The Teacher's Journey

I was recently asked at work to explain my philosophy of education in a short paragraph. I'm a special education teacher. I don't do anything normally. The following is my response. Credit goes to Joseph Campbell and his teachings about the monomyth and the "Hero's Journey" and to Big City Mountaineers for using this as their wilderness mentoring curriculum. 


There is a theory out there which proposes that nearly all stories, plays, myths, and even religious and/or psychological development follows the same general path. This Hero's Journey essentially takes place in twelve stages.

First, we begin in our ordinary world. For us, that may be our classrooms on a Monday morning or our kitchen counters waiting for the coffee to finish brewing so that we can wake up enough to take on the day. For our students, it might be hopping into their Land Rover SUV for the arduous five mile commute to the school. For yet others, this ordinary world may start with fighting with seven other brothers and sisters over who gets the bathroom next in their three bedroom apartment, funded primarily by the government.

Suddenly, there is some sort of "call to action". This is an event which introduces an interruption to the mundane. Maybe it's the student who comes in for help for the first time...and it's the third grading period. Perhaps it's a phone call from some distant friend in need of help. In any case, our normal routine has been shaken up. Because of a fear of the unknown, however, that call is refused. The preference to continue on with the status quo is far more attractive than stepping into an uncomfortable situation. You sip your vanilla latte and drive on.

You drive until you remember the words from someone, maybe even a mentor, from the past (or maybe it happens in the present) which offer wisdom, guidance, or even material assistance. Your thoughts then turn inward to tap courage from deep down. That realization of courage now takes you to the precipice of a major decision. Do I stay at school until five o'clock to help this kid with her math problem? Do I sacrifice an extra hour of sleep to hold a study session in the morning to get everyone ready for today's test? Do I give a kid a ride home after school because his parents forgot to pick him up? You are now entering into an unknown realm that is neither comforting nor convenient.

The next two steps involve going through minor tests and trials in which you discover new allies in your struggle to accomplish your task. You pass these people every day in the halls. Sometimes, it's even the people you least expected. As a collective though, you all know there is something bigger looming on the horizon.

Invariably, we reach the crux. This is a moment where we may feel overwhelmed, outmatched, and maybe even conquered. By pooling our newly collected resources though, we emerge with a new life. It's a new take on the way things are and the way they should be done.

Now we have some kind of "reward". Johnny passed his math test for the first time all year, or Sara finally learned to log into Google Docs without needing help with her password. This treasure is invaluable to us, but it is in danger of being lost again if continued effort is not sustained. The road back is gonna be bumpy. Cue the chase scene.

Just before we make it all the way back to "normal", there's one last challenge. Some might refer to this as the CRCTs or some other asinine standardized test. Still others will see this in a bigger light. Morgan has been emotionally abused for years by her father, and she's ready to give up, regardless of the small victories you've been able to help her accomplish this year so far. You strike a deal with her which requires a big sacrifice on your own behalf (at least at the time). The sacrifice pays off though. You learn that a few years later, she graduates high school and has been accepted into nursing school. She tells you you are the reason she made it.

Finally, you return home. You are different though, and you realize that the journey really isn't over. In fact, maybe it's only just begun, and it's up to you to carry on this newly discovered and earned "treasure". You, we, must now try to transform the world around us as we have been transformed ourselves. Then, get ready to do it all again next August.

Man, that was long.

Way Past Ten

The psych level in my house just went way past ten. Why, you ask? It's because of who I just found out will be joining our team for this year's Summit for Someone climb of Mount Shasta in June. First, here's an update on the trip.

I always come away from conference calls with Darin Fearday, director of the Summit for Someone program at Big City Mountaineers, with way more excitement about my next fund raising mountaineering trip, and this call wasn't any different. After a quick introduction to everyone in our newly formed climbing team, Darin started discussing some of the details about our upcoming climb of Mount Shasta. We are going to be one of at least eight teams that will be scaling the mountain as part of a nation-wide fundraiser being put on by Backpacker Magazine in June to raise money for Big City Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs wilderness mentoring expeditions for at-risk youth. Each member in our group has pledged to raise $4,000 to help support BCM's programs. This money will be enough to cover the cost for two groups of five teens to participate in a week-long backpacking mentoring trip this summer without a single cent coming from their own pockets. We have seven guys on our team, so we will end up raising $28,000, enough to pay for 70 teens to experience the healing power of the mountains! Talk about awesome.

The conversation then turned to all the great sponsors who will be kicking in free gear and support for the climbers to help them with their trips. Brands like The North Face, SOLE, Eddie Bauer/First Ascent, Lowa, Black Diamond, and others are all big supporters of BCM and are collaborating to make this a truly amazing, fund raising event. I mean seriously, there are two things that just never ever seem to get old: Christie Brinkley and free gear packages.

Finally, Darin got to the part I was really waiting for. This is my fourth time climbing for Summit for Someone, and on the last two, I've gotten to climb with some of the biggest names in the climbing world. In 2012 I was led to the summit of Mount Rainier by none other than Dave Hahn (15 summits of Everest, kinda a big deal). In 2013 on Mount Whitney, I was on a rope team with "Mr. Everest" himself, Pete Athans. It was therefore of no surprise, but plenty of excitement, when I heard Darin state that this time, our "guest climber" would be The North Face's very own Cedar Wright. If you aren't familiar with his work, Cedar is a highly accomplished rock climber who is quite skilled in free-solo, aid, and free climbing. He's also a pretty damn good filmmaker, often writing his own music to accompany the footage. It's going to be simply incredible sharing time on the mountain with him and the rest of our crew (including Darin himself!).

