Splendor.

I left The Lunchbox a bit later the next day, having planned a short mileage day as Snowbird Mountain was going to be a big half-day climb. It was only about a half-mile stroll to the end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I deposited the second half of my paper permit into the deposit box and reflected on the last five days in the park. The Smokies were pretty much everything I wanted: great scenery, great trails, and great fun.

With Ketchup back, we naturally had a lot to catch up on and hiked out together. We walked under Interstate 40 and went a few miles up the trail to a hostel just to check out the place. We arrived at Standing Bear Hostel about mid-morning. I caught up with some fellow thru-hikers, jumped on the free Wi-Fi and uploaded my previous blog post, listened to Ketchup play his banjo, and snagged an avocado to snack on. We had a chill day ahead of us so we could take our time.

I left Standing Bear a little before noon and started the hike up Snowbird Mountain. It was sunny, hot, and slow going. I was struggling. It turns out I was pretty close to calculating the amount of food I needed per day. I had to stop twice on the way up just so I could eat more food. It was fine, though, because today’s plan was to take it slow and have a lighter day. I eventually made it up Snowbird Mountain and started the descent toward Groundhog Shelter, where Creek and Critter would be ending their day as well. However, when Ketchup and I arrived at the shelter, they were nowhere to be found.

Things can change quickly here on the trail, and plans can change. Entire days can change unexpectedly.

“Hey, where are you two at?” I texted as Ketchup and I were trying to decide whether to keep going or not. “Max Patch” was their response. They went another 7 miles farther than what we originally planned for. We quickly worked through our options, but we made our decision fairly quickly. We kept pushing.

It was 4 p.m. by this point, and we basically just decided to double back on our day. Max Patch was another big climb like Snowbird, but we did not let it affect our decision. Okay, new plan: we keep going, climb Max Patch, eat on top, enjoy the sunset, and night hike 2 miles into the next shelter.

I’ve been learning that even though plans can change quickly, it usually is worth it. This was no exception to that rule. The climb up Max Patch was not easy, but we found new motivation to stretch our legs and make it to one of the most scenic mountaintops.

Max Patch was absolutely stunning. The treeless bald had nothing but green grass and offered full 360-degree panoramic views as far as the eye could see. We practically had the place to ourselves. After a moment to soak in the splendor, we began cooking dinner and relaxed as we waited for the sun to set behind the Smoky Mountains. As I boiled water, a nicely dressed group made its way up the hill. It turned out a couple was about to get married on top of Max Patch! Boy, did they pick an excellent day to do that! The skies were clear, the winds were calm, and the view was spectacular.

We hung out for about an hour before the sun began to set. The pictures are amazing, but being up there in person will always be a special moment for me. Blood Mountain, Standing Indian, Shuckstack Mountain, and Charlie’s Bunion were great, but Max Patch is in a league of its own. I am so glad our plans changed that day.

Since I made a big push past Max Patch, the next day’s decision was already made: I would simply push on to Hot Springs and arrive a day earlier than expected. The terrain was much easier, as it was essentially a long decline most of the way to town. I got going early, motivated, and I made it to town by 4 p.m. The last two days covered 36 miles and 98,000 steps.

As soon as you get into town, you’ll walk right past Laughing Heart Shelter. They were booked on beds for the night, but they allow camping on their property. They allowed me to pitch a tent, shower, and do laundry for a small fee. I wasted no time jumping in the shower, throwing on a pair of loaner clothes, and washing my sweated-out clothes. I was able to stroll farther into town and eat a great meal at the Rocky Mountain Diner. I wrapped up the night hanging out with old friends and meeting new ones while eating ice cream.

I am currently around mile marker 275 of the Appalachian Trail. I’m looking to resupply and get at least one more town meal before getting back on the trail tomorrow.