Yes, I realize this blog is a bit late in coming…which I thought would make it shorter since it is no longer fresh in my mind but I don’t like to leave much out. (I recommend reading this in parts, maybe a day here and there as you break up your workday.) And yet, despite this adventure being well over a month ago, the yearning to go back to Asheville is still strong…I left a piece of my heart in the Blue Ridge Mountains. (My (Steve) comments in bold!
Even though it has been over a month, reading Rach’s entry brings back so many memories. I know I do not keep a personal journal, however she does and it comes in particularly handy in situations like this. I’ll do my best to fill in what I can!
5/22
It’s roughly a 9 hr drive to Asheville, so we decided to get a head start on rush hour traffic and leave around 6 a.m. I had gotten up around 4:30 to do one of my workout videos and get some movement in before being stuck and strapped in a seatbelt, and Steve got up around the same time to pack. We were both a “bit” grumpy…He because of things going on at work, Yep, things have been extremely busy lately. We open Vertical Runner of Brecksville in March and I have been dealing with all the challenges that come with starting a new business while working with Vince to ensure Vertical Runner of Hudson continues to perform at a high level. On top of that, my year end review was coming up at Kent State University. I have always managed to balance my work and life schedules, but I am human and still let things get to me. I’ve have gone through my life internalizing problems, figuring them out, creating a plan, implementing the plan, and then checking the plan versus the desired outcome. It is pretty basic stuff, but I constantly check and reflect. If something isn’t going right, I commit resources (time, money, energy) to fixing it. I do realize I do take it out on the people closes to me. I give Rach credit for trying to get to the bottom of what is bothering me. I am a somewhat complex individual lol. and I was grumpy mainly because he was grumpy, and then even grumpier because I knew it was my fault that I was grumpy. Anyway, we took off in Rocky the Land Rover and by the time we reached the edge of Ohio and McDonalds stop (for coffee and oatmeal…otherwise I only go there for potty breaks), are moods began to lift. It was also at that time when I put in a book CD titled “Thrive” about the world’s happiest places and theories as to why that might be. So, by the time we reached the mountains, we were both in much better moods and ready for the adventure to begin. Something I have focused on in the past is how to take a bad situation and make it better. Today it is call “resilency”, but I guess I have always had it. Normally I can flip the switch in five minutes, sometimes it takes a little longer.
I’ve been to Virginia before and briefly witnessed the depth of the mountains with is tough and rocky terrain. I’ve also been to N.C. before, mostly near Greensboro to travel through to Florida or Hilton Head, and once for Habitat for Humanity in college. However, this was the first time I had been in the western part of North Carolina, the first time I had been in the middle of the mountains. I feel in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains beauty surrounding me. (Steve had been there for a short period before in the dark and snow on a business trip). I’ve been in mountains out West and in the East. Each range has its own unique characteristics that make them so beautiful. In the Sierra Nevada Mountain s or the Rocky Mountains it is the elevation and the connection with the sun. With the Blue Ridge Mountains it is the lush greenery and the total seclusion. I would love to be able to combine the two, but that would be asking for too much J
Even with all the bathroom breaks (For the first time ever, someone else needed more potty breaks than I did (true true)), we arrived at the hotel around 3. We settled in a bit, but I was anxious to go out and explore (Steve probably would not have objected a nap). We checked out the city…with all its hippies, street musicians, artwork, Subarus, and dogs, even chatting with a odd yet nice man who roamed around the city sweeping the streets for free. Everyone we talked to claimed their love for the city. Another friendly fellow took our picture at this giant iron:
Even though it has been over a month, reading Rach’s entry brings back so many memories. I know I do not keep a personal journal, however she does and it comes in particularly handy in situations like this. I’ll do my best to fill in what I can!
5/22
It’s roughly a 9 hr drive to Asheville, so we decided to get a head start on rush hour traffic and leave around 6 a.m. I had gotten up around 4:30 to do one of my workout videos and get some movement in before being stuck and strapped in a seatbelt, and Steve got up around the same time to pack. We were both a “bit” grumpy…He because of things going on at work, Yep, things have been extremely busy lately. We open Vertical Runner of Brecksville in March and I have been dealing with all the challenges that come with starting a new business while working with Vince to ensure Vertical Runner of Hudson continues to perform at a high level. On top of that, my year end review was coming up at Kent State University. I have always managed to balance my work and life schedules, but I am human and still let things get to me. I’ve have gone through my life internalizing problems, figuring them out, creating a plan, implementing the plan, and then checking the plan versus the desired outcome. It is pretty basic stuff, but I constantly check and reflect. If something isn’t going right, I commit resources (time, money, energy) to fixing it. I do realize I do take it out on the people closes to me. I give Rach credit for trying to get to the bottom of what is bothering me. I am a somewhat complex individual lol. and I was grumpy mainly because he was grumpy, and then even grumpier because I knew it was my fault that I was grumpy. Anyway, we took off in Rocky the Land Rover and by the time we reached the edge of Ohio and McDonalds stop (for coffee and oatmeal…otherwise I only go there for potty breaks), are moods began to lift. It was also at that time when I put in a book CD titled “Thrive” about the world’s happiest places and theories as to why that might be. So, by the time we reached the mountains, we were both in much better moods and ready for the adventure to begin. Something I have focused on in the past is how to take a bad situation and make it better. Today it is call “resilency”, but I guess I have always had it. Normally I can flip the switch in five minutes, sometimes it takes a little longer.
