Misplaced Pages

#326673

51-660: The Unakas include the prominent Roan Highlands , where several summits rise above 6,000 feet. The Iron Mountains border the Unakas to the north, and the Bald Mountains border the Unakas opposite the Nolichucky to the south. The name unaka is rooted in the Cherokee term unega , meaning "white". Common lore is that 1 in 4 trees in the Unaka Range were American Chestnut trees prior to

102-410: A 20-room spruce log lodge atop Roan Mountain in 1877. The lodge was built in the area now known as Tollhouse Gap, between Roan High Knob and Roan High Bluff. Quickly seeing the value in providing a summertime escape from the hot, humid lowlands and overcrowded cities, Wilder began construction on a much larger hotel atop Roan in the early 1880s. To move materials up to the construction site (and to keep

153-621: A billion years ago. The mountain was created over 200 million years ago during the Appalachian orogeny , when the North American and African plates collided, thrusting the rock upward. Arnold Guyot first measured the elevation of Old Black on his survey of the crest of the Smokies in the late 1850s. Guyot measured the mountain's elevation at 6,373 feet (1,942 m), missing the modern measurement by just three feet. While Guyot initially named

204-485: A dark green character, especially in cooler months when contrasted with the brown hardwood forest in lower elevations. This forest also adds to Old Black's blunt appearance—that of a low pyramid with a wide base. Old Black comprises Thunderhead sandstone, a type of Precambrian metamorphic rock common throughout the Smokies. The rock is part of the Ocoee Supergroup, which was formed from ocean sediments nearly

255-828: A group of frontiersmen from the mountains of what is now East Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia assembled at Fort Watauga , located in present-day Elizabethton . This rallied force of frontiersmen — known as the Overmountain Men  — crossed the Roan Highlands en route to the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains , where they engaged and defeated Ferguson's forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain . While most returned home afterward, some Overmountain Men continued southward to link up with Daniel Morgan 's forces and contribute to

306-536: A local highland farmer named Cornelius Rex Peake. There is a panoramic view from the summit, with Grandfather Mountain standing prominently to the east and the Black Mountains visible to the south. The summit of Grassy Ridge Bald is almost entirely within North Carolina. Yellow Mountain (5,410 ft or 1,650 m ) and Little Hump Mountain (5,446 ft or 1,660 m ) comprise the northeastern fringe of

357-594: A sharp turn to the east, crossing Roan High Knob, Carver's Gap, Grassy Ridge, and Yellow and Little Hump Mountains before descending to US-19 and the White Rocks Mountain area. From the slopes of Old Black in the Great Smoky Mountains , some 150 miles (240 km) to the south, to Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire , some 1,500 miles (2,400 km) to the north, Roan Mountain

408-697: Is Beech granite , a type of igneous rock believed to be 700 million years old. The mountains themselves were formed between 200 million and 400 million years ago during the Appalachian orogeny , when the North American and African plates collided, thrusting the rock upward. The grassy Appalachian balds and spruce-fir forests of the Roan are globally imperiled ecosystems. The Roan Highlands are an incredibly biodiverse region which hosts dozens of rare, threatened, and endangered species. Five federally endangered species and one federally threatened species can be found at

459-680: Is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains , located in the Southeastern United States. While often overshadowed by Mount Guyot , its higher neighbor to the south, Old Black is the 5th-highest mountain in Tennessee and the 7th-highest in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . The Appalachian Trail crosses its western slope, connecting the Cosby-area trail system with the heart of the eastern Smokies. Like much of

510-533: Is characterized by a thick coniferous forest. This part of Roan is shaped something like the body of a double-humped camel, with the "humps" being High Bluff and High Knob. Tollhouse Gap lies between the two peaks, and contains the Rhododendron Gardens, the largest of its kind in the world. The second section of Roan Mountain — known as Grassy Ridge — is east of Carver's Gap, and is the longest stretch (approx. 7 mi or 11 km) of grassy bald in

