Miles Today: 14.5
Mile Marker: 254.4 Solo camping
This morning as I was checking out I ran into Head First, Old E, Red Beard, Two Step, Ping Pong, Fireball, and Dr Stretch. I hadn't seen most of them since Franklin. It was good to see them and catch up, and it was cool Old E was able to hook up with them. It sounds like they have been making good time and we'll all be in Hot Springs together on the 29th.
As I headed out it was nothing but rain for the first six miles. Eventually the rain broke and the sun came out. The hiking was hot, but it was a welcomed change of pace. Spring is starting to seep into the mountains now.
I made it to Max Patch as the sun was going down. The summit was originally cleared for cattle, but is now maintained as a bald. Absolutely incredible 360 view of the mountains. I hung out there for a while until the clouds started threatening rain. I got off the mountain and found a quite little spot to camp by myself near some water with about an hour of sunlight left. For the next two days I'm going to have to pay close attention to where water sources are because I left one of my water bottles at Standing Bear. It wasn't the one with the filter attached so it's not a huge deal, just inconvenient.