I’ve been to Virginia before and briefly witnessed the depth of the mountains with is tough and rocky terrain. I’ve also been to N.C. before, mostly near Greensboro to travel through to Florida or Hilton Head, and once for Habitat for Humanity in college. However, this was the first time I had been in the western part of North Carolina, the first time I had been in the middle of the mountains. I feel in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains beauty surrounding me. (Steve had been there for a short period before in the dark and snow on a business trip). I’ve been in mountains out West and in the East. Each range has its own unique characteristics that make them so beautiful. In the Sierra Nevada Mountain s or the Rocky Mountains it is the elevation and the connection with the sun. With the Blue Ridge Mountains it is the lush greenery and the total seclusion. I would love to be able to combine the two, but that would be asking for too much J
Even with all the bathroom breaks (For the first time ever, someone else needed more potty breaks than I did (true true)), we arrived at the hotel around 3. We settled in a bit, but I was anxious to go out and explore (Steve probably would not have objected a nap). We checked out the city…with all its hippies, street musicians, artwork, Subarus, and dogs, even chatting with a odd yet nice man who roamed around the city sweeping the streets for free. Everyone we talked to claimed their love for the city. Another friendly fellow took our picture at this giant iron:
We even had an opportunity to do the River Walk and check out some of the neat local artists that Asheville has to offer. One in particular was Jonas. He reminded me of Jerry Garcia. He had a neat studio with different types of paintings and sculptures. If I ever buy a home in Asheville, I will make sure to pick up a few pieces from him. Jonas was located next to a coffee shop. It is my common practice to check out coffee shops whenever I arrive in an unfamiliar city. I find them a great resource for information and current events. When are stomachs started growling (as they always do every few hours) it was dinner time…time to explore the food of a new city!...which we found out, with all the emphasis on organic and vegetarianism, was quite amazing. Night one was at NEO Mexican (we eat Mexican quite often since, especially since the serving sizes are always huge...YES!!!) which was a very neat place, and yes, very yummy
5/23
On Tuesday we woke up early to run the Shut-In Ridge trail, which we had found recommended by Jus Running store owner in a local outdoor magazine. It took us a bit of driving to find since there was no trailhead to be found and the arboretum was still closed, but Steve saw a trail off to the side of the road so we hopped on (and later found out it was the right trail). I like to say my spidey sense kicked it…It turned out most of the trail was uphill (as most of them are), which means our run turned out to be more of a hike for the first half. I have no idea how the locals run up the hills. Maybe your body adjusts and gets stronger, but it has not worked for me running up the hills in the CVNP! Ah well….The Shut-in Trail originally connected the Biltomore estate to the lodge some 17 miles away. If you can only run one trail in Asheville, I would recommend this trail!
Anyway, once we got off the road the trail was a narrow single track and we were quickly engulfed in nature. We also got our first dose of NC humidity...a bit more severe than in Ohio…You think?! I was covered in sweat head to toe after a few moments…I think I said I feel like I’m in a freaking jungle 10x and was waiting for a tiger to pounce on us.
5/23
On Tuesday we woke up early to run the Shut-In Ridge trail, which we had found recommended by Jus Running store owner in a local outdoor magazine. It took us a bit of driving to find since there was no trailhead to be found and the arboretum was still closed, but Steve saw a trail off to the side of the road so we hopped on (and later found out it was the right trail). I like to say my spidey sense kicked it…It turned out most of the trail was uphill (as most of them are), which means our run turned out to be more of a hike for the first half. I have no idea how the locals run up the hills. Maybe your body adjusts and gets stronger, but it has not worked for me running up the hills in the CVNP! Ah well….The Shut-in Trail originally connected the Biltomore estate to the lodge some 17 miles away. If you can only run one trail in Asheville, I would recommend this trail!
