Call of the Mountains
Initially skeptical, a young man embraces nature firsthand and discovers unrivaled wonders.
Iwasn’t entirely sure what backpacking entailed, and I certainly didn’t understand why any civilized human being with air conditioning and cable television would want to partake in an activity of the sort. My understanding of backpacking involved rocky trails, mosquitoes and carnivorous animals.
My neighbor Keith, who is one of my best friends, is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys hiking, camping and other things that involve sweat and occasional discomfort. He wanted to help me experience the true beauty of nature and invited me to go backpacking with him. I was hesitant. I enjoy nights lying on top of my king-size mattress, and a night spent with the rocky ground poking my back was not the most tempting o er. However, Keith’s enthusiastic spirit won me over. We found an unoccupied weekend on the calendar and penciled in a backpacking trip.
UP THE TRAIL
The day of the trip, apprehension transformed into excitement. Keith loaded me down with backpacking essentials that I did not realize I needed. He gave me breathable clothing, a hiking stick, a backpack with a warm sleeping bag in it and numerous other necessities. The evening was finally upon us.
Keith, my friend Andrew and I headed toward our destination: Alabama’s Cheaha Mountain. We spent a couple of hours hiking at a steep incline, and soon my lungs were burning just as badly as my thighs. As we continued to hike, we periodically stopped to take in the beauty of nature. I didn’t realize what existed right in my
backyard. I live beside the most beautiful mountain in the state.
As night fell, we found a small ledge perfect for setting up camp. We started a fire and made some co ee. It was easily the best co ee that I have ever had. I am not sure whether the co ee was really that outstanding or whether it was just because we were miles up a mountain on a chilly spring night.
Conversation flowed among the three of us—real conversation, uninterrupted by television or smartphones. Sitting around a crackling fire, we shared stories about family members, trips and trail names. I swear the stars shine brighter when you look at them from atop a mountain. I found that stress does not exist in the midst of God’s most beautiful creation.
When we were ready for bed, we rolled out the sleeping bags. Keith and I slept without the protection of a tent—“cowboy style,” as he explained it. I fell asleep beside the campfire’s last dying embers while gazing at the stars.
A NEW DAY DAWNS
We woke up early, downed a cup of co ee and set out hiking to witness the sunrise from Bald Rock, one of the highest points in the park, at an elevation of 2,200-plus feet.
I was a tiny speck standing on top of the tallest mountain in my state, watching the sun chase away every lingering shadow. I have never felt so tiny and yet so filled with power at the same time. I had sneaked into nature with my two friends and taken a front-row seat to watch the world slowly come alive. It was not the same feeling as watching the sunrise from a kitchen window.
When you’ve climbed the rocky trails early on a chilly morning, you become a part of nature. You don’t watch the sunrise—you feel the sunrise.
My first time backpacking was an experience that is di cult to convey through this story. I discovered that the only way to truly experience the full romantic side of nature is to be a part of it. I learned it inspires a range of feelings and emotions that cannot be imagined, only experienced.
I fell asleep beside the campfire’s last dying embers while gazing at the stars.