Not Just a Walk In the Woods

Sometimes I'm convinced that people think I'm casually enjoying a long walk in the woods. It's really a nice image. You wake up to the sun coming up over the hill and breathe in the fresh mountain air. You make breakfast with the accelerating feeling of adventure pounding in your heart, and then you start your day's hike. Throughout the day you smell the warm fragranced of spring as life begins to grace the trees and plants around you. You enjoy the casual conversation made with fellow hikers as they pass by. Then finally when the day is over you crawl back into your sleeping bag only to repeat the joyous cycle again day after day. However, in the past 10 days one might could be described with such wonderful idealism. 

After leaving the NOC about a week and a half ago, we have encountered some of the most challenging trails I've ever mentally or physically faced. Upon returning from Bryson City we stocked up on a few odds and ends items that we needed for the next section of trail. As we purchased our permits for the Smokies and an extra canister of fuel, we were warned of the treacherous weather ahead. Apparently the next few mountains we were to climb had 16+ inches of snow and more was on the way. Being the brave adventurous men we are we decided to brave the weather that day and hit the trail. After crossing the river, the next 7 miles were up hill and as we climbed higher the snow deepened making it extremely difficult to walk. The wind whipped sideways and the snow blow constantly at our faces. It was in that moment that I wondered at what point I had lost my mind. We kept walking at what seemed like snails pace due to the 2 feet drifts that we were being forced to break, until at last we reached the shelter just before dark. You may be thinking that it couldn't have gotten worse, but I'm happy to let you know that the wonderful snow continued to grace us with its presence for days to follow. 

Several days later brought us to the southern end of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. We stayed the night before entering with our friend Sam, Grandpa, and possibly the craziest woman I've ever met! Before she walked up to the shelter "Grandpa" warned us of her mentally ill nature by explaining how she told him about her shoe talking to her when she got off the plane in Atlanta. This did not adequately prepare us for the robust Indian woman that came moseying up to the shelter. She babbled for what seemed like hours about God knows what until we could stand it no more and decided to hike down to the dam. As it ended up we decided to set up the tent and avoid tales from when she "hiked the trail in the 70s". We slept well and anxiously awaited the section of trail that was to come. 

The next morning we woke up early and ate breakfast with the crazy lady. After a rushed goodbye we took off up the trail, across the dam, and finally to the entrance. As a side note... This is Chastan and I's second attempt at hiking here after having injury complications months before, and Chastan's forth attempt total after it not working out for him each time before. We set off to Mollies Ridge and before we knew it we were hiking in snow yet again. To put it shortly the Smokies were a multitude of beautiful views with more headache and difficulties than you could ever imagine. We hiked in the dark down Clingman's Dome only to have done a twenty mile day that ended with us putting up the tent due to over crowding. This was also the case several other nights due to spring breakers who weren't at their assigned shelters. That morning to follow it was so windy that the tent was blown off the ground and into the woods despite being staked into the ice that covered the ground. It also rained that whole day and by the end we were soaked and were forced to cram into at shelter with 12 other wet stinking hikers. As we woke up on out final morning in the Smokies we rushed mostly down the mountain through more snow that was coming down to meet my family who picked us up and drove us to town to eat at the China buffet. We had finally finished one of the most notorious sections of trail down south and we did so with our heads held high. 

As for now I'm laying in the sun in Hot Springs, NC with an evening of fun with friends to look forward to. Not everyday is a simple walk in the woods, but each day is an adventure that I'm very thankful to be living. Thanks to everyone for the continued support and an extra thanks to my family for their help Wednesday. I love you all. Until next time... Peace and love.