For more information on my climb, including how to make a donation, check out some of the other posts here on my blog, or visit my climber page. From first-hand experience as a mentor on BCM's trips, I can personally attest to how effective these programs are in the lives of teens across the country. Help BCM and their volunteer mentors touch the lives of thousands more this summer. Watch the video below to get the idea.

Accepting Responsibility

Tonight at the climbing gym my partner and I started off with some easy routes. Because of the holiday break, the two of us had essentially been away from a wall for almost a month. Yes, I had come in a few times to get some solo bouldering practice and do some core and general strength building exercises, but I just don't think there's a substitute for the endurance training that roped climbing can provide. So, I probably shouldn't have been so irritated with my pathetic performance this evening when I decided to take on a project 5.10 after a few 5.8 warm ups. I worked the first several moves with relative ease, but soon I came to the first crux. I struggled, failed, hung, flailed, and floundered around for at least a handful of attempts before deciding to just hang for a moment in anticipation of mustering my courage and remaining strength for one more attempt.

At that moment, however, I looked down to realize that a young man of maybe 15 years old was making his way up the same wall that I was on doing an exercise called "taps" on a 5.8 (taps is when you tap each hand hold for 5 seconds before moving on). I was initially surprised and shocked by this climber's lack of awareness of safety and common climbing etiquette. I was pissed, and it completely ruined any "mojo" I had amassed in my efforts to tackle a challenging new climb. I stewed for some time, and after wrapping up the evening with an anti-climactic climb of yet another 5.8, I called it an evening, somehow blaming my failure on a kid who was clearly twice the climber I am.

The reality is this: I was more upset at my shortcoming than I was at the kid's ignorance. Sure, there's a lesson that he needs to learn, but I believe my lesson is more important. Essentially it boils down to this: WORK HARDER. If I was a better, stronger climber, I wouldn't be getting upset at a kid barely into his teens who basically grew impatient with the "old man" struggling above him. I can make a thousand excuses for why I was a terrible climber tonight, but really, I know the truth is that I can push myself much harder than I have been. It's time to get serious.

Summit for Someone 2014

Mount Shasta. Photo courtesy of Shasta Mountain Guides (shastaguides.com)

Summit for Someone campaign number four is now under way! This time, I will be climbing 14,179ft. Mount Shasta in California as a member of the Backpacker Magazine team to help benefit the at-risk teens Big City Mountaineers serves. With your help and my summit attempt, BCM will reach over 2000 at-risk teens nationwide.

This summer, I had the opportunity to help guide on two of BCM's week-long wilderness mentoring expeditions. We took teens from Miami and Oakland to some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring locations in the country in Yosemite and the Mammoth Lakes area of the Sierras. On both trips, I was able to see first hand the dollars from Summit for Someone campaigns as well as corporate donations from BCM's amazing sponsors hard at work. I can personally attest that every penny helped make a difference for each of the teens on those trips. Our time in the backcountry was filled with good times, learning, challenges, and most importantly, overcoming obstacles (both physical and mental) that were once thought insurmountable. All of this was possible because of donations from people just like you.  

Leading teens from Oakland through the Mammoth Lakes area near Mount Ritter and Banner Peak this July.

Please consider making a donation to my climb this year. Not only will the money go toward supporting yet another summer full of transformative mentoring experiences for teens across the country, this time, the money is also going to help BCM expand. If things go according to plan, BCM is looking to establish its first East Coast operation in the Atlanta area in the next 2-3 years. This has been a dream of mine for quite some time now, and it is finally beginning to happen. Help me bring Big City Mountaineers to the Atlanta area so that we can reach even more at-risk youth! As always, no contribution is too small, and thank you in advance for donating on my behalf!

Product Review: Mosquitno BandZzz and SpotZzz

Mosquitno adult and kids BandZzz and SpotZzz

“The sun shines and warms and lights us, and we have no curiosity to know why this is so, but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain and hunger and mosquitoes and silly people.” Ralph Waldo Emerson probably didn't know why mosquitoes exist, but just like the rest of us, he knew they were among the most despicable creatures to ever make their residence on this planet. The battle between man and mosquito has raged for years, and in warfare tactics that would make evil dictators around the world smile, we've resorted to dousing ourselves in chemicals that are known to cause a variety of maladies. If you're searching for a safer, non-toxic way to fight off the mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other no-see-ums that try to make life in the outdoors a miserable experience, Mosquitno just might have an answer with their natural insect repellent BandZ and SpotZ products. 

Product Information

Not a fan of using caustic chemicals like DEET to ward off the ravages of bugs? Neither am I. However, Mosquitno has come up with an all-natural solution. Silicon wrist bands have recently become popular, but other than supporting a philosophical cause, they didn't necessarily serve a functional, every-day purpose. Enter Mosquitno's 15% citronella-infused BandZ. Citronella, a natural, plant-based insect repellent, is widely known to help keep biting insects away and is safe for humans, including small children. A typical citronella candle contains somewhere in the neighborhood of 3% oil. Research conducted by the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada showed a 42.3% reduction in the number of bites received by subjects who used citronella-based candles as opposed to subjects who used no type of insect repellent at all. The Mosquitno BandZ (and SpotZ) use five times the concentration of citronella oil as do the candles, which translates into more effectiveness.

