The Great Outdoors
"In that cool mountain air on the Appalachian Trail....oh, life is better there." - Yonder Mountain String Band
I couldn't shake the words above out of my mind this past week as I hiked 35 miles along the Appalachian Trail in the Northern half of the Great Smoky Mountains. It was an experience of a lifetime...one that I will certainly never forget. I've hiked and camped plenty of times, even on the AT, but this trip was the beginning of something new - a chance to really explore.
My stepdad has been hiking different parts of the Southeast since he was my age, and I've gone with him on a few trails before....but this time, we started planning not just for a trip, but for a journey. (At least in my eyes!) We were on the trail 4 days and 3 nights. And yes, ladies, that means 4 days with no make-up, no real shower (besides pouring water over your body and scrubbing a bit), no microwaves, and no cell phones. This suburban girl was heading for the GREAT OUTDOORS!!!
My mom drove us up through Gatlinburg, TN after we dropped our car off at Newfound Gap, the only road running through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. By the way, 4 quick words about Gatlinburg....don't waste your time. It was described to me as "Myrtle Beach in the Mountains" and that's precisely what it is - loads of haunted houses, air brush t-shirt stores, and fair food stands. It just doesn't do the mountains justice.
Anyway, early Monday morning, my mom dropped my stepdad and I off at Cosby Campground (which has a trail of about 2.5 miles leading up to the Appalachian Trail). After a few tears from a worried mother and a picture or two, we were off! The first night we stayed in Cosby Shelter, and then Peck's Corner and Icewater Springs Shelter, respectively. Now when I say shelter, don't get this confused with some kind of luxurious log cabin with a wrap-around front porch and smoke dwindling out of a chimney. No...these were open-faced stone buildings with a wooden bunk going all the way across in the back so that people could sleep on top or below it. The floors were either dirt or concrete where bugs, rats, and other rodents are sure to rome freely. Even though the shelters weren't the greatest things in the world, it was always nice to interact with the other people staying there. On average, about 10 people spent the night in the shelter. It was really neat to hear each person's stories and get little bits and pieces of their lives. Colonel Joe, 73 year old Santa Clause look-alike, had through-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail back in '85 and was still going strong. Robert, the hypnotist with a heavy Boston accent, attempted to cast spells on other campers in an effort to help them quit smoking. And Casey, the self-proclaimed, "liberal, feminist, vegetarian, from the backwoods of Tennessee" were just a few of the interesting people we met on the trail.
Each day we woke up early, cooked a bowl of porridge (or oatmeal as most of the world calls it) packed up our sleeping bags and were on our way. The hikes were long and tiring, but rewarding all the same. There were miles of steep incline, straight-aways, and the beloved downhill slopes. When I got tired, I had little one-on-ones with myself, trying to convince my legs that if they continued to move they'd eventually reach their destination. My body held out pretty well though, even on our longest day of almost 15 miles. Regardless, however, that sleeping bag felt great each night.
The best things about the whole trip were the fresh air and amazing views. Every so often, while trecking along a ridge, we'd come to a lookout, where the trees opened up revealing miles and miles of rolling mountains. It was absolutely gorgeous and made me wish more people would take the time to see the beauty in nature. Sometimes we'd discuss the peaks, guessing which mountain tops we were looking at, but mostly, we'd sit in silence, resting our bones and reflecting on how truly marvelous this world is.
Besides magnificent views, there was all kinds of wildlife to be seen. I saw it all: temperamental chipmunks, tiny snails, an evil bunny rabbit, a buck (who came right up to the privy I was using, I might add), and even a baby black bear.
This journey was one I will never forget. I only hope that my short descriptions will convince at least one person to turn off the t.v., log off the Internet, and take a walk in the woods. It WILL be worth it. I promise!
P.S. Pictures coming soon...