Date: 2004-04-06
From: Standing Bear Campground

To: Max Patch Summit
Miles today: 13.6

I am camped on Max Patch Summit...Whoa! I just witnessed a sunset so beautiful it took me 10 minutes to start writing about it. Max Patch is a mountain (4,600')covered by a huge meadow, of which I am atop. Mountains can be seen for 360 degrees around and it is simply stunning. The sunset turned every shade of lilac, violet, orange, pink and light blue I have ever seen and it covered over half of the sky as the sun descended below the mountains to the west. The sunset was so amazing that even the eastern sky reflected the purple and orange ever so softly. WOW! I only had 4 pictures left and could not help but take 3 of the shots. This may be the most beautiful scene I have ever seen in my life....and the stars are yet to come. Even now the remnants of the sunset linger and the lights of town are emerging to the north. I could write for hours and not convey the overwhelming beauty and power of this mountain top.    I hiked 13.6 today after leaving the Hostel. I saw more greenery today than any day yet. Old Pines towered, Poplars soared, ferns abounded, flowers were spread like God threw a party, Trillium sat with buds waiting to open and say: "Hello". In short, the trail was gorgeous. More amazing...Its bound to get even prettier. I hiked with Tarzan, a 21 year old vegetarian from PA, who apparently climbs trees very well (hence the name). We talked about politics, the environment, beatbox noises, and hiking stuff. Conversation was excellent.We stopped for lunch at a shelter near a rippling brook and found "hardcore" band shirts from this "Thrift Shelter". Tarzan's shirt is for "Blood Brothers" and mine is for "Ensign"...my sister would be proud (I hate most hardcore music). I was very scared when I found out that the back of my shirt says: "I hope everything you ever love dies in your arms" (AAAAHHHH!). I do not plan to add this shirt to my wardrobe for fear of scaring small children as well as adults. Still, an extra layer is nice in the wind.(Fun Note: we met 2 spring breakers today. One was "Injun Joe", who described Gatlinburg TN as "Disneyworld for Hillbillies"...I almost peed myself laughing, their description was perfect.)   Changing pace again, at 3 PM I slowed up because I have a light pull in my right calf muscle. It is sore, but I will live. I hiked slowly, was quiet, and talked to God. I had another one of my newsflashes: sometimes you see more when you slow down. Its nice to have goals, but sometimes there is no reason to hurry....be content where you are because that is where God has you. Make goals just that - goals. My time of prayer and worship was 2 hours long and I was alone the whole time. I felt God's pressence as I prayed and sang. I took time to see the mountains around me and I prayed for my friends. I talked to God like he was next to me and I prayed hard, in a way that I have not for a long time...I know God was there. I truly am learning that prayer is powerful and can affect people far away, even when I am out here. I guess that is another part of how God is cool.   This entire day has been beautiful and stunning. I even made up songs to sing to God, which rocked. By evening I met Tarzan again and we summitted Max Patch. Ever since we reached the top both of us have had trouble speaking in complete sentences..."Wow"..."Oh My"..."Did you see"..."Unbelievable"..."Whoa"..."Look There"..."and there". Tarzan and I are about to watch the stars, what an end to a near perfect day. Below is a poem about my day:Walking in woods, lost in splendorMy knees sore, my calves so tenderBut as I push, the pain is goneOnward to sleep on mountain lawnI sing to God and pray aloudWhile beauteous flowers and trees aboundLost in nature, jaw agape in wonderKnowing its his plan I'm underSo finally giving in to his splendorI thank my Lord and then surrenderFor if he can make the beauty I seeI wonder what he can make of me?Then a final view, my day to endA sunset of color in glorious blendAnd with the dissapearance of the sunI think of all this day he's doneAnd it seems to me, my Lord repliesBy giving me these starry skiesUnder which I will fall fast asleepStaring into this sky so deepI feel so blessed and so secureAnd of this one thing I am sureThe stars which shine so bright abovePale to compare to my savior's love. Goodnight, BEATBOX   ttt