My Favorite APPALACHIAN TRAIL Section Hike (Max Patch to Hot Springs)

[@taratreks]

update: starting July 2021 a 2 year ban has been placed on camping atop Max patch. Please do not camp there. However there are plenty of quality camping spots once you enter into the forested area.

[@aslmad1]

Why

[@deanblack2259]

@@aslmad1 likely to minimize negatively affecting the wildlife and give the area a chance to rehab.

[@aslmad1]

@@deanblack2259 ok thanks

[@John-se5vc]

Tara, thanks for your choices of subject in your videos. I don't know if there is an answer for me, a 75 year old guy with terrible knees, but for now, I will hunt up your videos, watch, and dream.

[@saints5711]

never mind the camping question on max patch, i just saw the response. great video. planning on going up there in a couple weeks. i will look you up.

[@dennislavelle6909]

Great idea for a video. I've always felt like the videos I seek out from past thru hikers would be what I call "favorites" or "top 5's" of anything regarding the trail. Well done!

[@taratreks]

Thank you!

[@jamesgaffney106]

Great information. We are booking a trip for this section hike. I’m Sept. Just did Grayson Highlands last fall then Carvers gap to 19e. This looks like a perfect next trail /overnight Nice work. Will look shuttle info too thanks

[@slickshoez]

Thank you for this. My son and father in law are going to give this section a go this spring. We're pretty new to hiking, we're all in pretty good shape, but we're mainly sidewalk runners lol- so this will be new. I'm hoping it's a good first long range hike for us.

[@swishanie5294]

How cool that you work for Jennifer PD!!!! She is amazing!!!! Love your videos.

[@constatinexipalaeologus507]

I wanted to hike the PCT but leukemia hit me so after I've conquered it I will conquer the PCT. First up Idaho River of No Return Wilderness through the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. I love that area. I don't mean to conquer the Wilderness but my inability to hike due to cancer. The Wilderness has conquered my heart and spirit ❤ long ago.

[@wesleykremer3916]

Thank you for all the info and a great way to dip one’s toe into the experiences of the AT!

[@jackieonthego]

This was so helpful!! I want to do sections of the trail because I’m almost 60 years old and let’s be real I can’t do a thru hike but would love to do parts of it! Please do more reviews on more sections..

[@pittbullmomvt]

You can do it Grandma gatewood

[@pittbullmomvt]

Did it

[@anniesshenanigans3815]

I am with you on this one.. I need a soft bed at night.

[@kennethclapp9713]

You can do it!! I did my first thru hike at 59, the 1175 mile MST in NC

[@harolddenton6031]

I am like you. I will be turning 59 in October of this year. I have bad knees dealing wirh surgically repaired mck in ny right knee and a root ball tate in my left mck. Probably a thru hike would not workout fir me so I am wanting to also do section hiking on the AT now that I am back home living in northeast Tennessee after having lived 35 years in richmond, va. I hiked up to laurel falls in hampton back in mid march.. It was simply beautiful up in that area of northeast Tennessee.

[@discoveringlockenest8420]

You know, people KNOW “Leave no trace”! However, there are a lot of people who just don’t care for the earth and nature. You can’t fix it, or suggest they change because those people are just jerks! Good video, great info! Thank you for sharing! 🤙

[@constatinexipalaeologus507]

Some people don't belong out there.

[@hokulele4059]

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Great info

[@LordCarpenter]

Hmmm.... I just might have to check this one out. Thanks for the great video.

[@krisjohnson3429]

Great video really excited to do this hike. It will be me and my daughter she's 12 growing up fast so I want to do something special with her. How can I get up with you

[@taratreks]

You can email me with specific questions. [e-mail]

[@HikingHarter]

Awesome video. Thank you for doing this type of video. You guys rock!

[@wulfmountainpath3719]

Excellent example of how to do a great informative trail video.. Maybe see y'all around!

[@taratreks]

Thank you for your kind comment

[@aslmad1]

Except I had to look up what state it’s in

[@RVAHikerGirl]

Hey Tara! Just subbed your channel to support a fellow KZbin vlogger and female AT Hiker. #womensupportingwomen I love supporting women out on the trail and especially KZbinrs as there are far fewer of us than our male counterparts. Looking forward to following along with your channel and watching more of your videos. ~RVA Hiker Girl~

[@taratreks]

Thank you so much! Love that hashtag. I totally agree. Men and women AT vloggers are both valuable but watching/supporting a fellow woman hiker is always special.