Anyway, once we got off the road the trail was a narrow single track and we were quickly engulfed in nature. We also got our first dose of NC humidity...a bit more severe than in Ohio…You think?! I was covered in sweat head to toe after a few moments…I think I said I feel like I’m in a freaking jungle 10x and was waiting for a tiger to pounce on us.
Much of the rest of the days we spent exploring the neighboring towns and finding a quaint coffee shop in Weaverville down a quaint little street. The is coffee shop also had a FULL New York style bakery with lots of tasty choices. The guy behind the counter said he liked my shirt so I knew they had good taste there J (After that I was then in search of a family to take me in! lol) I found out Outward Bounds had a location in the area, which is a wonderful program that teaches youth leadership skills through outdoor adventures. Anyone with connections for a career please let me know! ;) Eric, our Land Rover guy is an alum of the Outward Bound programs in both Asheville and Joshua Tree! Pretty cool!
With all our exploring we were famished my dinner time, and luckily a local suggested a place called Plant, which was all vegetarian and all vegan and all so so good! (We found out the many of the local restraints had vegan and vegetarian options). I think we tried to stop at a few shops after, but it turned out many of the stores closed at 6. How does a running store get away with only being open until 6?! I hope Vince and Josh never find out lol.
5/24
On this day, Mt. Mitchell somehow worked its way on to our agenda. I don’t think we originally planned on it, but it is the highest mountain in the east and it is THERE, so it just made sense to climb it! This was probably a little poor communication on my part. Whenever there is a mountain in the area, I want to climb it. A lot of this has to do with my trips out West w/ Wayne and Godale. If there was a mountain anywhere in the area we would make a point to climb it. We didn’t even talk about it, it was a given.
Of course we first drove in the wrong direction, so it took awhile to get there. When we did get to the camp ground where the trail starts, we asked a few people at the station how long it would take- 6-8 hrs, and from hiking in Africa, I knew to take off about 2. And then we were off, with only a water bottle each, a bar and some gels. It ended up taking us a little under 5 hours round-trip so Rach was right on…of course.
While we were on a mountain, it wasn’t like those out west (and I admit, it wasn’t as difficult either) that lack in plant life. We were covered and secluded in green for the first half of the hike. In the second half we were still covered, although we did come across more pine trees. The seclusion in nature is why I love the east. It’s why I am happy staying a trail runner and not a mountain runner.
It wasn’t until we were almost at the top that we began to see other people…this is because they built a road so you can drive almost all the way up. They actually had a platform at the top as an overlook (and Mitchell’s grave, who actually died on the mountain doing research). So yes, a little anti-climatic, but on the bright side, at least there were people to take our picture with the sign:
With all our exploring we were famished my dinner time, and luckily a local suggested a place called Plant, which was all vegetarian and all vegan and all so so good! (We found out the many of the local restraints had vegan and vegetarian options). I think we tried to stop at a few shops after, but it turned out many of the stores closed at 6. How does a running store get away with only being open until 6?! I hope Vince and Josh never find out lol.
5/24
On this day, Mt. Mitchell somehow worked its way on to our agenda. I don’t think we originally planned on it, but it is the highest mountain in the east and it is THERE, so it just made sense to climb it! This was probably a little poor communication on my part. Whenever there is a mountain in the area, I want to climb it. A lot of this has to do with my trips out West w/ Wayne and Godale. If there was a mountain anywhere in the area we would make a point to climb it. We didn’t even talk about it, it was a given.
Of course we first drove in the wrong direction, so it took awhile to get there. When we did get to the camp ground where the trail starts, we asked a few people at the station how long it would take- 6-8 hrs, and from hiking in Africa, I knew to take off about 2. And then we were off, with only a water bottle each, a bar and some gels. It ended up taking us a little under 5 hours round-trip so Rach was right on…of course.
While we were on a mountain, it wasn’t like those out west (and I admit, it wasn’t as difficult either) that lack in plant life. We were covered and secluded in green for the first half of the hike. In the second half we were still covered, although we did come across more pine trees. The seclusion in nature is why I love the east. It’s why I am happy staying a trail runner and not a mountain runner.
