Trail Journal - by Keith Collier
…and there wasn’t any bears!
In
years past, the 0.4 mile paved footpath to Anna Ruby Falls in Unicoi Park would
be a strenuous hike for me. Never fond of hiking despite growing up in shadows
of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, I did spend a lot of time outdoors hunting and
fishing and felt very comfortable in the woods.
Fast-forward 25 years of marriage, two grown daughters, a sedentary lifestyle, and I was the epitome of a “couch potato.”
Outdoor activity was limited to a weekly doubles tennis match with the ubiquitous post-match food and beverage spread. A trip to Minnehaha Falls to photograph the falls resulted in a sprained ankle from rolling over a root. Tennis was over for 3 months and in an attempt to rehabilitate the ankle, I began frequenting local parks’ walking trails.
As I began to see improvement in stamina, I wanted to expand my walking locations. A quick search on the Internet turned up the GATC with their many trail activities, trail maintenance, and outreach programs. The only concern was a self-perceived fear of hiking on the Appalachian Trail – being eaten by bears, getting lost, or worst of all, not being able to complete a hike.
The first hike was well researched – a relatively moderate, 5 mile hike from Dicks Creek to Blue Ridge Gap in December of 2009. The trip leader provided tips on what to wear, what to bring to eat and drink, and what to expect in general.
As someone who researches and overanalyzes everything, I came prepared with a 25 lb. daypack. I even memorized the elevation changes associated with physical landmarks.
With a twinge of anxiety in the pit of my stomach, we set out from Dicks Creek and began an uphill climb out of the gap. Very quickly, the trip leader and others disappeared over the first ridge and I became good friends with the sweep.
After stopping for lunch at Plum Orchard Gap shelter, we finished the hike with a walk down the forest service road to the shuttle cars. What a feeling of accomplishment! I was hooked and wanted to experience more of the same.
After that, there was my first trail maintenance at Stover Creek Shelter – relocating the privy, and then my first overnight backpacking experience in March of 2010 on Springer Mountain with high winds, rain, and cold weather.
More trails to be maintained and more hikes on the AT followed. In the summer of 2010, a backpack trip to the Smokies was showcased by amazing scenery from Charlie’s Bunion. Six-mile hikes are routine and 12-mile hikes are physically possible wherein years past I would not even have considered such a hike.
The AT is no longer scary, but must be respected. The people I have met and hiked with from GATC are very friendly and I have not had one single negative experience.
I look forward each month to receiving The Georgia Mountaineer and planning upcoming events. I am proud to be associated with GATC and have yet to be eaten by bears!