[@RVAHikerGirl]

@@taratreks You are very welcome. Us girls gotta stick together and show support in the outdoor community. Nice to virtually meet ya! ~RVA~

[@ontherocks1491]

It hard to put it into words how nice it is there on top of max pach .Hot springs is a very magical place!

[@eddiehughes8077]

Thank you for this awesome video!

[@terryweaver9770]

Listen, this is super informative. I am a subscriber. I followed U’r thru hike, love U’r channel, blah, blah, blah...for real tho 😉 this was bad ass!!...do this for as many sections of the A.T. all the way up to Maine as U can?! Loved the idea...run w/ it! This was awesome. I tend to hike the trail in about 6 yrs! That’s just my plan...Long story! I’ve seen Max Patch on many other thru hiker videos. I told my wife, who’s come’g along w/ me...no matter the miles of the day to get to Max Patch, of course w/ in reason, we are camping there no matter what!! Maybe even a zero if plan’d rite! That’s 1 of my fav points on the A.T. that I look forward to. How about go to Franklin...feature Chica & Sunsets hostel? Go all the way up the trail...just little sections @ a time? Feature shelters, privys, water sources around a shelter, how to get to town @ this point in the trail...”A.T. For Dummies” That would B pretty cool. Talk about weather @ different times of the year too. I live in Dallas, TX...we only have 2 seasons here...warm & HOT!! Sorry, I didn’t mean to get get so carried away w/ my comments. Cheers

[@walterlangston4484]

may do this part in the fall or sooner want to hike the who trail can/t thru hike so section hikes work just as good

[@saints5711]

hi there, just saw your video. I have hiked that section on my first attempt at thru hike. haven’t been back since the pandemic. question: are they allowing overnight camping on max patch. thx

[@billwilliams2056]

Our first section hike was this segment. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and raining when we got to Max Patch. Hopefully, when we head south from MP, we will get the views we missed last time.

[@jamesgaffney106]

Does anyone know if Max Patch to Hot Springs has any other balds or views after you leave Max Parch summit area ? Looking to do this section didn’t know if the next 19 miles is all under the canopy in the woods. Thank you ! Nice informative video and # leave no trace :)

[@taratreks]

Pretty much all covered in spring, summer and first part of fall

[@taratreks]

Just a couple views through thick tree cover

[@russellteee]

Never done the AT, looking to do a total of 3 overnights or so in this general area. Do you have any recommendations about where to start … further south or maybe continuing on past Hot Springs? I was also interested in experiencing the area around the time thru hikers would be doing it. What time of year is best? Thank you!

[@taratreks]

Of course! You can start at Davenport Gap/Standing Bear farm right after the Smokies. That’ll add a day to your trip. Then past Hot Springs you can continue to Erwin TN. Great trail town and adds around 3-4 days to your trip.

[@allisondulin8160]

Just wondering to people who have done it- I am reading online that camping is not permitted at the top of max patch (see www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48620) but it seems based off of youtube videos and articles that a lot of people do camp there. Is there a designated camping area somewhere near the summit?

[@taratreks]

Hey they just recently ( this summer ) have not permitted camping.

[@toddschmutz9860]

What the best time of the year to do this section?

[@taratreks]

I would suggest anywhere from Mid April to late November. March is still pretty cold.

[@taratreks]

Absolutely best time would be late October

[@marshadreesman9874]

Is there a good place to stealth camp around halfway between Max Patch and Hot Springs?

[@taratreks]

There are a lot

[@amyjohiker540]

When you stay on top of max patch, what do you do with your food bag?

[@taratreks]

Amyjo I typically leave it with me in my tent.

[@skylarsartnphotography3450]

​@@taratreksAre bears a concern? I've heard so many times that people say you should not put food in your tent because bears will smell the food and then come after you in the tent. I heard one couple the other day talking about it and they said they literally put their food up in a tree(tied it up there) to keep that from happening

[@troymartin8142]

Who do I contact for a shuttle?

[@taratreks]

Hi you can contact the Appalachian Trail-er which is owned by the Blue Ridge Hiking Company. Tell them Tara sent you !

[@troymartin8142]

@@taratreks Thank you.

[@spector188]

are there any options for hammocking at max patch?

[@taratreks]

Not at the very top which is the most popular area. But walk about half a mile north or south on trail and there are plenty of trees for hammocking

[@nicholehikes]

How long is this??

[@taratreks]

It’s says in the video but the section is roughly 20 miles

[@Hallahanify]

appa-what trail?

[@taratreks]

a · puh · la · chuhn treil Mr. diamond hands

[@I77AGIC]

who do you recommend to shuttle from HS to MP?

[@taratreks]

Check if the trail-er still does shuttles