Hot to trot HOt springs fit fun trip for Hope Auction
First HIke Max Patch-Lemon Gap on AT

I love the Hot springs NC area as it is close, quiet in the off season and has some of THE best hiking trails, views in the country!   The last few years I have asked Jim the owner of Ironhorse Station Inn

 for a nice auction item package for the Hope Center.  The HC is at Fort Sanders Regional and helps HIV patients, their families, the community with outreach and educational programs. There is a big summer fun event at Middlebrook Farm (late june) which is festive, fun and all for this cause.  So I tell them I'll try to help organize a Fit and Fun adventure for any buds who want to go during the offseason as we then get much better rates etc.  So we ended up having 17  with all but 2 staying over at the Inn.  We hiked close to Max patch for first hike.  (get off harmon den exit head left up the mountain on dirt road PAY attention to see odometer and go 6.2 miles then veer left at an intersection to go half mile to parking area for Max Patch.  Half of us then swapped cars and drove those 3.5 miles (exactly) to Lemon Gap on the AT.   No signs but I saw the white slash mark for the AT crossing on right and we figured out it was the spot.  So then the group hiked about 6.5-7 miles both ways and key swapped in the middle.  The majesty is of course the Bald summitt on Max Patch where you Must sing the "hills are alive to the sound of music" and whisper up a shout to God for his majestic artwork!     But the AT stretch is also full of pretty rocks, tunnels of Rhododendrum bushes, creeks etc.  BUT do pay attention to watch for the White slash marks and when it shows two slash marks that means to look up and pay attention as the trail will turn soon.

The great thing about Max Patch is that you can walk up 1/2 mile or less more like 1/4 mile to summit and just hang out (but windy and cooler) .  Or you can do some of the loop trails that goes around the bottom of the bald and up and over.   Or you can hike on the Appalachian Trail.
  Afterwards we hit the Hot Springs Spa for hour Hot Tub then headed to dinner at Iron Horse where we stayed.  I'll post soon about day two, as the Laurel River Trail was one of prettiest river trails I've been on and almost totally flat !