Date: 2023-04-18
From: Campsite below Max Patch

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 20.3

My alarm went off at 5. It was a very windy, cold night a half mile from the summit of Max Patch.I planned to return after daybreak to the campsite to check again for my phone, so I fetched some more water around 6:30 a short walk further down. I saw hikers coming up to see the sunrise at the summit. I told a few of them about my lost phone - more than one pair of eyes could help. I checked through the campsite again for the phone when I returned, since I didn't need my headlamp on anymore. No sign of it.I walked up to the Max Patch Summit again to join the half dozen hikers for the sunrise, keeping my eyes peeled for my phone along the way. The sunrise was glorious. I took a few shots of it using the phone of my cheap camera so that I would at least have something.After checking the summit and the climb up, I returned to the campsite and searched around it with the help of a stick to move away the leaves. I was making such a racket that one hiker coming up during my search thought I was a bear. Yet, I couldn't find it. I was and continue to be disappointed about it. I lost 3 days of pictures in the Smokies, including picture perfect shots at Charlie's Bunion, mystical fog mixed with light walking through moss adorned woods, and fantastic Max Patch sunset shots. I also ended up losing my sitting pad at some point. Are they both buried under the campsite leaves or were they swept away by 40 mph gusts on the Max Patch summit? I don't know, but it was time to move on and try to be smarter about my things.The trail was mostly downhill to Hot Springs. But it was already 8, and I did not want to lose anymore days of photo ops on the trail, so I was determined to make it down to Hot Springs early enough to buy a phone with a suitable camera in a nearby city.I went through the hike quickly, with my first break lasting 10 minutes. I hiked for at least another 3 hours before I got to Garfelo Gap. I ran into a few people there enjoying soda. One of the offered me one, which I was happy to take. I told them of my predicament. They gave me suggestions. One hiker even posted a comment on the Farout app about my issue, and proved my phone number of my backup phone in case anyone found my smartphone.Ultimately it was decided that Weaverville was the closest city to Hot Springs that sold the kind of phone I wanted. The guy who offered me a soda said he also did shuttle drives. He was providing a shuttle at that time for a group doing a slack pack, but said he'd be available once they finished and unloaded. I figured that would be around the time I'd get to Hot Springs. He gave me his phone number and introduced himself as Smoky Bear.After about 7 more miles, I reached the charming town of Hot Springs. I was agitated that most of the restaurants were closed, but finally found a good pizza place open. I think it was Vinyl Pizza Pies. Delicious, affordable with quick and friendly service!I found a bunk available at the Laughing Heart Hostel. I was disappointed that I didn't have phone service and couldn't call Smoky Bear. A lady at the nearby Hillbilly Market let me use their phone. It turned out that Smoky was at the parking lot of my hostel - what luck, relative to my recent misfortune.He drove me out to the Walmart in Weaverville and I got the phone, plus some much needed fruits and vegetables. I am very grateful for his help.So glad that this at least worked out. I chatted with a few hikers, got a shower, ate a very healthy dinner of my fruits, vegetables, and some hummus, did laundry and went to bed. Wow, what a day.