Additional bonuses of using the BandZ and SpotZ: The smoke and scent from citronella candles can easily be blown away by a subtle breeze. Wristbands and spots are attached to your body, clothing, or other items, meaning you are constantly in the "protection zone". When used as a spray or lotion, citronella must be applied every 30-60 minutes to maintain effectiveness. The BandZ (up to 6 days) and SpotZ (up to 72 hours) work constantly without the need for reapplication. Another nice feature is these products are completely portable. They weigh next to nothing and are perfect for outdoor activities ranging from backyard fun to backpacking in the backcountry. The SpotZ stickers are even reusable and can attach to a variety of surfaces such as shorts, hats, or backpacks. Lastly, citronella is 100% natural and non-toxic. This means you don't have to worry about putting your clothes, yourself, or your children in harm's way just to have fun outside.

Testing Results

Testing the SpotZ and BandZ included a variety of locations. A day hike through Line Creek Nature Area in Peachtree City, GA. alongside the namesake creek and past several marshy spots replete with stagnant pools of water was bug-free.

I also spent time around my neighborhood, searching for mosquito-prone locations. Each time, no bites. To really test the products though, I knew I needed to find a spot notorious for its flesh-hungry invertebrates. What better place than Cumberland Island National Seashore in south Georgia?

Salt marsh on Cumberland Island. Feral horses in background.

Each year I go with my students on a field trip to the Driftwood Education Center. The main part of the trip is a visit to Cumberland Island, hiking through maritime forests and salt marshes. I left the BandZ and SpotZ in their packages to get a sample of the bug activity. Within 30 minutes, people began to complain of bites to legs and arms. The main culprits: sand gnats. If you've ever spent time near the coast, you know just how annoying and relentless these little vampires can be. I tolerated about as much as I could before deciding it was time to put Mosquitno's claims to the test. I donned the wristband and applied a SpotZ to my backpack. The kids immediately showed interest in both products, lending credibility to their popularity with children. Adults commented they could smell the citronella right away. Soon, while I was relatively comfortable and satisfied, others continued to vigorously slap at their legs and arms.

Conclusion

I don't know if there is much short of a personal nuclear weapon that would keep someone 100% free of sand gnats. However, the weapon would likely cause unwanted side effects, just like DEET or other chemical bug repellents on the market today. Instead, consider Mosquitno's BandZ and SpotZ to help protect yourself and loved ones in a safe, effective, and toxin-free method. I still don't know why mosquitoes exist, but now at least I have a way to keep them at bay, thanks to Mosquitno.

Moquitno BandZzz come in a variety of colors and designs.

Disclosure: Into My Wild was provided the complimentary Mosquitno wrist band and stickers via Deep Creek PR (@DeepCreekPR) for the purpose of testing and product feedback. There was no monetary compensation for this review.

Inspiration in Atlanta

The name Leonardo likely conjures up a variety of images and memories that are specific to each of us as we grew up. For many in my generation, he was the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, clad with blue bandanna and katana swords. On perhaps a more serious level, Leonardo is the genius inventor, engineer, artist and quintessential renaissance man from Italy who helped inspire many of the ideas which permeate the world as we know it today. As cool as the Ninja Turtles are, however, it's the latter image that usually evokes inspiration and ambition.

For me, that inspiration was initiated during my late teenage years in the summer of 1996. That year, I met a young boy of age five or six named after that famous historical figure who unknowingly planted a seed in my heart that has apparently taken nearly 17 years to germinate. Leo came across my path while I was with my church youth group. In those days, we would spend our weekends working with an inner-city ministry group based out of Atlanta, home to some of the oldest housing projects in the nation. During our trips we would visit places like Carver Homes, Hollywood Courts, etc. and take the afternoon to simply spend time with the kids who lived in those locations. It was incredible to see how badly they just wanted someone to sit and listen to their stories and give them a few hours of attention. It was Leo's story that sticks with me to this very day.

The specifics of the tale now elude me after so many years, but in general, Leo told us of how he saw his father murdered in front of him over a drug deal gone bad. In particular, I remember him sitting there, well-groomed, clad in multiple gold rings, a gold necklace and brand new Nike shoes as he recounted the event of his father's demise, telling us of the multiple gunshots his father received to the face. Those words coming out of the mouth of a child who was less than 7years old were impactful to say the least.

Obviously, one question that may come to mind is, Why does this kid have gold rings and new Nike shoes if he is so needy? The "support" he was receiving made me wonder. Obviously his material needs seemed to be getting met, but what about his emotional needs? What about his experiences with adults and his point of view on how the world works? From just a few minutes of conversation with the young man, I could tell that these more important issues where not being positively resolved. Only now though, after years of thinking back on this experience, do I start to come to some revelations. It's not Leo's fault that he had to witness what he did. It's not Leo's fault he had to grow up where he did. It's not Leo's fault that he had a litany of prescribed excuses for failure laid out in front of him before he probably even knew how to walk. However, it is OUR fault if we choose to ignore the problems of kids like Leo and still expect society to improve. That said, there is something we can do.

Backpacker Magazine and BCM Team 6 on the summit of Mount Whitney this past April. Team members L-R starting at the back: Jayson Yagi, Sean Estep, Nikki Flavio, Forrest Schwab (guide), Judd Glasser, Keita Sakon, Thomas Greene (guide), Lucas Hendrickson, Peter Athans (professional climber for The North Face).

Positive adult mentoring and leadership can make a huge difference in the lives of children like Leo, and there's a movement coming here to Atlanta to help make that happen. Big City Mountaineers is a non-profit organization based out of Colorado that seeks to influence the lives of disadvantaged youth through wilderness mentoring programs. I have taken on the task of helping establish Atlanta as one of the next hub cities for BCM within the next 2-3 years. The journey begins with the recruitment of individuals willing to participate in BCM's Summit for Someone program which serves as a major source of funding for the mentoring programs and the week-long expeditions that serve as the centerpiece of the participants' experience. As a three-time SFS climber myself, I can personally attest to the fact that these climbs are absolutely incredible. You get to take part in trips with some of the best guides on the planet and meet people like Dave Hahn and Peter Athans who are some of the greatest climbers in the world. Each trip has its own special surprise, but the only way to find out is to sign up! When you do, be sure to drop my name to Darin Fearday (director of the SFS program) to let him know you want to see BCM here on the East Coast.

