Date: 2017-03-23
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter, NC

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter, NC
Miles today: 13.1

3/23/17 Walnut Mountain Shelter, NCMiles hiked: 260.3, Miles to go: 1929.5It was a beautiful day to be on the AT. We awoke to clear skies and full sunshine. Since we were only going 13.1 miles today, I kind of took my time packing up and, as a result was one of the last people out of camp. Strider and Lumber Jill were long gone by the time I got started and I didn't see them again until I reached the shelter this evening. That was OK, though. It was a day for hiking my own pace and enjoying the sunshine. Today's hike included another AT icon - Max Patch. Max Patch is a huge grassy bald that was originally cleared years ago for cattle grazing. The cattle are long gone; but, the area has become such a draw for hikers and tourists due to its incredible 360 degree views that it is now maintained against the encroaching forest. Getting to Max Patch turned out to be a real leg burner - log steps (I hate log steps!) and pitches so steep I was walking on my toes with my heels off the ground at times. The climb was definitely worth it, though. Max Patch was incredible! You could see row upon row of mountains going off in all directions. If you are ever in Western NC, add it to your "must see" list. Don't worry, you can drive almost to the summit. I almost committed an error on Max Patch that would have haunted me the rest of my life, though. First, some background. The AT is marked all the way from Georgia to Maine with 2x6 inch white paint patches, usually painted on trees or posts, called blazes. That's how we know we are on the right trail. Trails that intersect with the AT, such as trails to shelters or water sources, are marked with blue blazes (as in "where in the blue blazes are we!?"). Other terms have arisen, such as "yellow blazing" - that's when you skip a part of the trail by getting a ride (derived from the yellow lines on the road). Or pink blazing - that's when a guy alters his pace (either speeds up or slows down) in pursuit of a girl. Then there's aqua blazing, which is canoeing the 30 mile portion of the Shenandoah River that parallels the AT in Virginia. Anyway, those hikers that do not yellow blaze or slack pack (that's when you get someone to shuttle your pack forward and you hike a section with just a daypack) are known as Purists. Purists have to hike past EVERY white blaze. Often there are two blue blazed trails leading into a shelter - one from the northern approach and one from the southern approach. A Purist will enter and leave a shelter on the same trail so as not to miss any white blazes on the AT between the two trails. In the end, it's all about "Hike Hour Own Hike". If you want to yellow blaze - fine. If you want to slack pack - fine. If you want to pink blaze - fine. You may take some good natured ribbing (unless you are just being a jerk and a nuisance to the girl), but fine. If you're a Purist - fine. Other hikers may think you are a little too uptight about the whole thing, but fine. You guessed it - I'm a Purist. Now back to Max Patch. When you near the grassy summit, the trail runs up the middle of the clearing with occasional white blazes on sign posts. I climbed up the steep trail to the summit to where a bunch of other hikers were hanging out enjoying the view. I happened to look down the slope to my left and saw a long curving line of white blazed posts leading around the edge of the grassy area before turning to the summit where I stood. I had missed the AT and inadvertently taken a short cut to the summit! Imagine my horror and chagrin! I immediately went back down the short cut and followed the curving path of the AT to the summit. As you can imagine, I was good naturedly ribbed for being such a Purist. At least I will sleep the blessed sleep of the Innocent tonight knowing I didn't miss any white blazes. The rest of the hike was a nice rolling trail generally trending downward from Max Patch. A good portion of the trail paralleled a beautiful rushing mountain stream. I hiked a good portion of this section with Winter, a young lady from NYC who recently graduated high school and will be starting college in the Fall. We had a nice discussion about our families and the woods vs the city which helped the miles pass. Of course, the final 1.3 miles of today's hike was uphill - it's always uphill it seems . I am now camped in my tent at Walnut Mountain Shelter with about 20 other hikers. The wind is roaring up the mountain, my tent is shaking and the guy lines are buzzing in the wind. It will be a brisk night. That's alright because tomorrow we reach Hot Springs, NC and a much-needed zero day after completing the Smokies. It's been a week since I've showered. I stink!