It wasn’t until we were almost at the top that we began to see other people…this is because they built a road so you can drive almost all the way up. They actually had a platform at the top as an overlook (and Mitchell’s grave, who actually died on the mountain doing research). So yes, a little anti-climatic, but on the bright side, at least there were people to take our picture with the sign:
I was very disappointed with the top of Mt. Mitchell. I mean, they built this huge observation deck and this beautifully paved road that takes you all the way to the top. For me, the views are so much better when you put a little work in to get there. I think on the way down we were actually food deprived and a little loopy, so it took us a while to get down. Needless to say, we were happy to get back to Rocky where we at least had extra Powerbars..Nice plug babe J
This brings me to lunch! We decided to drive to Black Mountain because we had heard it was a neat town…if anyone ever decides to pay a visit there, please bring me a long. I can even ride in the trunk. The town was PERFECT. Old, but a decent size, in the mountains, had a coffee shop, library, and new running store. A picture of it even made the background of my phone. I should also mention that we ate at a pizza place, I believe it was called My Grandfather’s Pizza, and besides for one slice, Steve ate the whole thing by himself. Rach did mention earlier we were food deprived lol. Black Mountain is my kind of town. It has a connection with the past with a vision for the future. They have some neat places to eat, a sense of community, convenience to downtown Asheville, and surrounded by hundreds of miles of trails.
This brings me to lunch! We decided to drive to Black Mountain because we had heard it was a neat town…if anyone ever decides to pay a visit there, please bring me a long. I can even ride in the trunk. The town was PERFECT. Old, but a decent size, in the mountains, had a coffee shop, library, and new running store. A picture of it even made the background of my phone. I should also mention that we ate at a pizza place, I believe it was called My Grandfather’s Pizza, and besides for one slice, Steve ate the whole thing by himself. Rach did mention earlier we were food deprived lol. Black Mountain is my kind of town. It has a connection with the past with a vision for the future. They have some neat places to eat, a sense of community, convenience to downtown Asheville, and surrounded by hundreds of miles of trails.
Late that evening we went to Laughing Seed for dinner, another very cool place with a neat vibe and some good vegetarian and vegan options. Good food, but not as good as Plant.
5/25
Finally, after considering spending the day at Biltmore Park Estate, we decided to stick with our original plan and do an overnight hike on the Appalachian Trail. Great Decision!
This great decision started out with breakfast at Sunny Point Cafe, recommended by a local and a little off the beaten path. I even have a note in my journal to go back. Some of their food even came from the garden out back. A few customers even brought dogs with them, which we would later found out was quite common to do in the majority of restaurants with patios.
After we filled up on carbs and coffee., we set of towards Hot Springs, NC (recommended by Jennifer Phar Davis, aka AT OVERALL Speed Record Holder). Yes, it was hot, no, there were no accessible springs, unless you wanted to pay to get into the spa. And other than that, we were in hick town, charming, but definitely hick. We stopped in a tiny hardware/hunting store to buy some bungee cords to rig Steve’s sleeping pad and our tent onto his hiking pack as my friend Julie Healy had taught me on a hike with Expedition Academy, but we were not yet professionals at this. We just did our best and set forth. This was my first time back backing and I stunk at it. Thank God Rach has experience camping with her family because I think I would have ended up hiking the AT with a sleepbag in one hand and my tent in the other.
5 minutes in, before we even started on the actual trail, the tent slid off. Steve was already sweating bullets and growing more and more frustrated as each drip slipped off his bald head. We attempted to re-rig the pack and again set forth after another 5 minutes.
I followed behind Steve, slowly watching the sleeping pad fall off to one side. So, after another 5 minutes, I called for a halt. This time, I simply decided to take the tent and give my sleeping pad to Steve, which was an early birthday present from my knowledgeable sister and practiced camper. It was more than half the size and weight of Steve’s…I’m not even going to start on the sleeping bag…What?!lol…I did by a -30 degree down sleeping bag which definitely was overkill for this trip, but if I ever decide to camp in the Arctic, I will be prepared!--- Fine, I will go there....that stupid thing took up his whole backpack! Hence why I carried then tent and all the food!
After that, as the saying goes, it was all uphill. Wait, actually I think the saying is downhill. But we were on the AT. Nothing was downhill about the first 9 miles of the hike. The first 2 miles we climbed, climbed, sweat through all our clothes, and then climbed some more. It was turning to be a wonderful 90 degree and humid afternoon. I do not do very well in the humidity. I was drenched within a mile and not drinking any water. Rach reminded me that I should be taking more fluids, but I wasn’t listening too well. I was too focused on getting to the top of the climb. She suggested we stop after a couple hours to take in some food and drink. My energy was low and within 30 minutes or so, things started to turn around and I was feeling much better.
