I plan yo hike for one night,with two other guys. We are taking a shuttle from Hot Springs to either Max Patch or Lemon Gap. My question is which place to start. One guy is 62 and has never backpacked but works out. If we start at Lemon gap we could camp at that shelter just 4 miles out of Hot Springs and get To HS easily the next day. If we start at Max Patch where could we camp and how far would we be from HS . ALL advise is very welcome.
Brown Bear
Lemon Gap to Hot Springs is 14 miles with Deer Park Shelter being at 10.8 miles. Max Patch would add 5.8 miles (.4 would be trail access) to the hike. If you start from Max Patch you could either stealth camp at Catpen Gap (getting water at Walnut Mtn. 1.5 miles back) after 8.5 miles of hiking and hike 11.3 miles the second day… or you could hike 13.8 miles to a campsite about a half mile past Garenflo Gap on the first day and then hike 6 miles the second day. I’m really not sure about water sources between Bluff Mtn. and the campsite other that a blue blazed side trail to a spring .5 miles N. of Bluff Mtn and a creek crossing a couple miles farther. You should get a map of the area that shows water sources on the trail so you will know when to stock up if your destination doesn’t have any.
Have fun, Nooga.
Nooga
I just did the Max Patch/HS section with my wife over Labor Day. We were shuttled by the outfitter to Max Patch road and ended up camping at Catpen Gap. (@9mi) Good spring at Roaring Fork shelter. At Catpen I got water from a stream about 1/4 mile up the trail. We noticed a good campsite just after the crest of Bluff Mtn. that had several tree stumps cut for seats, but you’ll need to make sure you have plenty of water if you stay there. Otherwise, there were numerous water sources available in that 20 mile stretch.
This is not a strenous section so your friend should be ok. Just be aware that this time of year the weather can turn colder very quickly, and your daylight hours are shortened.
Have fun, enjoy!
Tim