I've been looking forward to today's hike ever since I read the entry about Max Patch in Runtrails' journal. She described it beautifully. For anyone who wants to visit, it only requires a half mile hike from Max Patch Road.
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The weather was perfect!
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I love the openness of southern balds.
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On southern balds, you get the above treeline feeling like in New England but without having to climb over all the rocks.
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This is the marker on the 4629' summit.
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Here's a 360° video clip.
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Here's a few more pictures on and near the summit.
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Back in the woods
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Roaring Fork Shelter
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This is a fairly new shelter. In fact, Runtrails took a picture of it being built when she went through on May 17, 2005. It was completed in October of that year.
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By now there was a thru hiker on my tail. I can tend to be a bit competitive, but more than anything it was my ego. I had to stay ahead of him. After all, I was carrying a pack that weighed less than 10 pounds while his pack was probably over 30 pounds. He was right on my heels as we headed through Lemon Gap.
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As I headed up Walnut Mountain with this thru hiker still on my heels, we met up with another thru hiker. The two of them knew each other and have been hiking with each other off and on for the last week or so. There names are Porter (the one who was following me - left in photo) and McGyver (right) who is from Maine like me.
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I hiked with them up to the top of Walnut Mountain.
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We all took a break at Walnut Mountain Shelter where there were several other thru hikers.
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While I was sharing my grapefruit with Porter, McGyver said he was continuing. About 5 minutes later, I decided to head out myself. "It shouldn't take long to catch McGyver," I said to myself. "He's carrying a huge pack." Boy, was I ever wrong. Up, up, up I went to the 4686' summit of Bluff Mountain. There was no sign of him. The trail now dropped to Garenflo Gap over a gradually downhill course of four miles. I decided to run. I would just have to catch him. It wasn't easy, but about two miles into my downhill run, I finally caught up with him. I couldn't believe the speed he could move with that huge pack. I offered my company for a while. I let him set the pace, which was definitely a lot faster than I usually walk. I hiked with McGyver for the next 6 miles. We took the tenth of a mile side trail to Deer Park Mountain Shelter.
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McGyver took off his huge pack and began to walk around, "My legs feel funny now."
"I bet they do."
McGyver decided to make himself some lunch, so I decided to continue.
Just a little more than 3 miles to go.
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Yet another gravestone/memorial.
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More Mountain Laurels
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Near the trailhead, I found this plaque.
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There was a man waiting at the trailhead.
"Do you need a ride anywhere?" he asked me.
"Thanks, but I'm all set. I'm spending the night in Hot Springs. Are you from around here?" I asked.
"No, I'm from Maine," he replied.
That was way too much of a coincidence. Turns out, it was McGyver's father who came down for a couple days.
"McGyver stopped at the last shelter. But the way your son hikes, he shouldn't be far behind me. He's fast." I said.
"Yes, he is. I tried hiking with him the other day and couldn't keep up with him."
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Down some steps
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This crosswalk was marked with giant AT symbols.
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No need to look for white blazes in this trailtown.
Just follow the markers embedded into the cement sidewalk. How cool!!
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I was then met by Lynn who shows off one of the nice A.T. markers.
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Here I am in Hot Springs, North Carolina.
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In town I found this plaque in honor of Earl Shaffer, who was the first A.T. thru hiker.
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What a great day! Max Patch was definitely the highlight. Lynn treated herself today to the spa, enjoying the natural hot springs of this quaint town. She has done so much to help me. I'm glad she took my suggestion.