However, the trail is also known for its trail magic. The magic may come from sunsets, the canopy of trees surrounding you, people you meet on the trail, or even a bag a food of food left by another hiker to share with others on their journeys. It so happened that our first dose of magic and inspiration came from a through hiker, “just” a month or so into her journey. Our paths crossed several times during our mere 18 mile hike, but I’ll give her a too brief paragraph here:
Carry, or rather, CarryOn, her AT trail name, came from our west, having been inspired by Jennifer’s story and finding a need to seek out her own adventure and find her new path. In order to hike the 2,000 plus trail, she quit her job at the animal shelter, asked a friend to watch her dog (rescued from Katrina), and began her journey to learn the lesson and secrets only the trail can give. Steve asked if she had a plan after her AT journey ended in October, and she just gave a small smile and said not really. There are other trails she’d like to hike, and the possibility of going to Africa or another country. However, she was mainly motivated to enjoy her current journey. So, she continued to hike a strong, steady pace with her positive energy flowing through, rarely stopping for a break. She just carried on.
Finally, after considering spending the day at Biltmore Park Estate, we decided to stick with our original plan and do an overnight hike on the Appalachian Trail. Great Decision!
This great decision started out with breakfast at Sunny Point Cafe, recommended by a local and a little off the beaten path. I even have a note in my journal to go back. Some of their food even came from the garden out back. A few customers even brought dogs with them, which we would later found out was quite common to do in the majority of restaurants with patios.
After we filled up on carbs and coffee., we set of towards Hot Springs, NC (recommended by Jennifer Phar Davis, aka AT OVERALL Speed Record Holder). Yes, it was hot, no, there were no accessible springs, unless you wanted to pay to get into the spa. And other than that, we were in hick town, charming, but definitely hick. We stopped in a tiny hardware/hunting store to buy some bungee cords to rig Steve’s sleeping pad and our tent onto his hiking pack as my friend Julie Healy had taught me on a hike with Expedition Academy, but we were not yet professionals at this. We just did our best and set forth. This was my first time back backing and I stunk at it. Thank God Rach has experience camping with her family because I think I would have ended up hiking the AT with a sleepbag in one hand and my tent in the other.
5 minutes in, before we even started on the actual trail, the tent slid off. Steve was already sweating bullets and growing more and more frustrated as each drip slipped off his bald head. We attempted to re-rig the pack and again set forth after another 5 minutes.
I followed behind Steve, slowly watching the sleeping pad fall off to one side. So, after another 5 minutes, I called for a halt. This time, I simply decided to take the tent and give my sleeping pad to Steve, which was an early birthday present from my knowledgeable sister and practiced camper. It was more than half the size and weight of Steve’s…I’m not even going to start on the sleeping bag…What?!lol…I did by a -30 degree down sleeping bag which definitely was overkill for this trip, but if I ever decide to camp in the Arctic, I will be prepared!--- Fine, I will go there....that stupid thing took up his whole backpack! Hence why I carried then tent and all the food!
After that, as the saying goes, it was all uphill. Wait, actually I think the saying is downhill. But we were on the AT. Nothing was downhill about the first 9 miles of the hike. The first 2 miles we climbed, climbed, sweat through all our clothes, and then climbed some more. It was turning to be a wonderful 90 degree and humid afternoon. I do not do very well in the humidity. I was drenched within a mile and not drinking any water. Rach reminded me that I should be taking more fluids, but I wasn’t listening too well. I was too focused on getting to the top of the climb. She suggested we stop after a couple hours to take in some food and drink. My energy was low and within 30 minutes or so, things started to turn around and I was feeling much better.
However, the trail is also known for its trail magic. The magic may come from sunsets, the canopy of trees surrounding you, people you meet on the trail, or even a bag a food of food left by another hiker to share with others on their journeys. It so happened that our first dose of magic and inspiration came from a through hiker, “just” a month or so into her journey. Our paths crossed several times during our mere 18 mile hike, but I’ll give her a too brief paragraph here:
Carry, or rather, CarryOn, her AT trail name, came from our west, having been inspired by Jennifer’s story and finding a need to seek out her own adventure and find her new path. In order to hike the 2,000 plus trail, she quit her job at the animal shelter, asked a friend to watch her dog (rescued from Katrina), and began her journey to learn the lesson and secrets only the trail can give. Steve asked if she had a plan after her AT journey ended in October, and she just gave a small smile and said not really. There are other trails she’d like to hike, and the possibility of going to Africa or another country. However, she was mainly motivated to enjoy her current journey. So, she continued to hike a strong, steady pace with her positive energy flowing through, rarely stopping for a break. She just carried on.
While I am at it, I also need to mention Houdini (I have no idea what his real name is). We got to stop at talk to him while admiring the view from one of the watch towers. He and CarryOn were doing roughly the same mileage each day, having become friends after the past few weeks of hiking and camping, although they each went at their own pace. Houdini had a way of simply and smoothly picking up the speed, especially on and uphill, and “disappearing” on the trail ahead. He too was a transition point in his life, coming of a divorce and no longer feeling fulfilled from his job in Florida. But, right now, he seemed happy. He was living, learning, and enjoying himself. Everyone had their own reason for hiking the trail, but really they were all the same.