561-945: Is closed in Winter. This road leads to the Cloudland Trailhead, which crosses the Rhododendron Gardens and ascends the western slope of Roan High Bluff to the observation platform just below the summit. The trail is just over a mile (1.6 km) long. The Roan High Knob Shelter, near the summit of Roan High Knob, can accommodate 15 backpackers. The shelter is maintained by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club. However, Overmountain Shelter (found approximately 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from Carver's Gap towards 19-E) has been indefinitely closed since September 4, 2019. The U.S. Forest Service has deemed this famous red barn structurally unsound. Old Black (Great Smoky Mountains) Old Black

SECTION 10

#1732852852327

612-509: Is closed to the public, an observation platform sits some 20 feet (6.1 m) below it, and offers a 180-degree view of the valley to the northwest. The platform can be accessed via the Cloudland Trail, which rises out of Tollhouse Gap. Round Bald rises near the center of the Roan massif. It has an elevation of about 5,824 feet (1,775 m) and overlooks Carver's Gap at the far western end of Grassy Ridge. The Appalachian Trail (following

663-411: Is slightly higher at 6,214 ft. ) The bald area atop the mountain covers several 100 acres (40 hectares), with patches of trees and shrubbery in some places. The Appalachian Trail (following the state border) crosses the mountain's northern slope, with several spurs (usually marked) traversing the top of the mountain. The summit is adorned by a rock pile and a bronze plaque placed to honor the memory of

714-526: Is the only area where the trail rises above the 6,000-foot (1,800 m) mark. Roan Mountain contains five peaks: Roan High Knob , located between Carver's Gap and Tollhouse, is the highest point on Roan Mountain with an elevation of 6,277 feet (1,913 m). The Tennessee-North Carolina border crosses its summit. High Knob is the highest point in Tennessee outside of the Great Smoky Mountains. and

765-619: The Snake Den Ridge Trail . A short spur trail winds through the wreckage. Like most of the key peaks of the eastern Smokies, Old Black can only be reached via a lengthy hike. The mountain is just over six miles (ten kilometres) from the nearest parking lot at the Cosby Campground. The quickest route involves following the Snake Den Ridge Trail out of Cosby (the trailhead is behind Campsite B51) for 5.3 miles (8.5 km) to

816-409: The 15th-highest peak in the eastern United States. The Appalachian Trail crosses High Knob's western slope, with a well-marked spur trail leading to the summit. The Roan High Knob Shelter is a few feet from the summit. The distance to the horizon (ignoring the effect of atmospheric refraction and natural obstructions) from Roan High Knob is approximately 164 miles (264 km). Roan High Bluff , on

867-550: The 18th and 19th centuries, botanists paid frequent visits to the area to collect plant specimens. Among them were John Bartram , who crossed the Roan Highlands in the late 1730s while studying the botanical make-up of what is now the southeastern United States. Andre Micheaux followed in 1794, discovering several alpine species rarely found outside of the New England and Canadian latitudes. In 1799, John Fraser explored Roan Mountain, collecting specimens of rhododendron and noting

918-789: The American victory at Cowpens in 1781. Prior to the Revolution, very little gunpowder had been made in the United States. During the colonial period, most gunpowder used in America had been manufactured in Britain . In October 1777, the British Parliament banned the importation of gunpowder into the rebellious American colonies. To supply the Overmountain Men, five hundred pounds of black powder

969-552: The Appalachian Mountains. A grassy bald is a type of highland meadow characterized by thick grass and sparse tree coverage. The three peaks atop Grassy Ridge are Round Bald , Jane Bald , and Grassy Ridge Bald . The bald area spans the summits of all three, covering an area roughly equal to 1,000 acres (400 hectares). The Appalachian Trail, after traversing Iron Mountain to the west, crosses Hughes Gap and ascends Roan's northern slope to Tollhouse Gap. From there, it makes

1020-520: The Appalachian Trail junction at Inadu Knob. From this junction, Old Black is nearly a mile to the northwest. The trail comes to within less than a 10th of a mile from the summit, but the thickness of the forest atop the mountain will considerably slow any bushwhack attempt and make off-trail navigation difficult. As the Appalachian Trail crosses Old Black's western slope, various clearings allow for views of Cocke County and Sevier County, Tennessee to

