May 9, 2021

Started early so I had plenty of time to cover today’s 13 mile trek.  Mostly sunny with highs near 70.  

Just down from the hostel is Watauga Lake.  It’s a good size lake and for the first few miles I walk along it’s bank and enjoy the views.

The Watauga Lake was created by the Watauga Dam, a TVA project.  I crossed over the dam.  This is the water side

This is looking on the other side

Once over the dam I begin to head up into the mountains.

This dog came out of the woods and started jumping on me a bit aggressively.  It was a bit scary at first as I was alone and having a hard time keeping it off me.  He did calm down after a while and despite my efforts to shoo him away he followed me up the mountain for a number of miles.  He was actually pretty good after our rough start and walked dutifully by me.  I was getting concerned that I would never get rid of him and he was getting far from where we met.  Eventually hikers going SOBO came by and the dog followed them back.  

I climbed the mountain and it continued to parallel the lake below.

Until finally we ran out of lake.  I stopped at Vandeventer Shelter for a late lunch.  Then proceeded another 4 miles to my tent site.  Got there about 4:30 and set up my tent before the rain started.  About 6 other hikers joined me.  So we have a small community of tenters here for the night including Nero and Fourth Quarter.  Pork Chop and Gary (new trail name “Pops”) I am told stopped for the night about a mile back.

Finished dinner, bear bag is hung and I am once again listening to the rain on my tent.

Total miles were 13.1 with elevation of 3,600 feet.