Additionally, I am working to establish local connections with businesses and individuals who are willing to help support a BCM operation in Atlanta. To give you a better idea of who these programs help and how successful they are, take a look at the data below from BCM's own website:

The Facts on BCM Youth:

• 100% are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs.
• 83% are from families that report an average household income of $15,000 or less.
• 71% are from single parent or guardian-led households.
• “Not interested” is the number one reason for lack of outdoor participation by non-Caucasian youth.
• 7hrs a day is the average screen time spent by urban youth.

The Results of BCM Programs:

• 88% of BCM youth report that they will apply what they learned from their BCM trip, and it will help them in their future and in their day-to-day life.
• 100% of BCM youth report significant improvements in these key areas:
  - Commitment to Learning: motivation to do well in school, does homework, reads for pleasure.
  - Positive Values: cares for other people, promotes equality, has integrity, is honest and responsible.
  - Social Competencies: plans and makes good decisions, can resist peer pressure, seeks to resolve conflict non-violently.
  - Positive Identity: feels in control, has high self-esteem, is optimistic about personal future.
• In 2012, Big City Mountaineers delivered over 1,800 program days (1 Program Day = One youth participating for one day) of recreational mentoring to our teen participants in four regions, including the Rocky Mountains, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest and the San Francisco Bay Area.

You'll notice that the Southeast is presently missing from that list of regions, but that is about to change. I can't do it alone though, so if you or someone you know would like to help, please contact me. Let's give stories like Leo's an incredibly positive and inspiring ending.

Big City Mountaineers: Southern Fried Edition

At the summit of 14,508ft. (4,422m) Mount Whitney on April 28th, 2013.

I just wanted to take a second and again thank everyone who helped contribute to my Backpacker Magazine and Summit for Someone climb of Mount Whitney for Big City Mountaineers. Team 6 absolutely crushed! The trip was amazing and full of memories and experiences that will be with me for a lifetime. It also has served as the starting point of a new chapter in my life.

After speaking with BCM Executive Director Lisa Mattis, I am taking the next step and planning to join a BCM group of Miami-based teens this summer on a backpacking trip through Yosemite as part of their week long mentoring expedition. This will be a great chance for me to learn the curriculum and inner-workings of BCM so that I can bring that knowledge and message back home and start the groundwork of helping to establish Atlanta as one of the next BCM hub cities within the next 2-3 years.

To make that happen, I will be looking to recruit 20-25 people from around the Southeast who are interested in signing up for a Summit for Someone climb. The money raised by those climbers will be a huge part of funding this new project. Additionally, I will be working to establish connections with local individuals and businesses who would be willing to help contribute services and/or financial support to the establishment of an Atlanta-based BCM operation. This will include potential activities and events in which the youth would participate (ie. day hikes, overnight camping trips, rock climbing trips, paddling trips, etc.).

I am extremely excited to be a part of this project. It's going to take a lot of hard work, time and patience, but accomplishing something great is rarely easy. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Summit for Someone climber, or if you know anyone who would be willing to contribute in some other way, please don't hesitate to contact me via email. You can also message me on Facebook  or Twitter!

Shining Through

Looking West from Flowery Gap on the Art Loeb Trail.

"We've got some options, for sure." The words came from my slightly out-of-breath hiking partner and new friend, Chris LaFond, as we paused to rest at Deep Gap and the foot of Cold Mountain (yes, the one from the book and subsequent movie). After stomping out approximately 10 miles of backcountry trail in the last 4 hours while carrying 40lb packs, we had a decision to make. Despite our observance of the antiquated practice that is daylight savings, sunlight was becoming a fleeting commodity.

Our hike through the Shining Rock Wilderness area of North Carolina had been scheduled as a training event for our respective Summit for Someone climbs of The Grand Teton (Chris), and Mount Whitney (me), and the experience was all we were hoping for and more. Primarily, the goal for the weekend was to get in as much fitness at altitude as our bodies and the geography of the Blue Ridge Mountains could provide us, but we also wanted to be casual enough to actually enjoy the trip and all the scenic beauty there was to take in. Part of the Pisgah National Forest and one of the first locations in the East to receive the designation of Wilderness Area in 1964 (Because before the government's wisdom, it wasn't wild?), the Shining Rock Wilderness is a part of Western North Carolina that I have absolutely fallen in love with. Multiple peaks rise above 6,000 feet, rivers and streams flow as clear as crystal and panoramic vistas abound. At the heart of it all, is a mountain bejeweled with a deposit of snowy-white quartz that is visible from miles away, and a trail runs through it.

That trail, named for a man whose doctor once prescribed walking as treatment for a recent heart attack, has been referred to by some as a mini-A.T. Take out the 2,000+ miles and 6 months of travel, and yeah, I can sort of see that comparison. Actually, this hike proved to be quite therapeutic indeed. It had been a stressful last couple of weeks at work, and there's not a shrink's couch in the world that can compare with Mother Nature. No she isn't going to sit and listen to you bitch about your boss, how much you think you are underpaid, or how mommy or daddy didn't hug you enough as a kid. She doesn't have time for that. Instead, she offers a chance to take perspective by putting the onus back on ourselves. Superficial problems tend to melt away and fade into the distance when you're on (and sometimes off) the trail. Priorities change.

