Date: 2013-04-08
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mountain
Miles today: 13.1

I was the first to wake up and start packing up. The day was almost ideal for hiking . . . a chill in the air but sunny. This is the first day I have hiked in shorts and a T-shirt. It feels so different now. I notice small insects, I'm beginning to see a few wildflowers, the trees are getting buds, and once again I frequently hear wood peckers and owls - something that I missed at the higher elevations. At Brown Gap I met 4 volunteer trail maintainers who offered to take my trash. Of course I was happy to give it up since its useless weight. I also experienced the first trail magic (unplanned kindness) as someone left 6 cans of soda by the trail. It's odd how all the things you should avoid in the real world are the things you want on the trail. I drank a Coke knowing it would give me some sugar and caffeine to help power me to the top of Max Patch (4,629 ft) nd the sodium need to replace what I was sweating. My dear friend Annelle had emailed me about Max Patch and it turned out to be everything she said and more. It is a huge grassy bald with a stunning 360 degree view. I lingered on the top for a hour and a half taking in the views, enjoying the warm sun, and talking to fellow thru hikers and day hikers. I met a nice family and the parents are here from Colorado Springs visiting their daughter Meghan who lives in Asheville. Meghan very much reminded me of my own daughter Sarah. She lived for awhile in Cairo and learned Arabic. Her undergrad degree was in International Studies (I think) and something else that I can't remember. Now she is working for a conservancy. Meghan, if you read this I hope we meet along the trail again as you are doing your work further north. Be patient with yourself, you'll figure it out!I had lunch on Max Patch with Poppop, a very proud former Marine named Raider, Big Red, and Yooper. There is still a lot of trail talk about rescues and injuries in the Smokies. As I was about to leave Barbarosa came strolling up. Barbarosa is the guy who turned back to Gatlinburg out of concern for hypothermia and he is also the one who provided penguin entertainment in the shelter (which I will upload some day). Barbarosa is easily recognized because he is a tall guy with a big red beard and he wears a hikers kilt. Many of the guys are wearing hikers kilts. It decreases chaffing, makes anatomical parts readily accessible, and provides plenty of ventilation. My wife said "don't come off the trail wearing a skirt" so I will continue to wear my hot, chaffing hiker's shorts:-) Other than the climb to Max Patch and an end of the day climb up Walnut Mtn (4, 305 ft), most of the day was MUD's (mindless ups and downs) on a good trail that was dry. For the last two days I have had multiple stream crossing - some of which are easy and others not so much. I enjoy hiking with the sound of running water near by and it's nice to know that I always have a water source. Near the end of the day I hiked with Serpa for awhile. He graduated from college in 2001 with a degree in business administration. That was about the time of the dot com bubble burst and he couldn't find a job. He saw an ad for teaching English in Korea so he applied and got the job he has been living in Korea for 11 years. His goal is to visit all the continents and he has 3 left. Tonight I am tenting. I have really missed my cozy tent. This area is known to have a bear that's not afraid of hikers so I have my food hung high and a pile of rocks stacked near my tent door in case I need to chase him away. The owl is hooting very close by and the stars are beautiful . . .