I parked my car at Carvers Gap on Roan Mountain with the plan to make an image of the sunrise from Round Bald. Upon exiting the car I discovered I didn’t have a flashlight with me. It was still quite dark but I thought I could find my way up to the bald along the Appalachian Trail by following the white blazes on the trees.
I made it through the woods and was halfway to the top of Round Bald when I heard a bear give me a warning harrumph to my left. It was too dark to see where it was and thought I can either turn around now or continue to the top. Since I didn’t know where the bear was there was no way to know which the safest route was so decided I may as well continue onward. It was a great sunrise!