Hooch
02-24-2009, 15:08
Dancer, Doc and I had planned this section for a couple weeks. We saw that there was a "chance" of snow but decided to go for it anyway.
Friday, Dancer made it to Charlotte after she got off work and drove in from her little section of Eastern NC. After she got here, I took her and my mom out to dinner at a great Chinese restaurant. After dinner, we headed home and played with her new hammock goodies. I got them ready, did final packing and hit the rack early since we had to be up early Saturday morning to get to Hot Springs in time.
Saturday morning, we picked Doc up and his house, then headed up toward Hot Springs, making pretty good time getting there. We hit Smoky Mountain Diner for a little breakfast, then parked my car at the FS parking lot at the trailhead. We walked over to BMO for our shuttle and found out that there would be 2 other hikers with us, so it cut the price of our shuttle down by $13. Daniel drove us up to the Max Patch parking lot, where we got out and got packs on, ready to head out.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0448.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0452.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0455.jpg
We took the direct trail straight up Max Patch, thinking although a litlle more difficult, it would be our most direct route up to the top. MISTAKE! We should have taken the trail from the road. Oh well, lesson learned. Chalk that one up to experience. Once we (finally) got to the top of Max Patch, we stopped for a little bit to take in the view, which was absolutely phenomenal, and see the sights.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0458.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0461.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0463.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0464.jpg
While we were there, Doc decided to ham it up for the camera a little and do his Eddie Vedder impersonation:
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0462.jpg
Dancer and I returned the favor, as we headed down the trail toward the treeline and busted out with our Picabo Street impersonation:
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0465.jpg
Once we got into the treeline, we came across an old campsite and briefly lost the white blazes, but picked them back up quickly. Heading downhill, we quickly came across the first of many water sources for the day, a piped spring, so we all stopped and topped off our water containers for the day, since Rockhound has advised us that there wasn't a lot of water to be had in the area. In retrospect, water wsn't an issue at all. We crossed or came within sight of at least 15 water sources betweek Max Patch and Walnut Mountain Shelter. While we were getting water, a group of 10 Boy Scouts and their leaders passed us along the trail, heading for Roaring Fork Shelter. After we all got water, we continued on for a bit, stopping again for more pics before we headed off to Roaring Fork Shelter ourselves.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0466.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0468.jpg
Once we got the Roaring Fork, we found the Scouts had invaded the shelter and everything around it, but were pretty well behaved. We stopped there to eat a snack, have something to drink and then get back on the trail to do some distance. The trail was beautiful, the weather was a very comfortable 50 degrees or so by that point and we were having a ball just hiking along. The grade was mostly level or downhill at this point. We stopped at a stream crossing to take a quick break and once again ham it up for the cameras and then got going again.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0473.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0474.jpg
Eventually, we made it to the ever-elusive Lemon Gap and then began the climb up Walnut Mountain. It was slow going for us, since we're all slower hikers, but our pace was steady enough to finally get us to the top. At Walnut Mountain Shelter, it was decided that the temperature was dropping and that dark was fast approaching, so we made camp there for the night.
Dancer had brought her brand new hammock setup with her for this trip, but I suspected that it was going to be too cold for her to spend the first night in a hammock, since she didn't have an underquilt or an extra full-length pad with her. So she and Doc set up in the shelter, with her tarp across the opening of the shelter to block most of the wind, for the night. I hung my hammock and tarp close by, just below the shelter. We got settled in, changed into dry clothes and added layers before starting dinner. We all chowed down, cleaned up, hung our bear bags and crashed for the night. Around 0230, I heard what I thought was light rain on my tarp and rolled over so I could go back to sleep and enjoy being warm and dry. When I woke up just before 0600, realized the light rain was acutally about 4" of snow. Yay. I went up to the shelter to find Doc and Dancer still sleeping, but both stirred moments later and said that they had both been warm throughout the night. We made breakfast and made plans to take a bailout shuttle at Garenflo Gap. After we broke camp, we headed to Kale Gap and made it a lot faster than we thought we would. Then we braced for the climb up Bluff Mountain. In the snow it was a booger, but not as bad as we thought it would be.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0475.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0478.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0479.jpg
Nearing the top of Bluff Mountain, we snacked on peanut M&M's and what started out as fruit punch Gatorade, but turned into fruit punch Gatorade slushie on the way up the mountain. Heding down Bluff Mountain we met thru-hikers Tellico and Dusty who were headed for Hot Springs as well and looking forward to a warm bed and meal at Elmer's.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0480.jpg
We finally made it down the mountain after plenty of slips, slides and a couple minor falls on the trail, but no one was hurt. Doc went ahead of us a little and met up with a nice lady at the Garenflo Gap parking area who was kind enough to call BMO for us to ask them to send a shuttle. We waited a bit for our shuttle, but started getting cold, so we began hiking toward the road when Daniel's wife, Ruth, came across us on her way up to the parking lot to pick us up. Great shuttle back into town, where we all enjoyed Double Trail Burgers at Smoky Mountain Diner. Dancer and I stayed in one of the small cabins at Hot Springs Campground for the night after we cleaned up. All in all, it was a fun hike, but I think we may have underestimated the weather's ability to keep us from getting as far was we wanted to. Oh well, Garenflo to Hot Springs will make a nice day hike some time in the spring. :D:sun:banana
Friday, Dancer made it to Charlotte after she got off work and drove in from her little section of Eastern NC. After she got here, I took her and my mom out to dinner at a great Chinese restaurant. After dinner, we headed home and played with her new hammock goodies. I got them ready, did final packing and hit the rack early since we had to be up early Saturday morning to get to Hot Springs in time.
