My visit to Max Patch was on this cloudy morning with rain in the forecast. There was some very light rain toward the end of the short circuit through the area. It was quite a sight to see the mountain looking so good. During the past dozen years, the area became a mecca for campers and partygoers. It became an eyesore and then the pandemic hit. Its popularity soared as a place to socially distance. The narrow dirt road and small parking area became one big traffic nightmare. People camped everywhere. Trash and human waste took its toll on this beautiful place.
Even though drone use was not permitted, Mike Wurman took drone footage of the overuse. Above is an image from the footage, showing the widespread overuse of the area. Local hike groups, trail organizations and local newspapers brought the situation enough publicity to spur the US Forest Service to close the area and begin to heal the damage in July 2021. It is stunning to me to see this place in the condition I saw it. Although there were many signs keeping you on the trails and off the social trails, it looked like a beautiful place again.
No tents in sight very near the top
Max Patch has been a US Forest Service property since 1982. Prior to that, it was timbered and used to graze sheep. Over the year, there has been a hotel, a hostel, an airstrip and almost a ski resort. That was when the Forest Service bought it. Two years later, in 1984, the Appalachian Trail was relocated to cross over the top of Max Patch.
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