Day 22 of AT in NC NOBO

Max Patch roadside tent area (mile marker # 254.3) to Deer Park Mountain Shelter (#271.7)
Daily Mileage: 17.4

A decent night of sleep last night and another glorious day to trek the 0.8 miles up to the top of Max Patch for breakfast at 9:00. True 360 degree views from the top (4,600 ft). Decent enough weather for a video (a bit windy!) and for calling home to speak with family. In years gone by, you could tent up on top of the Max Patch bald, but they forbidden it over the past 2 years to allow vegetation and the bio-diversity to regenerate.

Was able to make some decent mileage this afternoon even though I stopped to make some phone calls (as I actually got some AT&T service!), took some pics & vids, and spoke to quite a few people (a few of which I would see tonight at the shelter).

Hopped over the 4,700 ft Bluff Mountain by mid afternoon and then had a flat to downhill 8.0 mile ridge run all the way to Deer Park Mtn Shelter.

I was joined for the evening by a cast of fun characters. A fun loving 28 year old Aussie who was running out of food and had just done a 24 mile day (I gave him some dinner).
A Chinese gal who had come over from Beijing during COVID and resides in San Jose CA. We talked about what it was like to be locked down during COVID in China and she said it was quite the scene. Couldn’t go out of the apartment but the government did send people food care packages. Once they sent a live chicken! 😳
Two 60 year gals (one who had successfully thru hiked back in 2011) who were doing a section hike from their homes in Erwin TN (75 miles up the trail). One was from Sweden originally, and the other was an Army brat who had lived in Japan, Hawaii, Virginia, etc. growing up. They used to take in thru hikers for a number of years but had officially stopped, though they extended an invitation to me when I get up to Erwin either next week or when I return down next Spring to continue hiking North.

The last couple was a husband & wife team who I would hike quite a bit with and would spend a lot of time in the coming days. Both in their early 60’s, Robert (“Short Story”) and Anne (“Downhill”) live in Chapel Hill NC and it’s the second marriage for each. They have a blended family of 7 kids and 3 grandkids. It was quite the scandal 25 years ago when they left their respective spouses to get married when their oldest kids were in the 3rd grade. Anne grew up in Fairfield CT down the street from Karina (don’t know any of the same people due to age difference) and he lived in Ridgefield CT. Such a wonderful couple and it was fun hearing about their careers and the lives of their kids. They do well for themselves and are hoping to finish section hiking the trail in 4-5 years. They are at mile 800 (total) out of 2,200 right now. Both of them have run 2 NYC Marathons together and numerous other Marathons and Ultras, so we didn’t have a lack of things to talk about!Baca lagi