This was originally going to be a warm weather hike because Hot Springs, North Carolina is supposed to be an awesome place with activities like rafting, tubing and a cool hostel to name a few. Well we decided it would also make a good winter hike as well because of the hostel and shelters on the Appalachian Trail in case the weather got really bad. And word has it there is a nice hot mineral spring soak and good food waiting for us in Hot Springs at the end of our hike.
As usual, the weather forecast was looking bleak for Friday with a mixture of freezing rain and/or ice pellets. But Saturday on the other hand, was promising with some cloudy weather but no precipitation. That was the forecast as of Thursday anyway and things can change so I’m in it for the long haul. But with weather like this looming in the future, hikers were dropping off as the weekend approached. In the winter a good snow is a welcome and beautiful thing on a backpack trip but rain is a dangerous thing in the colder temps because not only does it make everything wet and uncomfortable but it also acts as a conduit for cold and hypothermia.
We arrived at Max Patch at around 1:30PM and said bon voyage to part of our crew because they were going to head on to Walnut Mountain Shelter where we would meet them after we shuttled a vehicle at the end of our hike in Hot Springs. The weather at Max Patch was like a blizzard with blowing fine snow at wind speeds that discouraged a few people and caused one to back out and go directly to the hostel at the end of our hike. This actually worked out better for those of us who were shuttling because it would give us a little more daylight to get to the shelter and meet up with the others in our group. We had a seven mile hike ahead of us and at 2-3 mph we knew it would be close to dark by the time we arrived at the shelter. So the last of us were able to hit the trail as early as 2:30PM and arrived at the shelter just at dark.
We came to the Roaring Fork Shelter at about mile 3, which in hindsight would have been the logical place for us stragglers to spend the night. It was a really nice little shelter that was sitting in a protected valley and not up on a saddle like Walnut Mountain Shelter.
Walnut Mountain shelter is a fairly small and I seriously doubt it would comfortably sleep more than five people. It sits in a small saddle between two ridges and would definitely be a nice place to stay in warmer weather. But when we were there it didn’t look too appealing because the open side of the shelter faced the prevailing winds and they were relentless. Several of us took to the task of setting up our tents partly because the shelter was soaked inside and there were already a few people occupying the shelter when we arrived. I have to say that it was a challenge setting up our tents in the dark with 25 mph winds blowing freezing rain on us just up from the shelter. Needless to say we took turns assisting each other in this task because if you let go of anything for a split second it was sure to be blown away.
That night we went to bed with the wind blowing freezing rain on us but we were pleasantly surprised to wake up to about 2 inches of snow on the ground. This is exactly what I was hoping for on this trip so it immediately made up for the freezing rain from Friday night.
We ate our breakfast and watched two more of our crew head back to Max Patch so they could drive on to Hot Springs where they would await our arrival on Sunday morning. Then we set off for Deer Park Shelter which was approximately ten miles from Walnut Mountain Shelter. The elevation gain/loss was very moderate on Saturday and with the addition of snow was nothing short of incredible. I’d really like to do this same hike in either spring or fall because I’m certain the rhododendrons would be an awesome sight.
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There was a beautiful campsite just prior to Garenflo Gap that was at the junction of the A.T. and what I believe is the Shut-In Trail. It’s very flat with room for probably ten tents and at the center is a really nice fire pit. We stopped for a bit to admire and contemplate whether we should camp here but if we did we knew Sunday would be a very long hike out and that would make for a late arrival back at home. I will make it back to that spot and camp some day.
There was a road and signage just after this campsite that advised us of only 3.4 miles left to Deer Park Shelter. We pressed on and hiked for what seemed like forever until we finally arrived at Deer Park Shelter. This is an awesome little shelter that happens to be located in a valley that’s protected from the winds. The approach to this shelter is quite interesting because you see it from atop the A.T. which is about 1/8th mile above where the shelter sits but the trail takes you another 1/4 mile before you come to the junction where you can either go left to a small creek or right to the shelter. Now, there are two beautiful campsites on the trail to the creek where I’d much rather camp in warmer weather. One of the campsites is just off the AT and the other is located another fifty yards downhill and by the creek where we got water.
The Deer Park Shelter is even smaller than the Walnut Mountain Shelter and isn’t very tall at all. Four of us slept in the shelter which would have maxed out at about six comfortably I imagine. One of our crew put up a tent just outside the shelter. There is a lot of flat ground surrounding the shelter so you could easily fit ten tents around the area. The shelter held the heat from our fire very well because of its close proximity to the fire and the fact that the shelter had a very low roof. I really wish I would have taken a picture or two of this shelter but by the time we reached the shelter I was just too tired.
After a great night we got up early and headed to Hot Springs for a soak in one of the hot tubs. This was a very moderate day with only about 3.2 miles to hike and the last 2 were downhill. And the views when you’re heading down from up high are nothing short of incredible.
Overall, this was a great hike that ended very well. Hiking 7 miles in on our arrival day was pushing it a bit and if I did it again in the winter I would most likely stay at the Roaring Fork Shelter which is only about 3 miles in from Max Patch. However, in the spring or fall there would be more than enough daylight to comfortably get to Walnut Mountain Shelter and find a good place to set up the tents. Although, now that I’ve been through the area once I’m familiar with the area. There were some locations to camp before we got to Walnut Mountain Shelter that would also be good options.
I can’t wait to do this same trip or a modified version of this trip for warmer weather that involves backpacking, fishing, hot tubbing and rafting! I believe it would need to be at least a 4 night trip for that to happen.
JUST A COUPLE OF MENTIONS:
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I took my Solo Stove with me on this trip again and used it to cook my meals with no issues at all. On Friday morning I used the alcohol insert inside my Solo Stove to heat up my precooked goetta for breakfast. Then on Saturday I boiled water for my dinner with the optional alcohol burner insert inside the stove. I also brought a small sack full of pine cones, pine needles and small sticks and warmed my bacon for breakfast on Sunday morning. The Solo Stove works great whether you’re using the alcohol insert or using natural fuel like sticks and pine cones.
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/SMALL HOMEMADE SILNYLON TARP IN 
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HERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS HIKE:
APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY TENNESSEE-NORTH CAROLINA MAPS
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