Date: 2009-03-31
From: Green Corner Road - Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Tue 3/31, Day 21: After the beers and a couple of swigs form the Mason jar last night, I did not want to roll out of my nice, soft, dry bed this morning! Rockhound had coffee ready but I settled for oatmeal and a hot cup of green tea. It gets me going, ya know?I left the Standing Bear Hostel and made it up and over Snowbird Mountain which was a heckuva little pull (1,850' at the start, 4,265' on the summit, that's 2,415' of climbing in 4.7 miles). Nice trail marking on the way to Roaring Fork. Click on picture to see full size. Spokes on the trailThen 2.5 miles down to Deep Gap (2,850') and up and down for the next 6.4 miles until I summited Max Patch (4,269'). I just couldn't get my legs going. I've learned to take my time and slow down on the steep inclines. I'm very fortunate that the pain in my left knee is gradually going away. After my three falls in the Smokies my right ankle hurts but only if I step wrong on it. Still no blisters! I've seen some awful ones on other thru-hikers. [CAUTION: skip down to the next paragraph if you have a weak stomach] One guy showed me a picture he took of one on a guy who's little toe looked like it had peeled off - Yuk! I'm amazed that infections don't ravage the feet of thru-hikers after such carnage. Blazes on trees climbing to Max Patch Blazes on posts near the summit of Max PatchMax Patch is a wonderful bald - a treeless area at the summit with a stunning 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains. The visual experience really put in perspective what this hike is all about. I was going to camp up there but it was cloudy and the winds were kicking up. There¢s another storm front headed our way with wind and rain and I didn't want the hassle of dealing with a tent in all of that. Plus there¢s really no sense camping on a mountain top unless you can see the stars, right? It was a good decision. View from Max Patch Spokes on the summit at Max PatchI took a pretty good video of the scenery around the mountain top. Here it is, it gives you a feel (and sound) for what the conditions were on the summit, plus you can see what Max Patch and the (potential) great views. Crank up your speakers!As soon as I headed down off the bald the rain started pelting. It wasn¢t pretty for the next couple of hours. I love the solitude of hiking out here on the AT. The mind can wander wherever it wants until the stomach decides it's time to eat or drink. From Max Patch, I pushed on one more mile to the Roaring Fork Shelter (3,950). The fifteen mile day felt good.This shelter (built 2005, sleeps 8) is nice with a privy and bear cables but water is some distance away down the trail. You work for everything out here. There is no such thing as a convenience. Roaring Fork Shelter Vanity shelf at Roaring Fork ShelterWe ended up with a great group of hikers I¢ve sorta been flip-flopping with all along. There are interesting conversations; just good times here at the shelter this evening. Inside Roaring Fork Shelter - Time to meditate and get the Chi aligned and flowingPerspective: I'm beginning to hate coming into the towns. Towns mean the hassle of daily life, spending money, and watching your stuff more closely. Ahhh, the trail - it's a culture I've already come to love. There is one major exception to not enjoying coming into a town: I'm trying to slow down so I get into Hot Springs later in the week so Kim can visit. It's hard to slow down, Hot Springs will be my first Zero Day. I hope Kim can come, I miss her! Click here for audio journal