It’s crazy to think about, sitting here behind a computer, that they’re still out there hiking.
To get back to our hike, the trail really was gorgeous. We were high up and secluded, the problems from the rest of the world left behind. Every few miles small campsites, a pond, a bug, a field, a stream, something new and wonderful to look at and be thankful for. But getting back to the stream...they were clear, we were high up, so no, we did not use our water filter. We did not puke or grow two heads. Yes, we are probably dumb and lucky.
We also came across 2 grave stones, and a very large and long black snake. Right before Steve spotted it and screamed like a little school boy, I had been cursing under my breath because he was leading. After this, I was no longer had that problem. This snake was BIG and mean. It kept rattling and I wasn’t sure how to go about getting past it, so I just ran as fast as I could with 60lbs on my back and Rach did the same. From that point on, every stick, every branch, looked like it could be a snake! ---lie, after his little freak out episode he waited 5 mintues for the snake to move and take picutres.
We reached our turn around point early evening, where most of the through hikers would stop for the day. All we could do was wish them well and be thankful we were lucky enough to have met. Then we were off to hike a few miles back and set up our own camp for the night and finish the rest in the morning. The camp was disgusting! It smelled, had litter all around it. I remember thinking that if I was thru-hiking I would hike ahead another mile or so to get away from it.
By the time we found a place to camp we were exhausted. Backpacking turned out to be much more exhausting than running. Running uphill is much easier than hiking it with 50lbs on your back!
To Steve’s credit, he was very smart to purchase and idiot proof Mountain Hardware tent that we had set up in minutes. Then, even though we really didn’t need one, I wanted to build a fire and went to collect wood. Steve attempted to start it, but despite his Boy Scout attire he would wear the next day, lacked any skills to do so and didn’t grasp the concept that a fire needs air flow. So I built it :) Thanks to Mrs. K and Jim for teaching Rach fire starting tips…she is a pro!
Finally it was time to stuff our faces with PB sandwiches (I don’t recommend bring bread, tortillas would work out much better) and trail mix. It was also time for a philosophical discussion of the day:
During the day, we had imagined ourselves through hiking the Appalachian Trail, traversing through the mountains with all our necessities on our backs. Hundreds of people do this every year. But for what purpose? Steve asked the question “Is it selfish to take months off from the world, and simply worrying about yourself and direct needs?” This discussion could make this blog much longer, so I’ll just give my short answer and let you contemplate the rest.
My answer is both yes and no. It is selfish, and so are my ultra-marathons. On the other hand, I feel like these types of adventures, that test your strength, the irrationalities in your mind that tell you “you can’t”, make you a better person, and that spreads to the rest of the world. In challenging themselves in the magnificence of Mother Nature, they were discovering themselves. (I’m going to stop there before I write another 5 pages)
Steve went to bed soon after, leaving me alone by the fire with my headlamp, chex mix, and a good book (Man’s Search for Meaning). What more could a girl want? Correction, Steve tried to go to bed, but could not sleep through some digging through the Chex-Mix bag trying to find the M&M’s lol.
It’s crazy to think about, sitting here behind a computer, that they’re still out there hiking.
To get back to our hike, the trail really was gorgeous. We were high up and secluded, the problems from the rest of the world left behind. Every few miles small campsites, a pond, a bug, a field, a stream, something new and wonderful to look at and be thankful for. But getting back to the stream...they were clear, we were high up, so no, we did not use our water filter. We did not puke or grow two heads. Yes, we are probably dumb and lucky.
We also came across 2 grave stones, and a very large and long black snake. Right before Steve spotted it and screamed like a little school boy, I had been cursing under my breath because he was leading. After this, I was no longer had that problem. This snake was BIG and mean. It kept rattling and I wasn’t sure how to go about getting past it, so I just ran as fast as I could with 60lbs on my back and Rach did the same. From that point on, every stick, every branch, looked like it could be a snake! ---lie, after his little freak out episode he waited 5 mintues for the snake to move and take picutres.
We reached our turn around point early evening, where most of the through hikers would stop for the day. All we could do was wish them well and be thankful we were lucky enough to have met. Then we were off to hike a few miles back and set up our own camp for the night and finish the rest in the morning. The camp was disgusting! It smelled, had litter all around it. I remember thinking that if I was thru-hiking I would hike ahead another mile or so to get away from it.
By the time we found a place to camp we were exhausted. Backpacking turned out to be much more exhausting than running. Running uphill is much easier than hiking it with 50lbs on your back!
