The following has been transcribed directly from the journal that I kept while hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT).

Sunday, October 1st, 2000
7:45 am 50º. The sun is breaking over the peaks to the east and we can see nothing through the trees, down into the valley. Even if we could see, the smoky haze from these mountains would block it out.

Today is the day that Sonny and Rascal were scheduled to finish. Amazing! I am sure they made it!

We are slow to get moving; build a fire and prepare to move out. Looking to hit Max Patch Mountain today - a bald mountain top with excellent views all around!

We are all out of water and have 2.4 miles to go until Walnut Mtn shelter which is said to have water nearby. Today's terrain looks extremely easy compared to yesterdays climb.

10:00am 54º On we go. Nice descent, very gradual and comfortable. We reach the bottom at the gap and head right into a semi-steep climb up Walnut Mtn. Still looking for water.

11:00am We crest Walnut Mtn and find a shelter with water 75 yards down hill. It is not a great water source but better than what we found yesterday. We all fill up and drink some much needed water before heading on. We need to develop a better strategy about collecting water...not fun to be without, but, inevitably, it happens!

1:35pm 60º Lunch time. Chicken noodle soup and crackers. We stop right on the trail and eat on a huge boulder...great walking today! The hike has been a gradual descent to Lemon Gap then a gradual climb across many footbridges and creeks. We are approximately 3.5 miles from Max Patch Mountain. 2:10pm Hike on!

3:24pm We arrive that the last stream before Max Patch and decide to fill up our water for the night...that will add about 10.5 pounds to our pack weight.

It has been a very pleasant hike today. Since we made it atop Walnut Mtn, we haven't had any steep climbs, just a slow gradual climb and descent. We are now 1.4 from the summit of Max Patch. 3:40pm Hike on!

4:25 pm After catching glimpses of Max Patch for the past mile or so, we finally arrive and make the climb up the grassy fields that create Max Patch. It is 4, 629 ft and totally cleared of all trees - nothing but grass. The approach to the mountain is marked by wooden stakes with white blazes on them. This place is totally amazing! Lot's of people up here enjoying the unobstructed views in all directions. I think it is the most scenic view yet and totally worth yesterdays killer climb up Bluff Mtn. Directly east - 35 miles we can see Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. To the west is Mt. Guyot which is a monolith that we will hit in a few days. Awesome!

We had just made mac-n-cheese for dinner and were enjoying the views when couple of Daschaunds strolled toward us with 3 people behind them. Todd said hi to the dogs and one came over to see what was going on - then, almost as if in slow motion, I see the dog bear it's teeth and he bites right into Todd's pot of mac-n-cheese! The owner was so embarrassed and all 3 of us we just laughing so hard, we were rolling on the ground and couldn't stop. So funny!

Reading the trail guide - it seems that we might have needed to get a permit for the Smoky Mountain National Park (that is where we are headed to). Not sure what we are going to decide on doing. Might have to come off the trail at Todd's truck which is parked on the Pigeon River next to I-40.

We hang around and wait for the sunset. The mountains are so hard to see but look so magnificent at the same time. The sun slides down behind the mountains and creates some great views and awesome colors. To the north east, we can see the profile of Bluff Mountain and the terrain that we just walked over - it all looks so close.

Once the sun went down, the stars were quick to show and we sat there watching them and pointing out an occasional satellite as well.

We lay in our sleeping bags watching the stars and talking until finally falling asleep on top of this beautiful mountain. Todd's snoring was fast and formidable!

Today’s total: 9.5 miles
Trip total: 20 miles

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