Two years ago, my family and I moved to Bristol, TN. Bristol is located in East Tennessee, close to the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. We have grown to love this area with all of the outdoor activities available to us in the region. The Appalachian Trail meanders through the mountains close by, which means exceptional hiking opportunities abound.
Last week, I decided to spend some time solo hiking for exercise and mental health, so I set out for a section of the Appalachian Trail in Shady Valley, TN. The portion of the trail I chose is only about 30 minutes from my house, located in the Cherokee National Forest.
It’s not too often I hike alone, and one of the first things I noticed as I started up the trail was the sense of loneliness and quietness, but this is what I was after. I gave myself about a 3 to a 4-hour window to hike, which meant hiking the trail to my chosen destination and returning the same way I traveled back to my parked vehicle. It was my first time on this part of the Appalachian Trail, and I picked a destination on Google Maps to hike to called Double Spring Gap. I assumed with a name like that, it might provide some scenic views, and I could stop and rest there before returning the way I hiked out.
Hiking alone can heighten one’s senses. Well aware that I was alone and vulnerable–I paid close attention to my surroundings and all of mother nature’s sounds. At first, it felt a little overwhelming, but as I moved down the path, I became more comfortable–remember, this is black bear country! The trail is well maintained, but on either side of you on the trail path are greenery, trees, brush, plants, fallen trees, etc. The hike was moderately strenuous, and the temperature was humid outside, so my new day pack with water bladder from Brass Pro worked out great for this little excursion.
Along the way, I saw several plants, beautiful flowers, insects, butterflies, and the natural beauty of God’s creation. The hike was peaceful, challenging, and inspiring. As I hiked along, it became clear that my chosen destination was not going to provide me with the scenic mountain view I had hoped to experience. At first, I was disappointed, but I stopped at a camping area for AT hikers just off the trail, which was a nice little setup with a stone fire ring and some logs situated haphazardly around the fire pit. I couldn’t help but imagine all the weary travelers that came before, rested for the night, talked around a burning fire, swapping stories, sharing their adventures, and recharging before continuing their journeys the next day.
On my hike back, ascending a steeper part of the trail, I started thinking about everything–and I felt like God was speaking to me. These are the words that I heard in my mind, “Sometime your destination is the journey–and the beauty is in what you see along the way.” Wow! How true is this?
We often get so caught up in heading toward our destination that we lose sight of all the extraordinary things we experience or see along the way! I believe this is also true in our daily lives. Often we find ourselves trudging along to get to the next best thing, and we miss the point of all of it. It is paramount to be present, appreciate what you have, and embrace the journey today!
