A 3-day hike along the Appalachian Trail from US 19E at Elk Park to the summit of Roan Mountain and back. Roughly a 34-mile hike with about 10k vertical feet of cumulative elevation gain. These are the Roan Highlands with a few peaks over 6,000 and sweepiA 3-day hike along the Appalachian Trail from US 19E at Elk Park to the summit of Roan Mountain and back. Roughly a 34-mile hike with about 10k vertical feet of cumulative elevation gain. These are the Roan Highlands with a few peaks over 6,000 and sweeping grassy areas, balds, that straddle the summit and offer great vistas of the southern Appalachian mountain range. Rhododendrons grow in massive clusters along the balds and fraser firs cloak the top of Roan. The specific challenge of hiking the highlands is weather. Our first day was halted two-thirds up Hump Mountain by strong winds, fog, rain, and approaching nightfall so we camped at Doll Flats...a superb camp. The next day was a classic fall day; exceptionally clear, warm, and dry...we got a little sunburned. That night the winds stirred from the south, then from the north, and by morning our tents were caked in sloppy ice. The temperature inside the tent was a nippy 20 degrees. A half-inch of hoar frost was found on exposed limbs and vegetation. Crossing the balds later that morning, we cut through thick fog and fierce winds were as loud as the slow drone of a bombing raid siren.