Category Archives: North Carolina

The Springs To The Gap

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16 AUG 14
TN/NC Section 15 (Hot Springs Area)
Hot Springs-Tanyard Gap
Miles today: 5.5

Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. –Dag Hammarskhjold

My alarm went off at 0630. I knew I was going to take forever getting everything organized and ready for my hike, so I didn’t lolligag around in bed. The AC last night kept oscillating between ice cold air and a moist breeze. Oh well, I appreciate the fact that I had it at all.

Once I reorganized everything around in my truck, again, I set off for the public parking lot, and was stepping off across the French Broad River. At the end of the bridge, the trail switches back beneath it, so you have to hop over the guard rail. There were several double blazes indicating this, but having read it in the guidebook was a help too.

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The French Broad River

The trail went past a field and parking area and past a few houses. I noticed one of them had a rather large Confederate flag flying. That’s the 4th or 5th one I’ve seen so far; they seem to be a lot more prevalent here than I’m used to. Oh well. Just one more thing to be aware of. The trail paralleled the river, and I stumbled upon several campsites, some occupied. Across the river I could hear country music playing at another, larger campsite. It irked me to hear it all the way over here, when the morning is supposed to serene and calm. That, passing the Confederate flags, and walking along the river bank with random fire rings and tents around gave me a weird feeling- not really uneasy, more like unsettled. I didn’t care much for it and was happy to start the incline up Lover’s Leap.

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A Long Walk

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16 AUG 14
TN/NC Section 15 (Hot Springs Area)
Walnut Mountain Shelter-Hot Springs
Miles today: 14

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

My alarm rang at 0615. It was a rather peaceful number, entitled “Dawn chorus alarm”. Figured it fit the occasion, and wasn’t harsh enough to jar me awake in a panic. Maybe it was a little too peaceful; I laid back down and closed my eyes for a few more minutes.

Let’s do this.

Last night got just a little chilly, not enough to keep me awake but enough to make me glad I spent the money on the liner for my sleeping bag. After I packed up and hit the privy, I set out for my destination- Hot Springs. Right around 13 miles. Yes- I’m going to do it. There was a liter and a half of water in my Platypus and the springs were ample according to the guide, so water wasn’t a concern.

The trail descended down Kale Gap (mi 261.5, elev 3714′), and it was full of undergrowth, some as high as my head at times. There seems to be a few particular plants that grow along the Southern Appalachians that get out of control here. It was the same type of brush encountered going up Roan at Beartown Mtn. At Catpen Gap (mi 262.2, elev 4135′) there was a meadow off trail that apparently had a good view of Max Patch, but I didn’t venture out as I was unaware until later on in the day when I read the guidebook. My main priority was to get a GPS signal, which I finally did get at the edge of the clearing.

The ascent up Bluff Mtn (mi 263.2, elev 4686′) wasn’t too bad since my legs were fresh, and there wasn’t a heavy load of water occupying my pack. A rather large and flat campsite was near the summit, with space for at least six or seven tents and with a big fire ring it seemed like a great place to camp out. Breakfast at the summit was some dried fruit and a Kind bar. Kind bars are awesome! My favorites are the cranberry & almond and the vanilla blueberry. They tend to get sticky but are oh so good. There was a spring about 50m down from the summit that unfortunately had a lot of sediment in it- the only place to fit the mouth of my bottle in wasn’t in the best place, and I’d stirred the water up trying to get it situated. Oh well. Filter it through a bandana and drive on.

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A Guy Named Max And His Patch

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15 AUG 14
TN/NC Section 15 (Hot Springs Area)
Max Patch-Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.1

Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I’ve seen.  -Benjamin Disraeli

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An old Army buddy of mine (and fellow jumpmaster extraordinaire) was going to shuttle me to Max Patch from Hot Springs to start my next section hike. Rolled into town around 11:00. It’s smaller than Damascus- I’m really getting a taste of small-town America, even if it’s a haven for hikers and motorcyclists. As I was coming down the hill on US 25/70, I passed underneath a footbridge carrying the AT, marked with two signs. Very nice. Wonder if I’ll be crossing that footbridge on this trip!

My first mandatory stop was to the Bluff Mountain Outfitters. They have a pretty good selection of clothes, gear, and the requisite souvenirs, but where they really shine is the food- not just freeze-dried Mountain House offerings, but organic choices, fruit bars out the wazoo, nuts, jerky and cane sugar soda (score!). It all seemed a little bohemian and “hippie-ish”, but that wasn’t a bad thing. I snagged a couple cool stickers and bought a sleeping bag liner, worrying that wearing shorts and a t-shirt in my (Army issue) patrol sleeping bag may chill me a bit (temps that night were forecast to be right around 48 at elevation). The town doesn’t have a supermarket, only a Dollar General, so I’m sure they make a good bit of coin selling foodstuffs. The folks there were friendly, just as in Damascus.

Anyway, I met Jeremy at the public parking lot (which is nothing more than a gravel lot behind a restaurant and a small cottage-styled motel/hostel), grabbed my bag, and we were off. We spent the ride catching up on the last 12-13 years, and after a wrong turn or two, arrived at the Max Patch parking area, and I was off.

The walk up to Max Patch wasn’t too bad. The summit provided very nice views of the Smokies to the southwest and Mt. Mitchell to the east. For some strange reason though, I wasn’t blown away by the view. Don’t get me wrong, the summit of Max Patch is beautiful, but (to me) not as beautiful as the Roan Highlands, Little Hump, and Hump Mountain were. It must have had something to do with a strenuous climb to see the Humps, and barely any effort to see Max Patch. Who knows? Reached the top in 20 minutes and spent another 10 fooling around with my camera.

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A Big Hump

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2 JUL 14
Roan Mountain trip: Day 4
Bradley Gap-US 19E/Roan Mountain, TN
Miles today: 6.3

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
-Henry David Thoreau

Last night about 0100 a fly was stuck between the tent and my rain fly. That bastard buzzed so much it woke me up. I spent the next 10 minutes torturing him by flicking him through the no see um netting every time he landed. If I have to deal with him he’s gonna have to deal with me. I think he eventually died from blunt force trauma due to getting thumped by my finger. There was a strange flashing light outside my tent. Didn’t seem to be a firefly, because it would faintly blink or flash 4 or 5 times, then move around to another side of the tent. See, this is the shit I don’t like. Scary forest mystery creature crap. If someone is being funny, ha ha I have a joke for you if you keep it up, but I didn’t HEAR anything. My eyes must be fooling me. Just bury your head back in your stanky sleeping bag and go back to sleep.

Nothing got in my food or trash bag hanging from the tree last night. Now it was time to tackle Hump Mountain (mile 386.9; elev 5587). Again, the trail was very narrow which made for another “sobriety test” walk. This part of the trail is often photographed as well- it has a very distinct, treeless area cutting a wide swath up the mountainside. It was steep enough, and soon my left big toe started disagreeing with the inner edge of my insole. The guide said Hump has a few false summits as well, so when I had reached the summit it was a minute before I actually realized it. Saw a snake for the first time; he was a baby maybe 5 inches long and brown. He slithered in the grass before I got my camera out. Well, I did make good time coming up- took me 56 minutes. Cool.

Looking back, I don’t remember which climb was tougher, summiting Roan Mountain or summiting Hump Mountain. I went up Roan in the afternoon, so my legs weren’t fresh, but I did Hump on the last day of the trip, which is a negative too. The trail up Roan was also obviously reouted to create numerous switchbacks- several times I crossed over what was the old path going straight up. Rain was what made my ascent up Roan miserable, but in hindsight I think Hump was tougher because the trail took a more direct path to the summit.

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