Wrong Way

“Make sure no one dies and make sure you are out of the woods by dark. Those are my jobs today. You are leading the hike.” This is what I told the kids my role was on their trek. They had the map and compass, and we even went over the route together (as well as things to look for so we did not get lost). Two and a half miles the wrong way, the group realized we went East…and we should be going West…

This looks right. (Coincidentally, this is the right sign).

 

We took a group of high school students to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our lodging was at a local camp and we planned on doing day hikes, exploring Gatlinburg and tackling whitewater rafting. Our group did an easy uphill waterfall hike to Ramsey Cascades which separated us into two parties, one that wanted to hike, and one that did not. And so it was agreed on, the next day half would go into Cherokee and half would take on a day hike. The route we decided on was a moderate eight mile hike from Newfound Gap to Clingman’s Dome.

–

As the group realized they were not where they wanted to be, a short-order natural panic started taking them. First, I was blamed and simply replied, “You had the tools and route.” To which they shrewdly replied, “Oh yeah.” Then they started resorting to every resource they could find; day hikers, the map, through hikers on the AT (Appalachian Trail) and even GPS on their phones (thank you to everyone who patiently endured our shenanigans on the trail that day). Eventually the trek leader reined in the team and everyone realized there was only one way back.

After that, things went pretty well until we reached the parking lot at Newfound Gap.

“Now what?” they asked, “How do we get to the van?” They were referencing the van that was eight miles away in the Clingman’s Dome parking lot.

“Well. I am pretty sure if we go that way,” as I pointed West, “we will eventually find the van.” Eight miles later, after a hundred breaks,  through mist, then rain, then ice and much trudging and grumbling, we saw the concrete observation tower on the top of Clingman’s Dome.

AT – Appalachian Trail. During our hike, a through hiker let the kids try on his pack. It made them feel great about their day packs.

 

It was like a light opened up from the heavens and shined down on everyone’s mood. It did not matter that it was cold and windy. It did not matter how sore feet and legs were. Hunger did not matter. Everything bad went away. After thinking they could not go a step further multiple times, they had done it.

“If you had known all of what you were just going to go through ahead of time, would you have thought you could do this hike?”

“No.”

“But did you do it?”

“We did.”

–

What do we do when we reach our breaking point? Have you tried pushing through it?

“I can’t go further.”

“My legs hurt so bad.”

“How much further, I can’t go any further.”

Partially because there was only one way to finish, the kids on this hike ran into their “breaking point” time and time again, but they kept going, and suddenly…they did it.

Find a way to safely test your limits! Challenge yourself, find your breaking point, then break it. Fourteen miles into your eight mile hike, you will be amazed at what you can do!

–

Follow this link if you want more info on some of the superb and challenging hikes at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Not sure how to recognize you are near your breaking point? Archetypes.com can shed some light on it for you.

Last, here is a solid link to follow if you are interested in through hiking the Smoky Mountains Appalachian Trail section (which is more do-able than you know!).