To Steve’s credit, he was very smart to purchase and idiot proof Mountain Hardware tent that we had set up in minutes. Then, even though we really didn’t need one, I wanted to build a fire and went to collect wood. Steve attempted to start it, but despite his Boy Scout attire he would wear the next day, lacked any skills to do so and didn’t grasp the concept that a fire needs air flow. So I built it :) Thanks to Mrs. K and Jim for teaching Rach fire starting tips…she is a pro!
Finally it was time to stuff our faces with PB sandwiches (I don’t recommend bring bread, tortillas would work out much better) and trail mix. It was also time for a philosophical discussion of the day:
During the day, we had imagined ourselves through hiking the Appalachian Trail, traversing through the mountains with all our necessities on our backs. Hundreds of people do this every year. But for what purpose? Steve asked the question “Is it selfish to take months off from the world, and simply worrying about yourself and direct needs?” This discussion could make this blog much longer, so I’ll just give my short answer and let you contemplate the rest.
My answer is both yes and no. It is selfish, and so are my ultra-marathons. On the other hand, I feel like these types of adventures, that test your strength, the irrationalities in your mind that tell you “you can’t”, make you a better person, and that spreads to the rest of the world. In challenging themselves in the magnificence of Mother Nature, they were discovering themselves. (I’m going to stop there before I write another 5 pages)
Steve went to bed soon after, leaving me alone by the fire with my headlamp, chex mix, and a good book (Man’s Search for Meaning). What more could a girl want? Correction, Steve tried to go to bed, but could not sleep through some digging through the Chex-Mix bag trying to find the M&M’s lol.
Rach is a pro at starting fires!
All was well. The night was perfect. The day had been exciting. Tomorrow was promising.
Unless we got eaten by a bear. This thought kept me awake for hours. I had mentioned to Steve that we should get a bear bag to throw up and over a tree…but we didn’t. And I regretted it. I swear I heard rustling in the trees. Steve said he would protect me with his knife…not very big. (Could I outrun Steve if I needed to?) No, but I’m Asian and know how to use a knife.
5/26
Eventually I did drift off, and Steve woke me up at 6. Normally I’m very good at getting up and going, but this time I think I asked him why I needed to get up so early. However, I’m happy we did get going early, as we were packed up and off enjoying the morning by 7.
Unless we got eaten by a bear. This thought kept me awake for hours. I had mentioned to Steve that we should get a bear bag to throw up and over a tree…but we didn’t. And I regretted it. I swear I heard rustling in the trees. Steve said he would protect me with his knife…not very big. (Could I outrun Steve if I needed to?) No, but I’m Asian and know how to use a knife.
5/26
Eventually I did drift off, and Steve woke me up at 6. Normally I’m very good at getting up and going, but this time I think I asked him why I needed to get up so early. However, I’m happy we did get going early, as we were packed up and off enjoying the morning by 7.
The way back was sooooo much faster! Almost everything was downhill, plus we were beating the day’s heat. Before we knew it we were on top of the long initial hill we climbed the day before, taking a break to enjoy the view and eat our Trader Joe’s Trail Mix. We could even see Rocky from the top!
By 10 am, we were back at our car, tired, happy, and hungry.
Without even showering, we headed back to downtown Asheville to the next place recommended for breakfast, Over Easy Café. Good, but not as good as Sunny Side. (Not that it mattered much at that point)
The plan was then to get cleaned up and rest a bit before heading out to the Mountain Sports Festival. The plan we extended as we didn’t have hot water until an hour after we got back.
Like usual, it took some driving around to find the location (we first ended up at a beer fest). Admittedly, it was a bit smaller than I thought, but it was really neat to see so many people who participated in outdoor sports and just people out enjoying the day. When we got there, they were just letting out the first wave of the triathlon. We walked around the vendor booths, stopped to get some very pure water (? I’m not exactly sure what the point of the machine was), and watched some dodge ball. We spent like 20 minutes talking the water guy. One, he was very nice and had moved to Asheville recently to start his business so I wanted to get his take on the city. Second, he had water and I was sweating giant beads of sweat from the NC humidity. I drank a full gallon of water over the 20 minutes. I was especially excited to talk to people from Outward Bounds and NOLS! Very cool organizations!
As this was our last night (for the time being) in Asheville, we had to stop at one of the local breweries to split a beer (neither of us can handle much…true) and people/dog watch on the large patio. Then of course we were hungry again and walked to another restaurant for dinner. I can’t remember the name, but it doesn’t matter because I wasn’t a huge fan anyway. I would recommend the Mushroom something or other, as it looked neat/funky and I heard it was pretty good.
