View from Max Patch Bald

Light creeps into the valley, all is perfectly still, so much better than sleeping in a shelter. The routine is now so second nature that the transition from sleeping shirt, tights and socks to walking shirt, pants and socks is automatic. Stuff the sleeping bag into the sack, deflate the air mattress, light stove to boil water for oatmeal and tea. It is a beautiful morning, a little chilly but nothing like the the bone numbing cold of the Smokeys. It is 8:15 and we are walking, it will be a long day.

There is nothing like a 1200 ft climb right out of the campsite to warm you up from cool to sweating. The grade is not too steep and at the top we are on Snowbird Mountain. Over the top and down to Groundhog Shelter, 5 miles, in about 2 hours, our speed is improving. Feeling great, the sun is out but it's not too hot. The path is gentle with switchbacks which provide much relief for strained achilles tendons when climbing straight up. At the top of Max Patch Bald we have amazing views 360 degrees around. It is impossible to show in a photo. It is so big and the ribbons of mountains one behind the other into the distance. There are many day hikers here to enjoy the view and a fitful day out on a perfect spring day.

We are pushing on 2.3 miles past Roaring Fork Shelter to get a jump on the distance for tomorrow. Suddenly the forest floor is a carpet of tiny white flower, marvellous. As we descend we notice day by day that spring is coming to the mountains, so many different plants, you will have to endure as we post pictures of these beautiful little flowers. The next few weeks promise a plethora of colour and endless variety as the spring flowers begin to bloom and life returns to the mountains. We are grateful for another dry day, dare we wish for one more?