Date: 2011-04-16
From: (25) Cosby Knob Shelter

To: (26) Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: few clouds

I waited patiently inside the shelter while the storm raged outside. By 10am it had let up, and i began my hike out of the Smokies.I descended downward for hours; my feet soaked and caked with mud from the puddles. Then I passed Davenport Gap, and was officially out of the Smokies! At this lower elevation the air was hot yet again, and the woods were in full blown spring; with flowers, bees, and even poison ivy! I ran into two other hikers and some trail magic (we all had root beers), but the trail was rather empty the rest of the day, and I grew extremely bored without any other hikers around. So, I took out my iPod and drowned my social isolation with music.Sometime Later I passed a sign informing me that Groundhog Creek Shelter (camp for the night) was several miles behind me. I was stunned to realize that i had hiked past the shelter, some 22 miles, and it was only 4 o-clock. I wasn't sure how I¢d missed the shelter, although i had a feeling it might have been while singing at the top of my lungs and twirling my hiking stick like a baton while i walked (told you i was bored).I looked at my book and saw that another shelter lay ahead some 5 miles, after something called "Max Patch". Drawn in by the challenge of a 26 mile day before night fall (not supposed to be able to do such mileage before Virginia) I set out immediately. This would prove to be....stupid.A born champion who knows no bounds, i marched boldly down the trail towards the distant shelter. Then it got cold, and later even colder. I had been climbing up again, and the trees no longer bore leaves; I had re-entered winter. Then I ran out of water. Earlier, springs had been available in copious amounts, but in this new area none were to be found. Then rain clouds began to form, coupled with an icy breeze (and the worst luck in the wilderness award goes to....).I wanted to set up camp, but until i found water this was not an option. I asked some campers how far it was to the shelter. They responded, "Oh, about 2 hours, right after Max Patch" (whatever that is). I hiked another hour and asked a young couple how far. "It's after Max Patch, about 2 hours". "Really" i thought, "well somebody is full of crap". I passed a sign informing me of another 4 miles to Max Patch, which was impossible considering it had been 5 miles from my start over an hour and a half ago! The trail was getting longer with every step i took, making it so that i could never reach my destination!At long last i reached a creek and filled my bottle and 2 liter with water (And i never fill both while hiking due to weight) so that i could camp somewhere ahead. But as soon as I cleared the woods, I stood at the base of (you guessed it) Max Patch!As it turns out, Max Patch is actually a rather large mountain, dwarfing those around it, and completely bald. The entire mountain is covered in grass, without a tree on it.Needing trees to hang my hammock (give me a break!) and not wanting to backtrack, i pushed forward up the mesmerizing mountain. The wind struck me so hard as i climbed that it nearly spun my pack and i in a full circle. The view was beautiful, and I took many pictures with my numb fingers. My legs ached by the time i reached the summit; i had already hiked farther than ever before. The sun was setting and i felt rain droplets hit my face, so i nearly ran down the other side of the mountain. My pack, heavy with precious water, dug into my shoulders. Under the impression that i was in for another mountain storm, I trudged along until i reached the shelter, a total of 26 miles (aka a marathon!).I spent the night, falling asleep after drinking less than a sip of that darn water, and it never did rain. I suck.