There are no trails in Florida that will adequately prepare you for the Appalachian Trail. Not just the difficulties, but the beauty as well. When I made the decision to do a section hike with my friend Brian, I had a vague idea that it would be difficult and rewarding, but I had no idea just how much of an understatement that was.
The first day began with a shuttle ride to our start point, thirty-five miles from Hot Springs, North Carolina, where we'd left our car. As soon as I stepped out of the shuttle and began climbing the steps to the trail, I became aware that I was passing the point of no return. It's really difficult to describe the thrill of walking into the wilderness and realizing that your survival is dependent on how well you prepared. As I took my first steps on the trail, I was immediately struck by the prevalence of poison ivy along the sides of the trail. I pointed it out to Brian, and warned him to be careful where he walked. Apparently I'd wasted my breath, however, as within the first hour of walking I watched him step into several clusters. Luckily, the heavy rain the night before seemed to have washed away most of the rash-causing oil. For the rest of the morning we continued to climb a torturous sixty-degree slope. Our first landmark, an FAA tower at the summit of Snowbird Mountain, was five and a half miles in. We'd known that the first day would be our hardest, but that did little to soothe our screaming muscles during the first brutal climb. There were frequent breaks to catch our breath and contemplate how much we hated life at that particular moment. As we finally reached Snowbird Mountain, we were filled with a mixture of relief and wonder. Instead of trees, the tower was surrounded by a field of what appeared to be blueberry bushes, and rolling mountains could be seen in every direction. We made the decision to sit down and enjoy the view as we ate lunch. Realizing that we were running low …show more content…
Today we would be reaching the highlight of our section: Max Patch, a huge bald mountain with spectacular views. We faced another three-and-a-half mile climb. The final ascent involved a set of painfully steep stairs about three feet wide, with steep drops on either side. The views when we reached the summit made all of the pain and difficulty of getting there worthwhile. The mountain was covered in wildflowers, and I could see for miles in every direction. The wind muffled sound dramatically, as if nature was demanding that we quietly contemplate its majesty. After an hour of appreciating the view and eating lunch, Brian and I reluctantly continued our journey.
The remainder of the hike back to Hot Springs was a steady and relatively easy descent among the trees. I found new joy in the sensation of a hot shower and a full meal after returning to town. It wasn't until we began our drive back home that we became fully aware of how sore we really were. There is no sugar coating the struggles of the Appalachian Trail, nor any adequate description for how fantastic it is. Despite that hike being one of the most trying and physically exhausting experiences of my life, I still long to return to the trail, and to walk through the mountain forests
The first day began with a shuttle ride to our start point, thirty-five miles from Hot Springs, North Carolina, where we'd left our car. As soon as I stepped out of the shuttle and began climbing the steps to the trail, I became aware that I was passing the point of no return. It's really difficult to describe the thrill of walking into the wilderness and realizing that your survival is dependent on how well you prepared. As I took my first steps on the trail, I was immediately struck by the prevalence of poison ivy along the sides of the trail. I pointed it out to Brian, and warned him to be careful where he walked. Apparently I'd wasted my breath, however, as within the first hour of walking I watched him step into several clusters. Luckily, the heavy rain the night before seemed to have washed away most of the rash-causing oil. For the rest of the morning we continued to climb a torturous sixty-degree slope. Our first landmark, an FAA tower at the summit of Snowbird Mountain, was five and a half miles in. We'd known that the first day would be our hardest, but that did little to soothe our screaming muscles during the first brutal climb. There were frequent breaks to catch our breath and contemplate how much we hated life at that particular moment. As we finally reached Snowbird Mountain, we were filled with a mixture of relief and wonder. Instead of trees, the tower was surrounded by a field of what appeared to be blueberry bushes, and rolling mountains could be seen in every direction. We made the decision to sit down and enjoy the view as we ate lunch. Realizing that we were running low …show more content…
Today we would be reaching the highlight of our section: Max Patch, a huge bald mountain with spectacular views. We faced another three-and-a-half mile climb. The final ascent involved a set of painfully steep stairs about three feet wide, with steep drops on either side. The views when we reached the summit made all of the pain and difficulty of getting there worthwhile. The mountain was covered in wildflowers, and I could see for miles in every direction. The wind muffled sound dramatically, as if nature was demanding that we quietly contemplate its majesty. After an hour of appreciating the view and eating lunch, Brian and I reluctantly continued our journey.
The remainder of the hike back to Hot Springs was a steady and relatively easy descent among the trees. I found new joy in the sensation of a hot shower and a full meal after returning to town. It wasn't until we began our drive back home that we became fully aware of how sore we really were. There is no sugar coating the struggles of the Appalachian Trail, nor any adequate description for how fantastic it is. Despite that hike being one of the most trying and physically exhausting experiences of my life, I still long to return to the trail, and to walk through the mountain forests