BLACK MOUNTAINS BACKPACKING TRIP
POST RACE TRAVELS, PART 1
As I write this blog, I am currently on a flight towards Denver, CO! This is part of a 2 week backpacking ministry trip that will be taking place on the Colorado Trail! A group of backpackers and hikers are setting out to meet friends on the trail and to also have Gospel Conversations. Please pray over this, and I will be sharing more about what took place in my next blog. In the meantime, if you feel led to help support this journey, please feel free to venmo (@brett_explorer) or PayPal (@navigatorBH) me here. Thank you again for partnering with me in what God’s doing- and excited for one final salvo of missional adventures before settling back to life in America for a while…
The Black Mountains. They rise up out of the valley, towering over 6000 feet in elevation and above their neighbors. This is the highest and one of the most rugged mountain chains east of the Mississippi River. Yet they hold an element of mystery to them. A long, winding trail system makes its way through the mountains, but the region is largely unexplored. Lots of unofficial trails leading to seldom travelled waterfalls, overlooks, and old mines aren’t on most maps. Through college, I began to explore some of this area, but barely scratched the surface. Yet as the World Race ended and preparations to backpack in Colorado began, some training was in order. Memories from years ago began to surface about planning a 50 mile backpacking trip through this area. A friend and I pieced together our maps and got ready for a grand adventure.
It’s crazy to be home. Yet I’m home but not completely home. It’s kind of this in between state of being back in America but also wrapping things up before being completely settled around mid August. I got some much needed family time, and we had an amazing 4th of July celebration in the backyard. One of my close friends, Mark Oleg, and I went out on a day hike to Grandfather Mountain. On that hike, I began to break in my pack and transition it from being what I lived out of for 11 months to what I just carry on my back in the open woods. It’s an interesting transition; especially in terms of getting rid of tons of items and just making do with the bare essentials. Weight suddenly becomes more important, and things like how much food, water, and nutrition to take come into play. Meanwhile, I began to get to know people at Antioch Church in Boone, NC, which is where I plan to walk in community with in this next chapter. Mid month, we spent some time away as a family in Lexington VA, attending one of the horse shows up there. This provided an opportunity to explore the area and see Natural Bridge (a big arch with a stream going under it). God’s creation is beautiful!
The day arrived to do the backpacking trip in the Black Mountains. A friend from the Flittermouse Caving Grotto (a group out of Asheville that I am part of) joined me for the adventure. The first day involved a 19.5 mile hike through the eastern flank of the Blacks. We gained elevation quick, getting to amazing views for lunch. Then, we descended back into the valley. Yet there was just one problem. Humidity was nearly at 100%, making it much more difficult to cool off and increasing the risk of heat related illness. Although we eventually made it to camp, my friend assessed that she would not finish the whole trip. Nevertheless, we had some good convos, and she began to teach me some tricks of the trade for backpacking.
After sorting out some logistics and modifying my route a bit, I decided to do Days 2 and 3 alone. Yet I was not truly alone because the Lord is always with me. Day 2 started with an intense climb (~3000 ft elevation gain in 2.2 miles) on the Woody Ridge Trail. This trail went straight up, and it was followed by a lengthy hike on the Black Mountain Crest trail. This rugged trail has many sections that drop off suddenly and require one to grasp tree branches, boulders, and pre placed ropes to get up or down. Sometimes, it was literally one step after the other- knowing that the end is a long ways off. Yet this hike taught me a lot about tenacity. To just continue moving step by step by step- even as the path becomes difficult. Doing the Woody Ridge – Black Mountain Crest route (Celo Knob to Mt Mitchell) with a full pack on was one of the hardest things physically of my life so far. Mt Mitchell greeted me with an open concession stand with a rainstorm and shelter to stand under. Praise God! The last 4 miles after that felt like a breeze.
After spending the night in the woods, I got up and began Day 3. The solitude felt nice, and I enjoyed reflecting on things and focusing on the hike. Yet I’ve come to realize that getting to share the adventures with people is a beautiful thing. I am trusting God to put tight community and people to walk out my missional calling with me in this next season of life. Day 3’s terrain was much easier- mostly on double track logging grades where it was easy to rack up mileage. But after submitting Green Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the grinding 3 mile descent back to the car (2000 ft elevation loss) took place. It turns out that my feet had blisters and hot spots, making this leg of the journey very difficult. Again, it became a matter of “step by step, You lead me” (quoting the popular Christian song). Setrock Creek Falls served as a welcome sight and the end of the hike before hopping in the truck, guzzling a bottle of Powerade before heading home. A day and a half was spent nursing my feet back to health, turning around my gear for the next adventure, and recovering. It was a hard finish but nevertheless a finish. Good stuff!
My family and I drove off to Florida to reunite with each other and be together. Perhaps I should call this “Family Debrief”. We went out on the beach, relaxed, and cooked food. It was a wonderful time of sharing about some of the snippets from the World Race, and also getting to see relatives from both sides of the family. Flagler Beach is always a nice place to get away and just chill out at. Please continue to pray for further convos with my family regarding the Race, and that doors will open towards the Gospel. I would say that this was a bit of a glimpse of presenting the Race to relatives, because I’m still in the process of preparing presentation materials and pictures. Yet the reunions were special moments. But as quick as our time in Florida began, it also ended. After getting logistics planned for the Colorado trip, I departed to the Orlando Airport- bound for Denver. Here we go!