1071-784: The Big Frog Wilderness, this creates one of the largest patches of roadless wilderness areas east of the Mississippi River. Unakite was first discovered in the Unaka Range, and was named after it. Established in 1986 by the U.S. Congress, the Unaka Mountain Wilderness is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System . The 4,472 acre wilderness area is managed by the United States Forest Service . The highest point in

SECTION 20

#1732852852327

1122-618: The North Carolina side of Roan (possibly evading an arrest warrant in Tennessee) when they noted deposits of iron ore near Cranberry Creek. This led to the discovery of a massive iron ore deposit known as the Cranberry vein and the establishment of the Cranberry Mine, which extracted the ore for nearly a century until being forced to close by the Great Depression . In the late 19th century,

1173-422: The Roan Highlands. Both are traversed by the Appalachian Trail. Among the rocks that make up Roan Mountain, the oldest are a type of metamorphic rock known as Cranberry gneiss . Formed over a billion years ago from ancient ocean sediments, they are among the oldest in the United States. Roan gneiss, another type of metamorphic rock found on the mountain, was formed roughly 800 million years ago. Also in abundance

1224-547: The Roan. Native Americans were the first human visitors to Roan Mountain. A Catawba legend tells of a great battle with the Cherokee atop the mountain that left the rhododendron colored crimson and parts of the mountain treeless. While there is no hard evidence that such a battle ever occurred, numerous Native American settlements have been found around the base of the mountain, and the Cherokee settlement of Old Fields stood near modern-day Elizabethton, Tennessee . Throughout

1275-460: The Smokies crest, Old Black lies along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina , with Cocke County and Sevier County to the west and Haywood County to the east. The mountain rises 4,400 feet (1,300 m) above its northwestern base near Rocky Grove and 3,300 feet (1,000 m) above its southeastern base near Walnut Bottom. Old Black is part of the Guyot massif , which extends deep into

1326-519: The Southeastern United States. The range's highpoint, Roan is clad in a dense stand of Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest , and includes the world's largest natural rhododendron garden, and the longest stretch of grassy bald in the Appalachian range. The Roan Highlands also contain the highest quality remaining stretch of Fraser fir forest throughout the tree's entire range. The Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest converge atop

1377-479: The Tennessee side of Guyot, it passes through what is believed to be the densest stand of spruce and balsam in the Great Smokies. In 1984, an F-4 Phantom fighter plane crashed into the ridge between Inadu Knob and Old Black. Some of the wreckage from this crash remains scattered about the area, with some fragments located in an area along the Appalachian Trail about a quarter-mile west of the trail's junction with

1428-599: The Unaka Range is Roan High Knob , which rises to an elevation of 6,285 feet (1,916 m). 36°6′10″N 82°21′47″W  /  36.10278°N 82.36306°W  / 36.10278; -82.36306 Roan Highlands Roan Mountain is a 6,277 ft (1,913 m) mountain straddling the North Carolina/Tennessee border in the Unaka Range of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in

1479-514: The area. In 2007 the USDA recognized his livestock farm to be the highest operating on the entire east coast of the US. State Routes TN 143 / NC 261  — which connect the village of Roan Mountain in Tennessee with Bakersville, North Carolina  — ascend the northeast slope of Roan Mountain, crossing its crest at Carver's Gap. The Appalachian Trail can be accessed from Carver's Gap (it runs perpendicular to

1530-656: The decaying building room-by-room. By 1927, a pile of rubble was all that remained. In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed a fire tower and fire warden's cabin at the summit of Roan High Knob. Although the tower proved ineffective and did not last long (the cabin was renovated in 1980 and now serves as the Roan High Knob Shelter), the United States Forest Service purchased 7,000 acres (2,800 hectares) atop Roan Mountain in 1941, putting an end to abusive logging practices. Between 1959 and 1974,