When you know that it will get close to the freezing point that night, you become concerned with essential things like food, water and shelter. As we traversed the trail which skirts along a ridge above Graveyard Fields just south of the southern border of the wilderness area, Chris and I began looking for a place to establish camp for the night. Graveyard Fields is a unique area just off the Blue Ridge Parkway where, as history would typically have it, man found another way to make his imprint on the land by causing devastating fires which scorched the land so much that the soil became nearly barren. What now exists is a high elevation meadow at the base of Black Balsam Knob where the Yellowstone Prong of the Pigeon River finds its beginnings. It was the trickle of that water source that drew our attention. Chris pointed out that down in the floor of the valley was enough dry fuel (for a fire) to choke a mule, a reliable water source, shelter from the winds that were beginning to pick up, and plenty of trees from which we could hang our food in hopes of denying any prowling bears (last year the whole area was shut down due to an abundance of visits from Ursus americanus). The only problem? We had to bushwhack about 200ft. downhill through briars and brambles in order to reach our Eden for the evening. Priorities.

As Chris blew into a bundle of dried grass and flower heads to spark the fire to life, a few moments of rest and relaxation were finally upon us. Dinner had been cooked and consumed, reloading on the carbohydrates and proteins needed for proper recovery and another long day on the trail, and all edibles were stowed high in a tree for safe-keeping until morning. As night slowly crept in, the two of us sat captivated and mesmerized by the flickering, snapping, popping flames that bathed us in an island of light and warmth, an island whose borders continually shifted - expanding and contracting - as each log carried out the process of carbonizing into charred sticks. At some point, in an hour of night much earlier than either of us expected, the simultaneous decision to retire for the evening was made. Stepping beyond the warming embrace of the fire was a bit of a shock to my senses, but only for the moment it took to scurry up to the tent and slide into the down-insulated warmth of my sleeping bag. Tomorrow's day would begin with another bushwhack up the hill and back to the trail, followed by an ensuing 1,000ft climb to the summit of Black Balsam Knob, highest point on the Art Loeb. Multiple 6,000ft peaks and endless views awaited us, but first, some well-deserved sleep.

Chris looking out from Shining Rock.

The next day was spent riding the roller coaster that is Section 3 of the Art Loeb Trail, including summits of Black Balsam, Tennet, and Flower Knob, each penetrating the 6,000ft barrier. The highlight, however, had to be the gigantic mountain-top exposure of quartz aptly named Shining Rock. The most abundant mineral on the planet, quartz is rumored to have several spiritual properties, including being especially effective against chronic fatigue, arthritis, bone injuries, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, intestinal issues, mental and physical energy loss, lack of stamina, and lack of physical strength. While the scientific evidence may still be thin on these claims, the rejuvenation I felt after spending time in this area is equally thin on comparison. Chris and I climbed onto the face of this natural phenomenon, and for a while, simply stood in awe of nature's beauty.

We spent a while resting here and taking in the surroundings that could easily have served as a Peter Jackson backdrop. With renewed spirits, we eventually pried ourselves away and continued our hike toward Cold Mountain where a decision had to be made. Light was a fading resource. After weighing out the options, the choice came down to this: make a push to summit Cold Mountain, camp without a fire among the several others who had recently entered the camping area, and then head home in the morning with both of us having to work on Tuesday OR, continue on to the western terminus of our trip at Camp Daniel Boone, roll into the city of Brevard, partake in some of the local cuisine and brew at The Square Root, and then take time Monday to soak in the infamous tubs at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa before heading back to Georgia. This was a no-brainer.

From the trail, the roof of my Subaru glinted only faintly in the dim light of sunset as we left the Shining Rock Wilderness for the creature comforts of craft brew and gourmet burgers. It was a hike that, while perhaps cut a day short, was one of the most rewarding and mentally cleansing I've had in quite some time. Monday morning we awoke early, procured breakfast from the Smoky Mountain Diner, and then headed downtown to relax for a bit in the hot springs for which the town is famous.

I drove home feeling like a new man. Mystical or not, the healing powers of Shining Rock and its surrounding wilderness area left an indelible mark on my soul that continues to shine through, even if only in some small way, that I hope to carry with me for quite some time.

26 Reasons to Do the Right Thing

Let me preface this entry by reminding you that I am a middle school special education teacher of 10 years...now, on to the story.

So it only took a few weeks for it to happen, but finally, someone with a dollar-sniffing lawyer shrouded in the guise of doing good, has emerged from the chaos of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. To the tune of $100 million, Irving Pinsky of New Haven, CT, has filed a lawsuit that is backed by the altruistic motive that, "It's about living in a world that's safe." Pinsky goes on to claim that the school system failed to protect the victims, of whom most were between the ages of 5-7 years, from "foreseeable harm".

My words here will most assuredly fail in expressing the frustration, irritation, and general disgust that I felt (and still feel) regarding this latest moment in human history. Does change need to happen? Most assuredly. Does perspective need to be taken? Beyond doubt. The details are all there, or perhaps they aren't, to convince you that this latest action is both ill-researched and ill-conceived. By his own admission, Mr. Pinsky acknowledges that he doesn't even know the extent to which his client was witness to the events on that horrible day. However, he does point to her hearing over the loudspeaker system in the school building the events that unfolded: the shouting, pleading, threats and unforgiving gunshots, all harbingers of what was about to reign down upon the rest of the Sandy Hook inhabitants that December morning. It was this "morning broadcast" that Pinsky sites as the impetus of his client's distress, yet was it not also her blessing in disguise? Without the mass communication, how many others would have fallen victim to a madman's (mad young man's) violent rage? If Mr. Irving wants to really make a statement and change the practices of how we protect our children at school, why not ask for policy change and reformation without attaching a dollar amount to the request? Yes, I know that money makes the world go 'round, but perhaps the loss of so many innocent lives is inspiration enough to incite a change.

