Date: 2003-06-10
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Max Patch Summit
Miles today: 13.6

Another good day, long and strenuous, but we made it to Max Patch for the night. We left Standing Bear Farm hostel around 7:45 and began what turned out to be a tough climb to the summit of Snowbird Mountain. I didn¢t check to see what the trail looked like or the distance, and I think that was better. I just kept hiking what turned out to be 4+ miles to the top. It helped me to not know how many miles of uphill I faced, and also not knowing the elevation gain. I have been working on hiking for a period of time, like two or three hours, and then just seeing where I am, rather than having detail knowledge of the landmarks along the way and getting hung up on where I am at all times. I find that more relaxing, and it helps to keep my mind from concentrating on my progress or lack of it. There is a huge FAA tower atop Snowbird Mountain that looks a little like a space ship. The entire summit has been bulldozed, and in the rocky soil only low grasses and weeds have grown back, no large trees ¢ probably on purpose. There are maybe 1000 acres like that. We descended to Deep Gap where we met a man who was in a hurry to get to his car at Mountain Momma¢s near Davenport Gap, because he needed to get his car and head back to Brown Gap where his wife and daughter waited. His wife had injured her knee and could not hike anymore. We suggested he go to Waterville School Road and to the hostel where we stayed last night and ask Curtis to shuttle him to his car and get directions on how to get to Brown Gap by gravel Forest Service road. We carried a message to his waiting family at Brown Gap. They were fine and already expecting him around 4:00 instead of the 2:00 they had originally planned. We had stopped for lunch at Groundhog Creek Shelter a few yards away from the Deep Gap sign and down a 2/10 miles side trail. Very small shelter but adequate for us with a picnic table, privy and water from a stream. The hike to Brown Gap was pretty strenuous and the hike from there to Max Patch road was tough and NEVER ENDING. No water source at Max Patch summit, so we had to get enough water for overnight at a stream near Max Patch road and carry it to the top. The late afternoon sun was hot on the exposed Max Patch trail, and the climb up was very steep. Sometimes I climbed up log steps fitted into the mountainside. The summit is windswept and has a 360-degree view to many rows of mountain ridges in all directions. You can see like 50 miles all the way to Mount Mitchell in the east when it is clear. It has been quite clear for awhile today, but I¢m not sure which mountains/mountain ranges I am seeing. The vast open summit is quiet from almost any sounds except the whisper of the wind, and an occasional bird calling. Clouds are moving in from the west. Max Patch is considered a ¢bald¢ because it has no trees growing on the summit ¢ probably several thousand acres ¢ plus more stretches of ¢bald¢ (flowers and grasses only) stretching into some of the valleys and to the other peaks nearby. It reminds me of a scene from ¢The Sound of Music.¢ Tomorrow I hope to get a picture of the sunrise. We plan to get up early and do a 16+ mile day to Deer Park Mountain Shelter. That will leave only 3 ¢ 4 miles into Hot Springs the following day (Thursday). I may stay in Hot Springs on Friday too, for a zero day ¢ no hiking. I¢ll decide later about that. I talked with Marlene on good cell phone service from this high, open summit. She is fine. Hard to believe, but we are already making tentative plans for her to pick me up in Erwin, Tennessee. That will be a great time. I plan to have a quiet time and maybe do some more reading this evening and then take some Tylenol PM to try and get a much needed good night¢s sleep. Very satisfied with today. Goodnight Sweetheart. dp