1581-508: The east. Most of this massif lies along the Tennessee - North Carolina border, between Carter County and Mitchell County . Yellow Mountain and Little Hump Mountain, on the northern tip of the massif, are part of the Roan Highlands but are generally not considered part of Roan Mountain proper. Roan Mountain encompasses five summits, which are divided into two sections by Carver's Gap. The first section — composed of Roan High Bluff and Roan High Knob  — lies west of Carver's Gap and

Unaka Range - Misplaced Pages Continue

1632-422: The existence of the fir tree that now bears his name. Other early explorers included Elisha Mitchell , for whom Mount Mitchell is named, and Harvard botanist Asa Gray . The origin of the name Roan is unknown. Hypotheses include that roan refers to the reddish splotches of rhododendron blooms in the spring or mountain ash berries in the fall, or that it refers to Daniel Boone 's roan horse . In 1780, at

1683-655: The great Chestnut Blight. Because the chestnut had long white blossoms, the Unaka Mountains turned white in color during the spring blossoming of the chestnut trees. They were called the White mountains by the local Cherokee. The Cherokee National Forest and the Pisgah National Forest protect large sections of the Unaka Mountains. The Appalachian Trail traverses the Unaka crest. In some geological and historical sources,

1734-545: The height of the American Revolution , British General Charles Cornwallis opened his invasion of the southern colonies with the capture of Charleston, South Carolina and a victory over American forces at Camden . With South Carolina apparently secure, Cornwallis marched north toward Charlotte, North Carolina . During this march, Cornwallis dispatched a band of Loyalists under the command of Major Patrick Ferguson to raid Western Carolina. To counter Ferguson's threat,

1785-411: The highway), where there is a small parking lot. To the east (across the street from the parking lot), the trail ascends Round Bald and proceeds across Grassy Ridge. To the west, the trail swings around Roan High Knob just over one mile (1.6 km) to Tollhouse Gap, where it turns north. A paved road crosses the south side of Roan High Knob, connecting Carver's Gap with Tollhouse Gap, although this road

1836-527: The hotel supplied once it was finished), Wilder had to construct a road across Carver's Gap. He also built a house and the Roan Mountain Inn in what is now the village of Roan Mountain, Tennessee . The Cloudland Hotel, as it came to be called, was completed in 1885. The hotel stood a few hundred meters away from the spruce log structure that preceded it. The Cloudland Hotel was billed as a health resort, especially for those suffering from Hay fever . Over

1887-485: The interior of the Smokies. A ridge known as Pinnacle Lead intersects this massif—which comprises the eastern section of the crest of the Smokies—;on the western slope of Old Black, giving Old Black a triangular shape similar to that of Tricorner Knob to the south. Old Black gets its name from the dense Southern Appalachian spruce–fir forest that covers its higher elevations. From afar, this forest takes on

1938-503: The latter part of the 20th century, parts of the same farm areas have been re-cultivated by S.Kenneth Wilson, a direct descendant of the Peake and Ayers families that owned a significant amount of land which now makes up much of the North Carolina side of the Roan. In addition to herding livestock on and around the balds, his family has made significant efforts to restore many of the medicinal plant species that have been hunted to near extinction in

1989-453: The line. One story tells of a local North Carolina sheriff who "guarded" the dining room to ensure no one imbibed on the North Carolina side. The high operating costs of maintaining a mountain-top hotel eventually doomed the Cloudland. The hotel would be abandoned by 1910, and quickly fell into a state of disrepair. Wilder sold the hotel shortly before his death, and the new owner auctioned off

2040-399: The logging industry was booming, due in large part to the arrival of the band saw and the logging railroad. As forests in the lower lands were cut down, loggers began moving into the more mountainous areas in search of timber. At Roan Mountain, a steam engine was set up in the gap between Round Bald and Jane Bald (this gap is still called "Engine Gap" to move lumber from the Tennessee side to

2091-408: The mills located on the North Carolina side. A large log flume was built between Burbank (near Hughes Gap) and the village of Roan Mountain . Erosion brought about by excessive logging was believed to be part of the cause of a massive flood that destroyed much of the area in 1901. Tourists had been visiting Roan Mountain since the mid-19th century. In 1857, two such tourists recalled their visit to

