High Rocks, NC

I hope all my faithful readers had a wonderful holiday season! I certainly did. I was blessed with the company of family and friends (some old and some new) and, despite my instance otherwise, the loving people in my life gave me some very useful gear for Christmas – but more on that later.

 

Aside from all the gifts I asked people not to get me, I was blessed with the best gift of all– I’m engaged to the love of my life. I wish I could say that the whirlwind of joy that has been my life over the past several weeks led to my delay in posting; alas, I’m just lazy.

The Friday after Christmas, my head was swimming with possibility and contentment, and I found myself with clear blue skies and a day off work. I desperately wanted to break my outdoors fast and use the opportunity to test out my new gear, which I'll take a moment to recommend...

I’ve been hiking in Merrell boots for a few years now, and they’re essentially bomb-proof. True-to-size and rugged, I trust the brand implicitly. My old pair had hundreds of miles of trail and muck wear and tear on them so my dad got me a new pair for Christmas. Every pair of Merrell’s I’ve owned has been easily jump-in-able, requiring very little break-in time. At the end of this hike, my feet felt fine, 2 days from the box to the trail.

Since I started blogging, I’ve tolerated the requisite changes in my hiking style due to a camera constantly hanging from my neck. My camera choices have grown larger and heavier over the years, and it’s become increasingly difficult to navigate rugged, off-trail terrain with 2 pounds of technology bouncing all over the place. Diana solved that problem for me on Christmas (about 15 minutes before I gave her a ring) – she got me a Capture Pro Camera Clip system by Peak Designs. This clip allows a camera to be attached securely to any webbing or strap, and quickly released for use. I keep mine secured to the left shoulder-strap of my pack, easily within reach of my right hand. It’s so much easier to hike, on-trail or off-, without having to dedicate a hand to steadying a wild, heavy camera. I’m clumsy enough, especially with only one hand to balance myself.

https://peakdesignltd.com/

 

Ok, let's get back on track. I got a late start to my hike that day, after deciding to sleep in (the holidays are so much more exhausting than I remember as a kid). I decided to hike a stretch of the AT, south-bound to a spot in NC called High Rocks. I parked my 4Runner at Spivey Gap near the TN/NC state-line, where the AT crosses the highway. The road-side trail markers were hard to see initially (which may be more a consequence of my poor eyesight than anything), but the gravel parking area on the south side of the road is obvious. From Spivey Gap, the AT travels north over Flattop Mountain and across the Nolichucky River into the Unaka Mountain Range. My route that day would take me south from Spivey Gap – from here, the AT climbs high into the Bald Mountain backcountry of TN and NC, and passes beneath High Rocks in 2 miles.
 

High Rocks is an impressive rock formation – as large as a house, it stands in solitude along the ridgeline below Little Bald. The trail in this section is very well-maintained, and I would consider it a moderate hike; most of the route is a gentle incline, with brief sections that are fairly steep. The 2 miles to High Rocks didn’t feel nearly as far as other 2-mile hikes I’ve survived.

 

As I began my hike, the chill of the late December air lingered in the afternoon, and as I climbed higher into the NC backcountry, that chill quickly changed to a bite. The harsh angles of the mid-winter sun left half of my hike in shadow – yet the ridgeline which blocked the sunlight was no obstruction to the wind. Snow still lingered along the trail, deeper in the shadows, and crunched responsively beneath by new boots.

 

 

A sapsicle! Yes, it was delicious

 

 

My hike was a solitary one. There was no one else on the trail that day; I didn’t even see or hear a single animal, the only sound other than my huffing and puffing was the howl of the wind. Both steep sections of any significance are easily-traversable over convenient stone arrangements designed as steps. I’ve become accustomed to hiking with my hands on my hips, but I’m proud to say I made the hike to the top in under an hour, without stopping for a break (breaks to take pictures don’t count, shut up).

The climb up to the rock formation is the steepest part, and the AT climbs over the left side of the ridgeline to the right, dropping over the crest with High Rocks towering above. Just beyond the shadow of the rocks, a blue-blazed spur trail splits from the AT and climbs the back of the outcropping to the top.

 

 

 

The views from the top are spectacular. I had hiked to High Rocks once before, during the spring with the canopy filled with green. The leaves blocked the views which are otherwise breathtaking (the haze and cloudiness that day didn’t help). Regardless, with the wind whipping across the rock-face, it was a relief to finally see the full views from this beautiful vantage point. I dropped my pack and began snapping pictures; I even found a spot in the sun and out of the wind to snooze for a while before I had to race the quickly approaching dusk back to Spivey Gap.

 

 

Looking south toward Little Bald
 

Looking west toward Rocky Fork

 

Roan Mountain, towering 20 miles away

 

Unaka Mountain, shrouded in spruce

 

Little Bald, looking not-so-little

 

 

Despite the wind and the cold, this hike was wonderful. Making quick work of the trail afforded me the chance to relax amidst this world’s most beautiful scenery, the chance to put my feet up and reflect on all my blessings and how, despite my apparent fumbling to the contrary, my life keeps getting better and better. This past year has been great, and I hope 2014 is as good to each of us as 2013 was to me. I plan to embark on many more adventures this year, including marriage, and I can’t wait to continue on this trail with all the wonderful people in my life. Blessings to all in the new year!

And thanks for reading!