A few years ago, I was involved in a car accident which resulted in my body sustaining multiple bone fractures and bruises, including 3 fractures in my left wrist and elbow and a compression fracture of my L2 vertebrae. In the legal sense of the situation, the blame for the accident lay upon the shoulders of the person who drove the 15-passenger Econoline van ahead of my little 2004 VW Golf GTI. When I careened into the 10ft. ditch on the side of the road where I had taken evasive action to miss the van as it came to an abrupt stop and resulting roll to avoid the stopped vehicle in it's path, a lawsuit was the farthest thing from my mind. However, that very proposition was presented to me just a few days after I was released from the hospital. At first I felt the self-righteous entitlement of, "Yeah, it's all that stupid person's fault that I just had to burn through a month's worth of sick days and lay on my back for nearly as long. I deserve some compensation!" As the legal process then began to proceed, I realized that this was not the right thing to do. There's no telling what was going on in that driver's life the day the mistake was made. It could easily have been myself in that seat behind the wheel. Besides, what good would a lawsuit do? It would ultimately have come out of the insurance company's pocket anyway, and that cost eventually would have been trickled back into society in the form of higher premiums. My real payoff: discovering that the van was filled with students from the county in which I live, ranging in ages from 7-18, and that not one of them was harmed in the accident. Please don't mistake this as some kind of weak comparison to what happened in the northeast, or that those events were a mistake in any sense.

My point is this: Suing for money doesn't make people sorry; it just makes them pissed. If you want real change, hang your claim on a noble purpose that isn't tainted with the veil of greed. Instead of forcing the state of Connecticut to pay $100 million, why not find a way to raise that money to support the community efforts voluntarily. Like I said, there is plenty of motivation...at least 26 reasons by my count.

Mattress Fires and Meat

Sooo...while sitting in the tire shop the other day waiting for them to tell me that they in fact cannot plug the hole that a 6" screw left in my tire (they originally said it would be "no problem"), I encountered a woman from the islands. Our meeting was aloof at first, as she just kept standing precariously close behind me while I sat in the waiting area watching a show on the TV there about people living in some kind of commune in a state I can't remember where everyone participates in farming the local garden and lives "off the grid". Our initial contact came when, in reference to the earth-style home being featured that consisted of untreated wood, she asked me, "What do they do when the termites eat away the supports?" My reply was, "Well I guess it will be a bad day." And I thought that would be the end of it. However, I was soon to discover much more about this lady than I ever thought I would about a stranger I met in a tire store waiting room. She went on to tell me about her son, who now has a family of his own and is docile and successful, but was once so hyper and impulsive that he set fire to his bed mattress because he wanted to show his mother what a pretty fire looked like and once poured a rare Jamaican perfume all over her bed because he wanted her to sleep in a room that smelled nice.
 

Through the ramblings of our conversation, we also ended up stumbling upon the topic of food...namely meat and where it comes from. She brought up a familiar story about how chickens are raised and what their hormonal impact is on people today, and I mentioned the fact that essentially, all of the meat in this country is controlled by 4-5 companies. She then, without warning, mentioned the name "Monsanto" with the same disdain that you might utter the word "cancer". Her direct quote was, "Monsanto is the Devil", and after I laughed out loud, I replied, "That's what I hear." If you want a peek at the other side of this agricultural pillow, click here.

After a little more conversation, and her revelation that she is now a vegan vegetarian, we parted ways, as I was called into the work bay to be told by the mechanic that he could not repair my damaged tire.

I'm struggling to find a good conclusion to this story, but when the kind Jamaican lady mentioned the chickens back on the island and how they used to fly up into the trees to roost for the night, I thought I'd share it with you.

Cheers!

A Diverse Group and a Legend

Apologies for the brevity, but free time has been increasingly short as we approach the first day as a group on the mountain. Yesterday we finally got to meet the rest of the members of our team. Ability wise, as well as geographically, it seems we span the spectrum. Some of the climbers are from areas like Boston and Washington, D.C.. Others are from Kansas, Denver, and even a relative local from right here in Washington. Oh yeah, Georgia is represented too. In terms of ability and experience, it appears we are equally diverse. A few guys have climbed several 14ers, including one member who has done work for NOLS and even served as a recreation specialist for the Army (civilian). We do have 2 climbers who are part of our military (Army and Navy). On the other end of that spectrum, we have a young couple from Kansas with little to no experience in climbing (Sound kinda familiar? See last year's SFS climb). The best part about all of this though is getting to meet new people who all want to do something big for a great cause.

The highlight of yesterday had to be finding out that Dave Hahn will be our lead guide on the trip. If you don't know who he is (and I don't expect many of you in Georgia would), look him up. He's pretty much a rock star in the climbing world, and he's one of the top mountaineers in the world. Just returning from Mt. McKinley, he takes on the chore of leading us up Rainier in just a few days.

Today we head into the park to begin our one-day climbing school. Tomorrow we begin our attempt at the summit. More to come as soon as I can. Pray for our safety...and that we have fun! Off to breakfast now.

Appearances Aren't Everything

A Starbucks grande latte, bars of dark chocolate, or maybe cocaine. Those were my guesses as to what obviously was being given away for free in the airplane bathroom as we cruised from Atlanta, across the Mississippi River, over the Rockies, and finally into the bustling emerald city of Seattle. In the span of about four and a half hours, I swear half the population of Washington visited the facilities. And guess whose seat got changed to its new location just outside the door of this mystical, magical dispensary (or perhaps depository)? You guessed it. Apparently, the only thing missing behind  door number 1 was an exhaust fan...nice.

