Date: 2010-05-03
From: Max Patch

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light rain

Curtis from the Standing Bear Hostel gave us a ride to Max Patch parking lot. All this time I had heard about Max Patch thinking it was in the wilderness far, far away, come to find out you can drive to the bottom. Go figure. We were dropped off about 10:00 am prepared to be out 3 days hiking to Hot Springs. We photographed each other then started our ascent, .8 miles up to the top. On the way, a red small pick up truck was paralleling us up to the summit, I joked, gosh we could have asked them for a ride! We reached the top in no time at all and looked over at the pick up truck, they were setting up for some trail magic!!! Past 2009 thru hikers, Limbo and Bird with their dog, Mama Bear (a beautiful Siberian Husky) brought a cooler of soda, beer, water and fruit along with homemade egg salad sandwiches, chocolate cake, a large assortment of chips, chairs, a canopy and a warm welcome. We were stunned, not expecting this red carpet treatment, our smiles were from ear to ear!!! We dropped our packs like mad and rushed to their hospitality. We had great food, great conversation and magic!We had to end our enjoyment and begin our ascent into our camp. Still having plenty of time to hike the 6 or so miles left, we talked about our third episode of trail magic, our faces still smiling from ear to ear and our bellies full. Half Left and I were carrying some refreshing beverages for each other from the store to our camp so our packs were heavier than usual. We had been with some other hikers coming into standing bear that had done the same and we decided to do it also. Upon reaching the creepy looking shelter, we all agreed, camping it is! Half Left and Wild Poodle scurried to look for a spot, I was dragging because of the heavy pack and didn't want to go farther than need be. Not 2 minutes later they exclaimed "this is perfect, come up here!" I slowing crested the hill above the shelter to see a beautiful grassy campsite, complete with a ready made firepit, logs for the couches and tenting area that were level. Most tentsites are very unlevel and during the night, your body slides in the sleeping bag until it rests against the side, then your inch your body back uphill only to slide again repeatedly. These level sites are much welcome. As we stopped at the shelter, a red checkered vinyl tablecloth was stuffed in the corner, I picked it up to use for our food packs and stoves. After the tents were up, we all gathered around the fire. It looked like we were at a Sunday picnic, all that was missing was some fried chicken. About 30 minutes after settling down on our hiker couches, who appears over the hill? Yep Low Key, smiling from ear to ear still from the trail magic. He was glad to have found us and our wonderful tentsite. He set his tent up in between Wild Poodle and ours and joined our conversation pit.Half Left and Low Key did the scoundering for wood and Wild Poodle joined in. What a fire, nice breeze and friends. We all discussed the next day, how far we were planning to hike and where we would stop. Low Key and Wild Poodle thought of stopping at the shelter and staying the night to save money, coming into Hot Springs early for a nero day and extending it another for a zero. Half Left and I decided if possible we would hike in to Hot Springs. We were ready for showers, clean clothes and a bed. 14.8 miles is tough hiking but worth it if you can make it.During the evening, the moon was full and a small rain shower burst during the night. We heard some animal wandering though our campsite, everyone thinks it was a bear because it was slow moving and had hard heavy footsteps. Our food was hung on the bear cables by the shelter so we weren't alarmed. Everyone says they want the food and aren't interested in bothering us. I guess that's true because he left and we woke the next morning, no problem.