Admittedly, the night I couldn’t help but be a bit sad knowing I was about to leave a town that I had felt so at home in.
Without even showering, we headed back to downtown Asheville to the next place recommended for breakfast, Over Easy Café. Good, but not as good as Sunny Side. (Not that it mattered much at that point)
The plan was then to get cleaned up and rest a bit before heading out to the Mountain Sports Festival. The plan we extended as we didn’t have hot water until an hour after we got back.
Like usual, it took some driving around to find the location (we first ended up at a beer fest). Admittedly, it was a bit smaller than I thought, but it was really neat to see so many people who participated in outdoor sports and just people out enjoying the day. When we got there, they were just letting out the first wave of the triathlon. We walked around the vendor booths, stopped to get some very pure water (? I’m not exactly sure what the point of the machine was), and watched some dodge ball. We spent like 20 minutes talking the water guy. One, he was very nice and had moved to Asheville recently to start his business so I wanted to get his take on the city. Second, he had water and I was sweating giant beads of sweat from the NC humidity. I drank a full gallon of water over the 20 minutes. I was especially excited to talk to people from Outward Bounds and NOLS! Very cool organizations!
As this was our last night (for the time being) in Asheville, we had to stop at one of the local breweries to split a beer (neither of us can handle much…true) and people/dog watch on the large patio. Then of course we were hungry again and walked to another restaurant for dinner. I can’t remember the name, but it doesn’t matter because I wasn’t a huge fan anyway. I would recommend the Mushroom something or other, as it looked neat/funky and I heard it was pretty good.
Admittedly, the night I couldn’t help but be a bit sad knowing I was about to leave a town that I had felt so at home in.
5/27
The next morning I was once again waking Steve up. It was early, but it was our last few hours. The trails were calling. I wanted to run.
We went to a popular running and mountain biking hot spot!
The next morning I was once again waking Steve up. It was early, but it was our last few hours. The trails were calling. I wanted to run.
We went to a popular running and mountain biking hot spot!
Not much elevation and a bit confusing, but we were able to get in a fast 12 miles, despite the mounting humidity.
Now, it was time for the big moment. The one that would change my life. I have rarely been so nervous and so excited. It was time to go pick up our Australian Shepherd puppy, Pacer, from Asheboro, North Carolina. Not on an empty stomach of course…that would be silly. So we stopped at a café in Black Mountain which was quite delicious! Morning Glory Café!
As we got on the highway and drove east, my emotions mixed even more. It was the first time I ever really felt that I was leaving a place that I felt was home. I watched the mountains in the side mirror until they disappeared. But, there were more exciting things to attend to and focus on.
Now, it was time for the big moment. The one that would change my life. I have rarely been so nervous and so excited. It was time to go pick up our Australian Shepherd puppy, Pacer, from Asheboro, North Carolina. Not on an empty stomach of course…that would be silly. So we stopped at a café in Black Mountain which was quite delicious! Morning Glory Café!
As we got on the highway and drove east, my emotions mixed even more. It was the first time I ever really felt that I was leaving a place that I felt was home. I watched the mountains in the side mirror until they disappeared. But, there were more exciting things to attend to and focus on.
Shortly after 1 in the afternoon, I met the now love of my life. She is beautiful, crazy, curious, energetic…and a butt-head. But she is my butt-head, and I love her.
Pacer has been a hand full…chewing all the rugs in the house, the legs on the chairs in the kitchen, the blinds in the meditation room, peeing and pooping on the floor, but all she has to do is tilt her head to the side and everything is quickly forgiven. I love her and I can tell she loves me. I’m going to hold off replacing anything until she is at least 2 years old. By then I hope this chewing thing is out of her system!
Pacer has been a hand full…chewing all the rugs in the house, the legs on the chairs in the kitchen, the blinds in the meditation room, peeing and pooping on the floor, but all she has to do is tilt her head to the side and everything is quickly forgiven. I love her and I can tell she loves me. I’m going to hold off replacing anything until she is at least 2 years old. By then I hope this chewing thing is out of her system!
Pacer spending some quality time with daddy on our trip home from North Carolina
One day, sooner or later, I’ll be back in Asheville. But, before then, I promised my twin I’d visit her in Colorado, and I can’t wait to check out where she lives and climb a mountain or two. Plus, Pacer is doing a great job keeping me on my toes and it’s great to have a hiking partner with such enthusiasm to go out and explore!...Definitely sooner rather than later!
Happy Adventures!
Rach & Steve
Happy Adventures!
Rach & Steve
Picture taken July 2, 2012...she is growing up so fast!
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