Max Patch, a well-known, but usually un-crowded 4,616' bald peak on the Appalachian Trail north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers a hiker one of the best 360 degree views in the southern Appalachians. Originally, the peak was used for grazing by local herders, but now the Forest Service keeps the expansive meadows mowed as part of their wlidlife management plan. On a clear day, you can see the Black Range and Mt. Mitchell, most of the eastern half of the Great Smoky Mountains, Roan Mountain, the Balsams, and many smaller peaks in the surrounding region. It's only a little over 13 miles from where the AT leaves the Great Smoky Mountains and is in a good location for using as a starting point for hikes either south to the Smokies, or north to Hot Springs. A full day can be spent just roaming around the paths that criss-cross the Harmon Den/Max Patch region. Though camping isn't allowed on Max Patch itself, there are many good places to set up camp along the AT or any of the other local trails - unlike the Great Smokies, you can camp pretty much wherever you wish, once you leave the main summit behind. Management rules also state that you camp at least 100 feet from water sources. I imagine that to the thousands of AT throughhikers that pass over Max Patch, the open views are a welcome change from the rhodo tunnels of the Smokies. From the summit of Max Patch, they can see nearly all the way into Virginia, days ahead in their travels - or travails, depending on how the trek is progressing.

At any rate, I'll be adding some pix to this page from time to time - today's walk (Nov. 23, 2008) was beautiful, but a bit hazy. I'll be adding some pix from last summer and few more from upcoming trips this winter as time permits. Enjoy!

In the distance, Bluff Mountain stands high above a long climb out of Lemon Gap, with Hot Springs a few miles downhill from the other side of the peak. Lemon Gap is about 5.4 miles past Max Patch, with around 1,600 feet of elevation loss along the way.

Here's a link to an article in the Smoky Mountain News about some of the on-going work in the Max Patch region. It takes a lot of work to keep the bald open and productive for wildlife management and there are several groups involved in the effort. One of the greatest problems that the Forest Service has in managing the area is keeping folks from taking shortcuts straight up to the summit of Max Patch from the trailhead. Plans are underway to block the 'volunteer' trail off with huge boulders - perhaps that will be more successful than the short-lived signs that keep going up and keep getting torn back down.

Looking towards the summit of Max Patch from the north side, with the posts that mark the course of the AT showing the way when snow piles up on the peak.

The lower meadows, accessed from the AT north of Max Patch. This is looking south.

Looking south towards the Great Smokies and the Balsam Range in North Carolina.

The peak of Max Patch rises above the lower meadows - shot from the AT.

Interesting dimples in the snow on Max Patch.

The main ridge of Max Patch as seen from the lower meadows. This area reminds me a lot of the Art Loeb trail around Tennent Mtn. and Black Balsam near the Shining Rock Wilderness Area, minus the crowds and trash.

Buckeye Ridge trail, below Max Patch. The steps in the next photo are located in the little tongue of snow that drops down from the left end of the ridge.

Steps ease the way to the top of Max Patch on the eastern side. The drifts on top were close to waist deep in places. I would have liked to have been there when the storm passed through.

Posts marking the route of the AT head north towards timber and Bluff Mountain, with the lower meadows on the right side of the photo.

Looking south towards the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from near the top of Max Patch. Mt. Cammerer sits on the edge of the sharp dropoff on the right side of the range. Mt. Sterling is over on the left side of the photo.