Aside from the steady stream of people coming and going next to my seat (see what I did there?), the flight wasn't too bad. We arrived at our destination thirty minutes ahead of schedule with enough sunlight left to catch an aerial glimpse of the uppermost reaches of Mt. Rainier's 14,410 foot peak rising above the clouds like a dark and brooding monarch standing over his subjects. In a few days, I'll be standing on top of that peak...at least that's the plan.

After navigating my way to a sweet rental car that resembled a jelly bean with great gas mileage, I made my way down to a quaint neighborhood just outside of Olympia. Here, a couch was waiting for me as my crash pad for the evening. The couch, and the house it resided in, belonged to one of the guys who would be joining our climbing group in a few days to summit Rainier. A member of the Navy and probably around 5'7" in his mid to late twenties, Eric graciously opened his home to me, a complete stranger, for the night without many questions. It's good to see hospitality doesn't only reside in the South.

This morning I awoke around 6am, thanked Eric again for his generosity, and headed on down to Ashford. Unlike other towns found just outside the entrance to a national park, this place is pretty spartan in its appearance, and maybe that's a good thing. Aside from the campuses of the two main guide services who apparently run most of the mountaineering trips in the park, and a few scattered cafes and diners along the road leading right up to the park gate, there's a noticeable lack of the typical tourist trap businesses that try to sell you things like a chunk of granite they claim is "your very own piece of Mount Rainier". The town also isn't over-crowded with RVs and tons of families wanting to do little more than drive through a national park in their cars, snap some photos, and give in to little Johnny's demanding of a mountain-sized basket of french fries. In fact, it seems most of the people here are either elderly couples wanting a quite time away from the city, or ambitious climbers who want to take on the most glaciated peak in the lower 48. It isn't much to look at, but Ashford seems to be serving its purpose and avoiding the carbon-monoxide choked masses at the same time.

Since I had time to kill before checking in to my bunk at Whittaker's Bunkhouse, I decided to drive into the park and ride up to Paradise and the visitor's center to get some info on day hikes. The bug to get on the mountain was too strong to resist, and I needed to spend some time at higher altitudes in an effort to acclimatize, so I changed into some appropriate clothes and hiked the five mile Skyline Trail loop, cresting at around 7,000 feet before descending back to the Paradise parking lot. The views were breathtaking, and it was the perfect way to spend the better part of the day.

Tomorrow, I plan to visit the other side of the mountain and hike a trail or two near the Sunrise area. It may also be a day to meet up with the first arrivals of our climbing party. I don't mind flying solo for the moment, but a little company will be welcome. Until tomorrow...  

Off to the PNW

Today I leave for Seattle and the great Pacific Northwest. In a few days I'll be taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Rainier with 8 other climbers from across the country as prt of Big City Mountaineers and their Summit for Someone program. Over the next 8 days, I'll try to post and update as much as I can as I explore not only the geography of the area surrounding the mountain, but also the makeup of the different people who will be a part of this climb and why they are volunteering.

Tonight I'll be carried westward via the good folks at Delta and will spend the evening just outside of Olympia on the couch at the home of one of the members of our climbing party (thanks again, Eric). Then tomorrow I'll make the drive into Ashford and set up my home away from home on a bunk at Whittaker's Bunkhouse. More to come soon.

For the Sake of What's Right

Service. It's the topic I've been asked to speak on for my school's annual Beta Club induction ceremony. Let me preface this post by saying that, due to an onset of writer's block, the following writing will probably be abrupt, convoluted, non sequitur, and riddled with grammatical errors. Please bear with (hanging preposition).

You would think that coming up with 10 minutes of rhetoric to entertain a group of middle school students would be easy enough, but that seems to be eluding me at the moment. Service is the act of giving of one's self for the ultimate betterment of mankind, even if only in some small way, without the expectation or compensation of praise or personal gain. That sounds about right, doesn't it? The real challenge though, lies in the very words, "without the expectation or compensation of praise or personal gain". Here's the thing. Serving can feel really good. And why shouldn't it? I mean, you ARE doing something good, aren't you? However, the key thing to realize, whenever you are doing any kind of serving, is that you must keep in mind that you are doing this thing because it is the RIGHT thing to do. The fact that it is good is in fact the driving force, not the reaction that you may or may not get from the people on the receiving end of your deed. This is the lesson that I learned this past Christmas.

I had one of those "revelation moments" last December where the clouds parted, and the light hit me just right, and I remembered the true meaning of Christmas...presents! Ok, Ok, giving and sacrifice. With that in mind, I decided that I would head downtown and volunteer with an organization in Atlanta that, among other things, served Christmas dinner to disadvantaged families. After seeing a post on their Facebook page requesting help with getting the donated meals from the restaurant to the place where the meals would actually be served, I volunteered to be the transporter. I contacted the head chef at the restaurant, and I even went so far as to call the guy who was running the program to ensure everything was set.

The next day, Christmas Eve, I drove the 60 miles from my house to the restaurant and pulled into the parking lot actually excited to pick up the food. I walked in only to discover that someone else had gotten the food (an hour before I was told it would even be available), and basically, my efforts were in vain. I drove home with my sister (whom I had convinced to join me), and trying to make light of the situation, stopped by Starbucks and grabbed two Peppermint Mocha Frappucinos, just to take the sting out of the issue.

