relieved to finally sit down for a meal. As we talked with the bartender, she mentioned that some trail runners had dropped off a tent they found earlier that day. To our surprise, it was ours! We were stunned, and all the bartender said was, “The trail provides.” It was something we had heard from countless AT hikers, especially our favorite content creator @THRUHIKERS, but now we were living it. We were most disappointed at the thought of losing the tent because it strictly breaks "Leave No Trace" and were extremely grateful for the people who helped up to avoid leaving a trace. We definitely learned our lesson and changed the way we attached our tent to our backpacks in the future so we don't let that happen again.
With our tent returned and a hot meal in our bellies, we decided to stay at the hostel’s treehouse for the night, grateful for a chance to shower and do laundry. It wasn’t part of the plan, but it was exactly what we needed.
Day 4: Rain and Reflection
After an incredible breakfast, we were back on the trail, recharged and ready to finish strong. The day was filled with light sprinkles, wildlife sightings, and stunning views that reminded us why we love hiking. We set up camp near a waterfall that night and cooked bean, cheese, and beef burritos. The dehydrated beans didn’t rehydrate well, leaving the burritos crunchy—not ideal—but it is what it is. We were just happy to be out in nature, spending time together.
Day 5: A Glimpse of What’s to Come
As we wrapped up our trip, we reflected on everything we had experienced over the last few days. The tough climbs, the food challenges, the unpredictable weather, and the lack of water sources all tested us. But the trail also rewarded us with incredible views, problem-solving opportunities, and a strong sense of accomplishment.
This trip gave us a glimpse of what thru-hiking the entire 2,192 miles of the Appalachian Trail would be like. It wasn’t romantic or easy; it was gritty and tough, but that only made us more excited. Despite the chaos, the exhaustion, and the struggles, we both knew that one day we would come back and tackle the full trail. And after this trip, we were more determined than ever. The AT isn’t just a walk in the woods—it’s a life-changing experience, and we’re ready for it.