November 11

Rode up from Bluff Mountain Outfitters in the evening to the parking lot below Max Patch with a nice young woman and her very affectionate dog. I started this hike better equipped than last time, with a good new Marmot rain jacket Leona gave me for my birthday.

After a very short walk, I enjoyed the views from Max Patch for a while, then went about 0.2 mile further to the edge of the woods and made my camp for the night. It was a cold night, but with layers, I stayed warm.

Looking west from Max Patch

November 12

Max Patch was a busy place, even in November — I woke early and walked back to the summit in moonlight, counting 12 tents (I would see three more later, just beyond where I camped). But because it was early, I was alone on the summit except for a photographer and his assistant who walked up from the parking lot. Enjoyed watching the moon set and the sun rise, then walked back down to my tent, packed up, and started hiking.

Soon after starting off, I managed to lose the trail and found myself on a different trail. Followed that to a forest road, then took the forest road back to the AT and continued on my way. Passed a couple pretty small waterfalls, one of which had a few icicles.

My new jacket worked wonderfully well layered over my fleece, allowing me to vary my insulation with the weather, altitude, time of day, and my level of exertion. It was a good day, but I made slower progress than I expected and ended the day worn out and only part of the way down Bluff Mountain.

Camped on a beautiful bluff just off the trail — this was another cold night, but not as cold as the first.

November 13

After a good sleep, I woke energized and completed my hike back to Hot Springs.