“How Do We Get There?”
The early morning chill was still on when we started out. Our truck was the only vehicle parked at the trailhead at Poll’s Gap, just off the Heintooga Ridge Road spur from the Blue Ridge Parkway. We were going to hike down the Rough Ridge Trail to the intersection with the Caldwell Fork Trail; 3.5 miles. Once we reached the Caldwell Fork Trail we were going to walk 1.7 miles to the junction with the Double Gap Trail; just past the Big Poplar. We would then proceed up the Double Gap Trail for 3.0 miles to the Hemphill Bald Trail. By hiking the 5.5 miles on the Hemphill Bald Trail we would arrive back at the truck. Of course, the 13.7 miles of hiking would involve about 4,500 feet of elevation changes as we would go up and down ridges, along beside small creeks and wet-weather springs, over rocks, across downed trees, and along old chestnut rail fences placed by CCC workers in the 1920s and 30s. We would be able to enjoy some wonderful views of the Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) to the north and west, and of Maggie Valley and towards Mt. Pisgah to the south and east.
As we began our descent towards Caldwell Fork on the Rough Ridge Trail I found myself talking about the fact the trail we were walking had been a “narrow-gauge” railroad back in the days, before the coming of the GSMNP, when the area had been logged by the lumber companies. After a while I began to point out the high ridge-line, to our south and east, telling my companion that we would be up there as our hike continued. The further we went down Rough Ridge the higher the ridge-line looked to us. It was intimidating, almost threatening, as we considered the effort that would be required of us in order to get there. Before long, after growing tired of listening to me ramble on about the history of the area, my companion said, while pointing in the direction of the ridge-line, “How do we get there?” Naturally, my smart-aleck answer was “One step at a time”. I do not think he cared very much for my response, judging by his muttering and muted grumblings.
It took us about 4.5 hours to complete our trek. The effort was rewarded by the sense of accomplishment that comes at the end of the journey when you are able to say, “We did that!”
In reflection, I need to acknowledge that I had made the trip previously and knew what it would take to do it; whereas it was a first for my companion. We hiked trails that others had laid out for us already. We were not “bushwhacking”, we were merely following. There are directional signs at each intersection of trails, providing mileage information for the next leg of the journey.
Well, my companion and I were nearing the end of the trails that we have followed that year. Some of the trails were familiar, as we had hiked them on previous excursions. At times, we had hiked on trails that have been strange and unfamiliar. Regardless of the trails, we have faced challenges and experiences that have changed and shaped us. We are older, more experienced, and (hopefully) wiser. Our journeys were uniquely ours. We will look back and remember. We will look forward and say, “How do we get there?” as we contemplate future trails. Of course, the answer to that question is, “One step (day) at a time”.
By the way, as we neared the last part of our hike we caught up with someone ahead of us on the trail. When we caught him he said, after getting a look at our gray-hair, “Man! I thought I was being overtaken by a couple of teenagers by the way you were walking.” My companion (John) and I looked at each other and nodded in agreement. We are just older teenagers.