If any NOBOs are reading this, I will be providing trail magic on Max Patch during Easter weekend (Sat/Sun). Burgers, chicken, dogs, cookies, klondike's, charging stations, etc.
Will be there rain or shine.
Blue Sky
NOBO '16
If any NOBOs are reading this, I will be providing trail magic on Max Patch during Easter weekend (Sat/Sun). Burgers, chicken, dogs, cookies, klondike's, charging stations, etc.
Will be there rain or shine.
Blue Sky
NOBO '16
Charging Stations!?!? WOW... you may get trail magic person of the year!! any filets or lobster??
"Reach Farther" ~ SOLACE
nothing magical about it
Not sure if you are schlepping it all in to Max Patch itself? Perhaps an access road just after or just before may be a better place.
https://www.appalachiantrail.org/doc...rail-magic.pdf
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Great article Mags.
Blackheart
Yes there is. But is an iconic summit of the Southeast Appalachians the best place to stage trail magic versus an access road before or after the summit area?
Everyone has the right to pass on trail magic. But by putting the trail magic right at the summit, or close enough, of a well-known mountain, a choice of sorts is being forced.
Here's one idea:
max-patch.JPG
Last edited by Mags; 04-10-2017 at 11:54.
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
"Locate events in developed areas on durable surfaces. Large gatherings in the backcountry can lead to trampling of plants, soil compaction, and disturbance of wildlife habitat. Trail towns and local parks are better locations. Keep events small. Consider whether your event may be contributing to an overabundance of trail feeds in the local area or region. Some hikers come to the Trail to seek solitude and contemplation."
Teej
"[ATers] represent three percent of our use and about twenty percent of our effort," retired Baxter Park Director Jensen Bissell.
About as dignified as playing paintball in a cemetery. Some places are special, just because they are.
I ended up speed hiking (for me) over Max Patch last year due to the crowds, noise, views of powerlines, parking lots, etc. The place has been "loved" to death.
Plenty of folks from NC and GA go to Max Patch and glamp overnight. There is a decent road, a parking lot, and an easy walk to the top. It can be completely overrun with dayhikers/picnickers on a Saturday. But let's not go overboard about how special it is. The Forest Service hauls mechanical mowers up to the top and mows the Patch a few times every summer. It is not "natural" up there. It is completely un-natural. Great view, but that is due SOLELY to man's on-going intervention with nature.
Finally, about trail magic on the top. In my experience, folks set up the TM away from the actual AT treadway. You would have to leave the treadway, walk across a hundred yards of grass, or more, and then ask them what was going on. Or, they may walk up to you as you are hiking and just say "We've got trail magic for thrus over at the red tent." You can keep hiking. Or, partake. Or, set up your tent on the Patch far enough away from EVERYONE that you won't hear a dang thing. Oh, and the view is the same no matter where you are on the Patch. It is huge. But, it is in the Pisgah, the FS built a road and a parking lot there, and it is enjoyed by non-AT hikers to AT hikers at probably a 1000-1 ratio, so...yeah...it aint there just for you....just sayin...
Don't get me wrong, Max is a great place to hang. A great place to meet thru's. A great place to have some trail magic fun.
Of course, YMMV. But, doesn't it always?
Plus, it's fun to watch some of those glampers experience Max's winds....heh...."Your tent went WHERE?"....
Also, in my experience, thru's have heard about TM on Max Patch and do leave the treadway and hike across the meadow to check it all out and see if there is magic going on...just sayin...
That would be a hiker feed. Nothing magical about it.
As others have pointed out there are better places to have one than at the summit. If you want to have it in the parking lot feel free to put up and take down afterwards a flyer at the nearest access road or hold it there.
Just because others do something doesn't make it right. One terminus has already been moved because of hiker behavior.
People have weddings, wedding receptions, birthday parties, etc...right there on Max Patch. Preaching to AT'ers not to do something because "others" are doing it is a bit uncalled for in this instance. Again, the general public uses Max Patch at least 1000-1 to AT'ers. If Max Patch wasn't to be used and enjoyed by the general public the following must occur:
The road and parking lot must disappear.
The USFS must stop mowing Max Patch.
The AT must be re-routed around Max Patch.
Yeah, AT'ers are part of the General Public. Sorry to break the news.
As evyck da fleet said just because some people have various activities on Max Patch does not necessarily make it right. The ATC has been pushing hikers (who normally are made up of people who are trying to get away from such events and commune with nature) to voluntarily register their departure date in order to spread out and prevent over crowding. I agree that events like this should be held well off the summit and trail. If people continue to over use the trail, it won't be able to recover from the previous overuse. People need to take ownership of the trail and start calling people out when they are vandalizing shelters, signs and other structures along the trail. I carry a small plastic grocery bag to pick up trash left by others who did not care to pack out their trash. Fire pits are not incinerators for trash. They also don't need a bonfire built in them. But if you start a fire, you should be the one to care after it as far as properly extinguishing it completely and cleaning it up under the Leave No Trace policy.
Blackheart
The only thing Max Patch has to do with the AT is that the AT happens to cross it. Max Patch is a USFS recreation area in the Pisgah National Forest. That's why there is a road. That is why there is a parking lot. Both of these things have not one thing to do with the AT. Recreation Area. Not a pristine wilderness area. The USFS MOWS IT. Come on folks, let us get a little realistic about EXACTLY what Max Patch is. It is a USFS recreation area. It is open to all forms of non-commercial, non-motorized, non-horseback activities. People bring 20x16 tents, coolers, Coleman stoves with propane tanks, etc...it is a public camping area with a road and a parking lot. And a great view. Iconic, even. But it aint the wilderness and AT hikers account for less than 1/1000th of it's use. Bemoan it's use/overuse if you wish, but sure as heck don't blame AT users for it. One One Thousandth of it's use.