A day fully realized

[misterx]

Storm woke us up fairly early... I got up, made her breakfast, made the grownups coffee, and did the dishes before Mel got up. I sat around for a bit, devising a plan and reading LJ until my cup was empty. Then showered and was ready to head out about the same time Mel was leaving for church with the kids.

"Mel was leaving for church"... that still sounds bizarre to me.

Finally headed out towards North Carolina: the plan was to hike on Grandfather Mountain. About an hour later, I was there. The top of the mountain was shrouded in clouds. I heard a lot of people complaining that there was no visibility and they were disappointed, but I didn't mind it. At grandfather mountain, I'd say 85% of the people who visit never leave the blacktop. They visit the mile high bridge, they look at the animals, and they buy their tshirt. Even less people hiked the trails today than usual.

I really pushed it the first 20 minutes or so. I wanted to put distance between myself and the visitor's center. The further in you go, the fewer people there are. I finally slowed down and stopped to rest. The forest was silent and magical, and the trail dissolved into whiteness in both directions. The mist was silent but constantly moving. I came to a meadow, and the mist flowed slowly towards me like a lazy broad river. As I walked higher, the mist was dancing through the trees and rocks in irregular patterns and bursts. It was like watching a thousand ghosts play hide and seek. It was easy to believe the world of man was becoming intangible, and I was getting a glimpse at what lay beyond. I had stepped into a fairy ring, and the secrets of a thousand years were mine.

I reached the cliff face, and ascended the ladders so thoughtfully provided by the park. Even with the ladders, it's a bit of a thrill, because the wind is gusty and there is a long way to fall. You put a bit more concentration than usual into hanging on. Well, here I am taking extra care, and on the way up the fifth ladder the strap on my camera bag came unfastened (the tripod slid down and wedged into the strap clip), and my camera and tripod is rapidly slithering off my body and into oblivion. "NOOoooo!!!" I manage to cram my body against the ladder, trapping the strap with only about eight inches to go. Carefully reaching through, I haul it back up. That was too close. The ladders were more exciting than usual. Oh yeah, and the top rung of the fourth ladder came off in my hand. That was exciting too. I reported that to the park staff.




After another half hour or so, I finally reached the top, and it was a little clearer. I sat down on the rocky top of Macrae Peak and drank some water. I can't describe how I love this place. I watched the clouds make a charge on the next peak over, but a turbulent wind from the other side of the mountain curled over the top and pushed the clouds back down. I sat there a long time, breathing, being.



A small bird with a stout black beak, a chickadee I think, landed nearby and hopped over to a depression in the rock to get a drink from a puddle there. Hi buddy, thanks for sharing your mountain with me. He drank, found a bit of bread left by a previous hiker, and flew away. I layed back on the rock, with my arms behind my head, and just enjoyed being there. The clouds won their next push up the mountainside, and rolled over the top of me. Shortly thereafter it started to rain. I took one more shot:





and packed up the camera. I didn't rush on the way back. I walked slowly, enjoying how the rain made everything look so green and lush. Even the rocks looked lustrous and rich. When I got back to my car, I was soaked, smelly, muddy, and thoroughly satisfied. I left the radio off on the drive home.

To top it all off, there was sushi for dinner tonight. I am going to sleep so deeply tonight.

Comments

[yertelsbitch.livejournal.com]

I love hiking when the weather is like that!

[busychild424.livejournal.com]

That is awesome. Fantastic descriptions. I particularly liked the one about ghosts playing hide and seek and the one about the secrets of a thousand years. Good work/play.

[mountain-lion.livejournal.com]

you're a good writer you know. i look forward to your entries, and with good reason. one of my life goals is to go on a hike with you some day. :)

[morbidlybella.livejournal.com]

Your photos are breathtaking... as are your words.

[becloud.livejournal.com]

lovely photos!