Social media has caused us to display a sugar-coated lifestyle. We scroll through hundreds of photos per day, entranced with what seem like the perfect lives of everyone you follow or befriend. However, what you’re seeing is only part of the picture, literally and figuratively. Let me explain. When you take a photo, you don’t just post it online without a glance. You review the photo, polish imperfections, essentially make sure it looks pristine, maybe even staged. I’d love to see more candid, behind-the-scene photos on my timeline and newsfeeds. Imperfections and mistakes are human nature, but it unfortunately isn’t what people want to see, so these don’t get posted. What if Instagram influencers or celebrities posted the unfiltered, raw realities that surely swirl their everyday lives? Well, I’m not a celebrity and don’t consider myself an influencer, but I’m here to show you what happens on the trails. Reaching the finish line of any trail requires perseverance, persistence and determination. Sweat is shed, blisters are bubbled, curveballs are thrown and dehydration is a very real, very serious thing. Let me be the first to tell you that I wouldn’t trade these imperfections for anything because hiking means everything to me, and both the journey and finish line are equally important.
Whenever I lace up my hiking boots and embark on an adventure through a wooded forest, essentially anything can happen. We can become lost at any moment, water can run out, we can cross paths with threatening individuals, trail conditions can be unexpected or drastically change with the snap of a finger, causing imminent danger, we could injure ourselves. I don’t mean to be dramatic; I’m just being real. Danger aside, unexpected events can also be comical or add enjoyment to our journey. All of that being said, let me share with you some of the most memorable events, unexpected mishaps, and dangerous encounters that have occurred between the pines.
First, I’m going to share with you a story of how my love for hiking began. This will be the first of many blog posts that will reveal some of the funniest, rawest, and possibly the most dangerous occurrences during our adventures.
Please note: The photos below were taken from our most recent trip to the Smoky Mountains, not the original trip.
Smoky Mountains: Where It All Began
In the summer of 2015, my wife and I made the spontaneous decision to skip the beach and honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains. We traded in our flip flops for hiking boots…or so we should’ve done.
At that point in our lives, we were enthralled with the beach. We had vacationed in South Carolina numerous times and made a conscious effort to visit any local beach at least once a month in the summers. But something burned inside of us and urged us to step out of our comfort zone and into the backcountry. Since the Smoky Mountains would be the backdrop of our first official hike, we had zero knowledge. We didn’t research trails; we didn’t pack the correct equipment; we didn’t even pack hiking boots! Needless to say, we were highly inexperienced and about to hike one of the most strenuous trails in Tennessee.
We hiked a few mild trails on the first day, and during our drive through the National Park on the second day, we saw a sign at a trailhead for Rainbow Falls. It simply stated the trail name and the distance, which was nearly 6 miles, round trip. As I mentioned before, being the inexperienced hikers that we were, we selected the trail based on the name and decided it didn’t seem like a difficult trail. Spontaneously, we began the trek up the mountain.
I was dressed in a cotton t-shirt, jean shorts and Converse sneakers. I had a massive camera bag, filled with lenses, filters, and other unnecessary gear, slung over my shoulder. A small amount of snack food and water lay at the bottom of my bag.
Aside from the steep, 1653 foot elevation gain, the trail didn’t seem too difficult at first. Though I quickly could feel blisters bubbling on my heels and blood pooling around my Achilles’ tendon from my canvas shoes scraping my skin, the pain was erased due to our surroundings that enraptured my attention. We passed rocky streams, cascading waterfalls, and gorgeous foliage. Giddy, we began snapping photos and admiring the beauty around us.
A couple miles into the trail, we reached a “roadblock.” Sitting between us and the remainder of the trail lie a rushing current of water flowing from one waterfall to another. The cascade crossing was about four feet deep of waterfall overflow, with stepping stones precariously submerged underwater. Just inches from those stones and the rapid water current was a fifty foot drop where a waterfall raged below, flowing into a silent stream. My heart raced as my gaze snapped back and forth between the steep cliff and the treacherous, rocky obstacle that lie between me and the rest of the trail. Contemplating our options to turn back and miss the prize at the finish line, Rainbow Falls, or cross the potentially deadly cascade crossing, we settled on crossing. To our fortune, a man from the group in front of us risked his own life to lend a helping hand (literally and figuratively) to us and the groups behind us, allowing us all to cross the raging current to safety. His feet firmly planted beside a stone, water rushing past him with a vengeance, he single-handedly assured each and every hiker made it safely across the obstacles. That would be the first of many kind gestures we would receive along a trail; a sense of community, kindness, positivity and “others first” outlooks swirl the woods. Feeling relieved, blown away from the kindness, and high on the thrill of what just happened, we finished the remaining half mile of the trail and reached the glorious, 80-foot gem, Rainbow Falls. Excitement ricocheted through the atmosphere as people celebrated, snapped photos and joyfully admired the prized waterfall. It was neat to watch not only the falls, but people’s reactions. The same people that extended kindness to us at the roadblock celebrated with us. My outlook on humanity shifted in that moment as I watched the sunlight beam on the falls, causing a kaleidoscope of colors to bounce off the spray, validating Rainbow Falls’ name.
During that trip to the Smoky Mountains, we learned so much about ourselves, hiking, and outdoor living. Of course, we learned that hiking boots are a necessity and large camera bags are not. We learned that six mile trails with high elevation require more than a small snack and a small amount of water. But beyond the simplicities, we developed a hunger for mountains, waterfalls, hiking and all things outdoor. We craved thrills, sought out adventure. We had discovered something within ourselves that had been itching to release. Wanderlust. As soon as the floodgates opened, there was no turning back. This could also apply to that moment where we were deciding whether or not to turn back at that dangerous cascade crossing. The trail was calling us; my eyes needed to see that waterfall; the finish line needed to be awarded to us in order to obtain that deeply accomplished feeling that warmed my soul and invigorated my senses. That feeling that we’d continually chase, time and time again.
Wonder. Wander. Repeat. 