When Spring feels more like Summer and you want to spend two nights in the outdoors nothing is any better than a trip to Max Patch. That was the case this past weekend as it was the first really hot weekend of 2021. But escaping the heat wasn't the only reason. I couldn't go out the weekend before because of my injured foot. Then Memorial Day Weekend is this week and there is no way I would go then, but also I just love Max Patch. As I said above this was a three-day and two-night trip, but I originally planned only one night on Max Patch. The other I had planned at Round Mountain Campground six miles down the road in Tennessee. As much as I like Round Mountain Campground once on "the Patch" it's hard to leave.
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| Round Mountain Campground from August 2020 |
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| Harmon Den |
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| On the way to... |
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| ...Max Patch |
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| Going left |
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| Finally on "the Patch" |
Our camp on Saturday was on the northside of Max Patch about 100 yards from where my 2019 outing camp was. This new camp was an awesome site, but unfortunately, to view the sunset it was a trip up to the crowed summit (at least 20 tents). Thankfully the wedding was over. There were tents around this site, but they were much more spread out than the summit. Before having to hike to the summit there was time for an afternoon hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) which is part of the Max Patch Loop and then dinner. After sunset, it was time to enjoy a nice campfire.
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| Camp... |
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| ...& bathroom |
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| On the AT |
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Campers in the woods...
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| ...& Bear Burritos |
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| Leaving the AT... |
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| ...to the Buckeye Ridge Trail |
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| Back on the Max Patch Trail |
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| On the AT, again |
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| 2020 campsite |
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| Campsite from Max Patch |
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| My next stop |
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| On the way back |
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| Max Patch Wedding |
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| Campers on the summit |
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| Looks like Fall |
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| Sunset... |
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| Campfire |
Unlike Saturday, sunrise on Sunday could be viewed from the campsite. I would have no problems from the site where I moved camp as it is where I began Summer last year. After deciding to stay on Max Patch it was deciding where to camp. I really considered camp just inside the woods northwest of the night one site. Don't get me wrong this is a wonderful site, but it would have been a half-mile trek up to the summit for sunset and even further to the parking area. While I wouldn't have to go far to see the sunrise on Monday at my 2020 campsite I wouldn't have to really move for either and it was a closer hike to the car and downhill. So, I went back to my awesome campsite a year ago.
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| Sunrise... |
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| Moving camp... |
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| ...thought about here, but no... |
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| On the AT... |
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| ...over the summit |
After setting up I headed back down to check the food I was going to prepare at Round Mountain. It was lamb steak with roasted potatoes... it was really good. I had my site to myself, well that was until a thru-hiker from Florida showed up. Then two section-hikers from Charlotte... they were really cool. As good as Sundown on Saturday was Sunday was even better. I also didn't have to attend "Burning Man" on the summit, I even got to enjoy a more by the fire...nice!
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| Back to my '20 campsite... |
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| ...home |
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| Took the road trail... |
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| ...to Max Patch Road... |
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| ...& the parking area |
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| My Lamb steak lunch |
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| Going right |
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| Photoshoot... |
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| On the summit... |
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| ...it was like "Burning Man" |
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| My campsite |
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| My beautiful campsite |
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| Sunset |
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| The setting Sun... |
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| ...looked like Jupiter |
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| My campsite fire ring |
Then the next morning was also another spectacular sunrise. After breakfast, it was time to break down camp and head to the car. While there were cars in the main lot it was a little surprising to find me alone in the roadside parking area. I had one more stop and that was in Hot Springs. My last visit to my favorite trail town was back in February 2020. It was good to be back there and it was the cherry on top of the three-day Sunday outing.
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| Sunrise |
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| Max Patch & sunrise |
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| Breaking downing camp, again |
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| Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar on my tent |
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| Mount Cammerer |
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| Mount Sterling |
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| Snowbird Mountain |
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| On the AT... |
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| Last look at Max Patch |
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| It was amazing my car was alone |
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| They were plowing the road |
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Rich Mountain
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| Hot Springs... |
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| ...& the Red Bridge |
