Blood Mountain
Embracing this change from our norm, my little sister and I dipped in and out of the souvenir shops that were open. Many were closed as it was a holiday weekend, though the streets were just as crowded as ever. The town was thriving with Christmas light displays to admire and even multiple shops that were dedicated to Christmas. An older bearded man played beautiful Christmas music on an electronic tabletop harp in a small pavilion in the center of town that played loud enough for all to hear.
This was my little sister’s first road trip so she was eager to explore every nook and cranny of picturesque little Helen. We stopped at every creek, river, hill, and park we came across. We both needed a little getaway, so it was nice to be able to do it together and have some time to bond and create memories. After a few hours of traversing the streets, it was time to find a place to eat before everything closed for the night.
We settled down at a restaurant called the Troll Tavern, obviously magnetized by the name because we are a couple of nerds. It was dark, windy, below 40 degrees, and yet we chose to sit outside and eat by the water for the view and the experience. We froze our butts off and giggled about silly things while we waited for our food. We ordered our usuals - her meal was a well-done burger and fries, and I ordered a buffalo chicken spinach wrap and indulged in some fries as well.
I don’t know if it was because we were cold and famished, but the food was absolutely delicious. We scarfed it down and frantically made our way back to the hotel. We needed to get as much rest as we could for the upcoming day we had planned.
We settled down at a restaurant called the Troll Tavern, obviously magnetized by the name because we are a couple of nerds. It was dark, windy, below 40 degrees, and yet we chose to sit outside and eat by the water for the view and the experience. We froze our butts off and giggled about silly things while we waited for our food. We ordered our usuals - her meal was a well-done burger and fries, and I ordered a buffalo chicken spinach wrap and indulged in some fries as well.
Thanksgiving Day, we woke up at five am to get a head start and make sure we found parking. For months we had been researching and scheming to find a good mountain to hike. With a lot of careful planning, we became intent on conquering Blood Mountain - Georgia’s highest peak and one of the state’s most popular hiking trails. We were initially hoping for something at an intermediate level with good views, but we were drawn to the features of the more difficult trek to the summit of Blood Mountain. The name itself is intriguing, to say the least. We carb loaded on free bagels at our hotel’s minimally stocked continental breakfast and headed out to our destination via the Russel Brasstown scenic byway.
The drive itself was a treat. The sun was just coming up and there was nobody on the road. Every few miles there was a place to pull off and take in the views. Watching a sunrise over the silhouette of a mountain range is one of those experiences that you never forget. It is moments like that in which I live for; when you witness something so massive and beautiful and so far removed from your normal life that you forget all of your problems and everything feels peaceful in that moment. Seeing my sister witness this was a gift as well. I could tell it was exactly what she needed.
We left the hotel just after six am and it took us almost three hours to make the forty minute drive. I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as a crowd goes, seeing as this is a popular hike but it was also a holiday. Traditionally Thanksgiving is spent at home with family and a turkey. There was actually scarce parking, but we managed to get a spot. It was inspiring to know that we weren’t the only ones who wanted to spend a day of thanks out of the norm and in the wilderness.
The hike is 4.3 miles roundtrip and starts at the Byron Reece trailhead where you cross a creek bed and endure a few switchbacks into a slight rise in elevation. After an ascent of a few hundred feet, you come to an intersection and take the trail to the right, following the Appalachian Trail westbound which is designated by white blazes. From here, the hike progressively increases in intensity while the elevation continues to rise as you take on many of the obstacles along the way. You feel your heart rate increase with every tight switchback, set of stairs, and boulder you have to climb over as you make your way to the summit. The further you get, the more the forest canopies open, giving you a preview of the incredible views. After climbing 1,400 feet in elevation, you reach the summit of Blood Mountain at 2.15 miles, sitting at an altitude of 4,459 feet.
Once we reached the summit and its surrounding areas, we met countless families and groups of friends. Couples lounging together in hammocks while taking in the views, groups taking family photos and eating granola bars. We explored the sights from all sides of the summit, as well as the rock building that sits at the top which was built as a shelter in the 1930’s. After taking it all in, we sat down to rest and eat our protein bars and Pringles. It was such an amazing accomplishment for my sister and I to push forward and make it to the top with how much of a difficult hike this was for a few novice Florida flat landers. On our way down, we encountered a group going up that looked as exasperated as we were when they asked us how much farther they had to go, explaining that they were Floridians who weren’t used to this kind of terrain. We all had a good laugh and they were relieved to know that a couple of other Florida dwellers were able to make it to the top.
Going back down was just as hard, if not harder. Your legs buckle at the steep descents and it was difficult not to run or even roll all of the way back down. While the way up increases your heart rate with intensity, the way down was hardest on the legs as you try not to stumble and fall down the slopes or rock formations you had to climb going up. We met even more traffic coming up as we were on our way down. Every group stopping us to ask how much farther to the top as they catch their breath.
Once we finally reached the car, we high five’d for our accomplishment and made our way back to the hotel. Our Thanksgiving feast consisted of a ham sandwich and chips in a hotel bed because we were too sore to sit up. The best part is - I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I am so thankful and feel like this was the best way to spend Thanksgiving 2017 after all of the events of this year. I have learned to face my fears and do things that I never imagined possible. I have learned that it is okay to do things that you are afraid of. I have learned that you have to push boundaries and do crazy things to find out who you really are. I have learned that adventure is always out there waiting, you just have to take the leap. I have learned that nothing truly worth having comes easy. The most rewarding, influencing experiences should give you butterflies and terrify the crap out of you. That is what I have learned in 2017, and I can’t wait to see what next year has in store for me. Watch out 2018.
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