Unaka Range - Misplaced Pages Continue

2142-580: The mountain "Mount Henry" after the director of the Smithsonian Institution , "Old Black" was the name that stuck. In 1935, the CCC constructed a segment of the Appalachian Trail across the western slope of Old Black. Laura Thornborough, a writer who made several excursions to the area in the 1930s, recalls the thick spruce forest that dominates in the eastern Smokies: As the A.T. swings around

2193-522: The mountain in an article written for New Harper's Weekly : The sweep of the vision in every direction is unlimited, except by the curvature of the earth or the haziness of the atmosphere. The first idea suggested is that you are looking over a vast blue ocean, whose monstrous billows, once heaving and pitching in wild disorder, have been suddenly arrested by some overruling power. It was experiences such as this that no doubt persuaded former Civil War general and mining tycoon John T. Wilder to construct

2244-464: The mountain's western end at 36°05′35″N 82°08′43″W  /  36.0931728°N 82.1454025°W  / 36.0931728; -82.1454025  ( Roan High Bluff ) . It has an elevation of 6,260 feet (1,910 m), and is entirely within the state of North Carolina. Unlike its sister peak, High Bluff is steep, rising sharply toward the summit with a rapid 1,000-foot (300 m) drop on its northwest side. While High Bluff's actual summit

2295-523: The mountain, with Roan Mountain State Park located near its northern base. The Appalachian Trail traverses most of the Roan's crest. The Roan High Knob Shelter is the highest back-country shelter on the entire 2,174-mile (3,499 km) trail. Roan Mountain comprises the greater part of the Roan Highlands , a 20-mile (32 km) massif stretching from Big Rock Creek on the west to U.S. Route 19 on

2346-452: The mountain. The bald area atop Jane is much less substantial than its two massive neighbors, and is partially overgrown by rhododendron. The Appalachian Trail (following the state border) crosses its summit. Grassy Ridge Bald dominates the center of Grassy Ridge. It has an elevation of about 6,185 feet (1,885 m), making it one of the highest grassy balds in the Appalachian Mountains (Black Balsam Knob, located southwest of Asheville,

2397-434: The state border) crosses its summit, first passing through a sparse treeline on the mountain's northwestern slope before emerging in the bald area near the top. There is a panoramic view from the summit. Jane Bald is a small knob between Round Bald and Grassy Ridge Bald. It has an elevation of about 5,811 feet (1,771 m). A local legend relates its name to a woman named "Jane" who died of milk sickness while crossing

2448-488: The state of Tennessee acquired just over 2,000 acres (810 hectares) of land that would eventually comprise Roan Mountain State Park. In the mid-20th century, Cornelius Rex Peake would operate the highest cultivated farm in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains , and would be instrumental in bringing the conservationist movement to the mountain. A plaque at the summit of Grassy Ridge Bald honors his memory. Most recently in

2499-768: The term "Unaka Range" is used to identify the entire crest of the Appalachian Mountains along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, including the Unakas, the Great Smoky Mountains , the Bald Mountains, the Unicoi Mountains , and the mountains in the Big Frog Wilderness and Little Frog Mountain Wilderness . The range also extends into Georgia, where it is known as the Cohutta Mountains. When combined with

2550-419: The years, its guest list grew to include various American politicians and European royalty. Rates were $ 2/day, $ 10/week, or $ 30/month. The hotel sat right along the state line, and a white line was even painted across the dining room, following the border. During this period, alcohol consumption was legal in Tennessee, but illegal in North Carolina, so alcoholic drinks could only be served on the Tennessee side of

2601-541: Was manufactured by Mary Patton and her husband at their Gap Creek powder mill in present-day Elizabethton. On the first night of the march from Sycamore Shoals , the Overmountain Men stored the Patton black powder in a dry cave known as "Shelving Rock" to protect it from the rain. Shelving Rock is located along TN-143 just outside Roan Mountain State Park . In 1826, Josh, Ben, and Jake Perkins — three brothers from Crab Orchard , Tennessee — were searching for ginseng on

SECTION 50

#1732852852327
#326673