This coming Friday marks the beginning of an epic journey. It is a journey undertaken by many, but finished by few. The goal is for two friends to hike every trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Today, however, I was reminded by my calendar that I am scheduled to be at a fundraising breakfast on the very day we have set for hike #1. There is no doubt in my mind that we will still be on the trail this coming Friday, even if it means breaking one of the fundamental tenants of hiking, that being:
THERE IS NO ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTE FOR AN EARLY START!
My first encounter with this important advice was through Dan Allen's book, Don't Die On The Mountain. I was drawn to the book by the fact that I would like to avoid death in the mountains. Getting an early start is always good advice as it gives one a sufficient amount of daylight, which is especially helpful if you ever find yourself lost in the woods.
We hope to share our experience of hiking these trails with those who may wish to hike them too and to share advice on how to do so safely.
Be sure to check back often as we continue adding miles to our journey. It promises to be a real humdinger!
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Just take a headlamp and a flashlight! Night hiking is really quite fun and let's you enjoy and experience a whole new side of hiking in the woods. It's really quite beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Candice! I have done a little night hiking and while I always bring a light, I like letting my eyes adjust and walking without one if possible.
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