Wednesday, December 08, 2004
AT Beauty
Jane Bald, Appalachian Trail, NC/TN state line
I remember my parents taking me here as a small child. We picked blueberries that we took home and used to make dad's blueberry waffles.
It was the summer of my sophomore year in college that my friend Andrew I decided that we were going to hike a section of the AT. We planned, packed, and set out onto the trail. This section was right in the middle of our six day excursion. As I hauled my pack up the ridge, to the bald where I sat many times as a child, something changed. No one else had brought me here this time. It was only me and my efforts that now afforded me such a beautiful view. Andrew and I sat quietly for as long as we could. We smoked. We gorged ourselves on a hidden blueberry bush that had been looked over by earlier pickers.
Although the hike was very hard physically, I believe it was truly the happiest I have ever been. There were no lists, no phones ringing, no car horns, no bills, and no confusion. There were only a few things to be done each day. Walk, look, listen. The simplicity was blissful.
Andrew still lives in Johnson City. He plays his guitar and sings sometimes at the Downhome, a historic music room downtown. He wrote a song about our trip called Big Hump Mountain. One lyric recalls his initial shock at the first day's difficulty. My favorite line, "Are we ready for this? Its too late we're heaven bound". Indeed we were.
// posted by Justin @ 9:29 AM 
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I had a friend reflect a memory on me this week. When faced with big challenges return to nature. All the answers are there and the realization of returning to "what counts" and "what is important" is much more achievable. You have been in my thoughts this week, I hope you sifting through this stuff and finding some peace.
I remember dropping you all off at the gap for this trip... I remember thinking, 'I'll never see him again.' Not that you would get lost, or refuse to meet me at the lake a week later- chosing instead to hide out in the woods and live on the lam... but that the boy I left in the middle of that dirt pack road would not be the same once he wondered down that mountain. And it was true- you changed that week... for the better or worse I can say, only you can make that call. But now you are on a different mountain, Moses, and this time its a different journey. However, I'm sure the change that will take place this time will be no less profound than before. Its like watching a cacooned butterfly unfold- its so grand. 12 years is a long time to watch someone grow up- I just hope that you've enjoyed my transformation as much as I have yours. I love you little bit!!
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# posted by 
: 9:45 AM
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