Saturday morning, we picked Doc up and his house, then headed up toward Hot Springs, making pretty good time getting there. We hit Smoky Mountain Diner for a little breakfast, then parked my car at the FS parking lot at the trailhead. We walked over to BMO for our shuttle and found out that there would be 2 other hikers with us, so it cut the price of our shuttle down by $13. Daniel drove us up to the Max Patch parking lot, where we got out and got packs on, ready to head out.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0448.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0452.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0455.jpg
We took the direct trail straight up Max Patch, thinking although a litlle more difficult, it would be our most direct route up to the top. MISTAKE! We should have taken the trail from the road. Oh well, lesson learned. Chalk that one up to experience. Once we (finally) got to the top of Max Patch, we stopped for a little bit to take in the view, which was absolutely phenomenal, and see the sights.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0458.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0461.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0463.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0464.jpg
While we were there, Doc decided to ham it up for the camera a little and do his Eddie Vedder impersonation:
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0462.jpg
Dancer and I returned the favor, as we headed down the trail toward the treeline and busted out with our Picabo Street impersonation:
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0465.jpg
Once we got into the treeline, we came across an old campsite and briefly lost the white blazes, but picked them back up quickly. Heading downhill, we quickly came across the first of many water sources for the day, a piped spring, so we all stopped and topped off our water containers for the day, since Rockhound has advised us that there wasn't a lot of water to be had in the area. In retrospect, water wsn't an issue at all. We crossed or came within sight of at least 15 water sources betweek Max Patch and Walnut Mountain Shelter. While we were getting water, a group of 10 Boy Scouts and their leaders passed us along the trail, heading for Roaring Fork Shelter. After we all got water, we continued on for a bit, stopping again for more pics before we headed off to Roaring Fork Shelter ourselves.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0466.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0468.jpg
Once we got the Roaring Fork, we found the Scouts had invaded the shelter and everything around it, but were pretty well behaved. We stopped there to eat a snack, have something to drink and then get back on the trail to do some distance. The trail was beautiful, the weather was a very comfortable 50 degrees or so by that point and we were having a ball just hiking along. The grade was mostly level or downhill at this point. We stopped at a stream crossing to take a quick break and once again ham it up for the cameras and then got going again.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0473.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0474.jpg
Eventually, we made it to the ever-elusive Lemon Gap and then began the climb up Walnut Mountain. It was slow going for us, since we're all slower hikers, but our pace was steady enough to finally get us to the top. At Walnut Mountain Shelter, it was decided that the temperature was dropping and that dark was fast approaching, so we made camp there for the night.
Dancer had brought her brand new hammock setup with her for this trip, but I suspected that it was going to be too cold for her to spend the first night in a hammock, since she didn't have an underquilt or an extra full-length pad with her. So she and Doc set up in the shelter, with her tarp across the opening of the shelter to block most of the wind, for the night. I hung my hammock and tarp close by, just below the shelter. We got settled in, changed into dry clothes and added layers before starting dinner. We all chowed down, cleaned up, hung our bear bags and crashed for the night. Around 0230, I heard what I thought was light rain on my tarp and rolled over so I could go back to sleep and enjoy being warm and dry. When I woke up just before 0600, realized the light rain was acutally about 4" of snow. Yay. I went up to the shelter to find Doc and Dancer still sleeping, but both stirred moments later and said that they had both been warm throughout the night. We made breakfast and made plans to take a bailout shuttle at Garenflo Gap. After we broke camp, we headed to Kale Gap and made it a lot faster than we thought we would. Then we braced for the climb up Bluff Mountain. In the snow it was a booger, but not as bad as we thought it would be.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0475.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0478.jpg
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0479.jpg
Nearing the top of Bluff Mountain, we snacked on peanut M&M's and what started out as fruit punch Gatorade, but turned into fruit punch Gatorade slushie on the way up the mountain. Heding down Bluff Mountain we met thru-hikers Tellico and Dusty who were headed for Hot Springs as well and looking forward to a warm bed and meal at Elmer's.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo188/HoochNC/Max%20Patch%20to%20Garenflo%20Gap/100_0480.jpg
We finally made it down the mountain after plenty of slips, slides and a couple minor falls on the trail, but no one was hurt. Doc went ahead of us a little and met up with a nice lady at the Garenflo Gap parking area who was kind enough to call BMO for us to ask them to send a shuttle. We waited a bit for our shuttle, but started getting cold, so we began hiking toward the road when Daniel's wife, Ruth, came across us on her way up to the parking lot to pick us up. Great shuttle back into town, where we all enjoyed Double Trail Burgers at Smoky Mountain Diner. Dancer and I stayed in one of the small cabins at Hot Springs Campground for the night after we cleaned up. All in all, it was a fun hike, but I think we may have underestimated the weather's ability to keep us from getting as far was we wanted to. Oh well, Garenflo to Hot Springs will make a nice day hike some time in the spring. :D:sun:banana