Day 23 - Max Patch

Good morning!
I love early morning starts, it's barely 9 am and already I've hiked about 4 miles. Hiking seems to be easiest around now, and hardest around 5 in the afternoon. 

Anyway, yesterday may have been numero uno for me on the trail so far. It started off a little shaky. It was one of those times where you're not sure if you're too hot or too cold, but its soooo inconvenient to stop, take off the pack, put the fleece away, pack back up, and start again. So I ended up kinda forcing myself to the top of Snowbird Mountain a little cold and a little hungry. But at the top, I layered back up, had a big granola snack, and stretched. Plus I met a family from South Carolina who were out on their ATVs for the day (as you can see, I'm no longer in a National Park!). From there, the day was great. It was nice, slow, and steady. And it included Max Patch, one of the most awesome, unique places I've been yet. It is a 4000 foot mountain that is completely bald: just grass! It's like being on a farm, but you have a tremendous 360 degree view. Just amazing. I got some trail magic from a group at the top. Blue Deer told me that they do it every year the first weekend in April. Thanks guys! And Purple Blaze, if you're reading this I said hello to Big Tex, Geared Up, and Reroute for you. Those three all thru-hiked last year and Geared Up is hiking the ECT (Florida to Newfoundland) this year. It was cold last night, but it is beautiful today. Happy Easter everybody.

- Ted
9:09 a.m. 4/5/2015

Day 22 Photos 4/04 Here! : http://tedatgwlt.blogspot.com/p/day-22-404.html