After having our customary cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, my sister and I loaded back up in the car and headed back to Atlanta to do the serving we had promised to do. As the familes began to pile into the crowded confines of the building, we learned that each volunteer would be matched up with a family and would be spending the afternoon in fellowship learning the personal stories of each family member. Now keep in mind that these families are all supposed to be economically disadvantaged, so imagine my surprise when I saw that each person in my assigned family was carrying a cell phone with internet capability and was actively using that ability. But why did I assume that just because they have cell phones that they didn't need some kind of support? We spent the afternoon in gradually more and more casual conversations about anything from NBA hoops to complaints about our jobs (but thankful for having one at all), and it dawned on me that this is what my service on this day was all about. Namely, not me. To share, even if for only a few hours, common concerns, complaints, and the occasional debate over Falcons vs. Saints, it meant that regardless of our situations, we were all just people trying to get through life. See, that's the thing about serving. You usually end up getting as much if not more out of what you do than the people who are the actual recipients. Shhhh...don't tell anyone.

So, am I saying that service is really fueled by some self-aggrandizing motive? Not exactly. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once tried to describe this situation in a sermon he entitled "The Drum Major Instinct". His conlcusion was that if things were kept in perspective, this innate drive can be one of the most powerful and effective forces on Earth in the name of service, and each of us holds this ability within ourselves. And with that, I'll discontinue this rambling post and leave you with some far more coherent words from a far wiser man than I. I told you I would be abrupt.

"Everybody can be great...because everybody can serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. And you can be that servant." - MLK, Jr.

Please, as always, feel free to share your opinions, good, bad, and in between.

A Life in Flux

Changes and Progress...

Those are the two words that I would choose to best describe what my life has seemed to be full of over the last few months, and it's funny how meeting someone can bring all that about. The changes have been widespread and in depth, ranging from diet to time management to philanthropy, with fitness sprinkled in along the way. You know, the typical kinds of projects your average, suburban weekend-warrior takes on.

I'm continuing to focus on my nutrition, and my eating habits are now becoming standardized. The vegetables are organic, most meats and poultry products are grass-fed or cage-free, the sugar has been replaced by agave nectar, and the milk has been replaced by almond milk. I'm cooking just about every night for dinner, and fried food and fast food essentially no longer exist in my vocabulary. The results? I'm maintaining a steady weight of 176lbs, down from 185lbs since December. Body-fat percentage has visibly decreased, almost none of my 34in. waist-size jeans fit me anymore, and there is an overall sense of just “feeling better” that I carry with me throughout each day. I actually like the food that I eat, and I don't walk away from meals thinking, “Man, those 3,000 calorie chicken fingers were so good.”

Does focusing on eating better foods and creating more home-cooked meals take some adjustment to the time schedule? Of course, and that's why I have also decided to cut back on my soccer coaching career. The spring brings with it a hiatus from club soccer, as the high school aged players are currently all involved with their school teams. This has given me a break from the typical week of 4 training days, 400+ commuting miles, and 14-hour work days. Remember, I also have a career as a special education teacher in a middle school? When the fall rolls around, I'll only be in charge of one team instead of three like this last year, so I'm hoping to continue having spare time to dedicate to my personal sanity and other endeavors like keeping my fitness at what I hope are at least moderate levels.

As most of you who are friends with me on Facebook are probably already aware, I have tried to become a regular at my local indoor rock climbing gym, Ascension Climbing, making appearances at least 2-3 times a week. I'm now working on 5.8 projects, which I realize may not sound very impressive, but considering I only started climbing 5.6 routes on a consistent basis about 2 months ago, I'm happy with the progress. Sending a 5.10 by July may be ambitious, but it gives me something to work towards, and I love how this sport challenges me both physically and also mentally. It's not just about powering through a climb. There are techniques and problem-solving skills required that keep things engaging and fun. In addition to climbing, I'm also continuing to work on my running in preparation for the Publix Half-Marathon coming up on St. Patrick's Day weekend. My long runs are presently in the 6 mile range with pace times typically around 8:09/mile. With these two activities, I'm improving both my cardio as well as my strength. Now that the weather is warming up, I'll also be incorporating more hiking and backpacking to build up my legs for Rainier.

Finally, I've tried to work on doing my part to help my fellow man....er...young man, by forming and leading a Sibling Support Group at my school for students who have siblings or family members with disabilities. With the help of Holly Monahan, another special education teacher at Rising Starr, we have established a weekly group meeting where we are working on how to deal with being the sibling of someone with a disability. It gives the kids a chance to have their voice heard and to share with others who are in the same situation. Knowing you aren't alone can be a powerful thing. As I'm now introducing a series of lessons on leadership (since these guys are all going to have to be leaders in their families), it has been incredible to see the ideas and suggestions coming from such important young men. Although I still envision bringing a program like Big City Mountaineers here to Georgia, I feel like this is a good place to start and am excited to see where it will go.

That's all for now. I want to personally thank each and every one of you who has already helped contribute to my Summit for Someone climb of Mt. Rainier in July. Please keep spreading the word to others who you think might be willing to help out. New updates will be coming, so be sure to keep checking the blog and my climber page!

Oh, who is this person I met who has helped inspire so much of this change? Well, that's a topic for a different entry, but regardless of the outcome, I thank God for their introduction into my life.

SFS Climb 2011 - Day 2

This entry is deliberately brief. The vino has gotten to me, and the details of the day are not of the entertaining degree to hold one's attention for very long. Day 2 brought an introduction to "snow school". The temps around Estes Park continued to hover around the low 40s, and intermittent snowfall remained the norm above 7,000ft. Our new guide Kip Davis, who would serve to guide us for the remainder of the trip, decided that we should head into Rocky Mountain National Park to a place called Bear Lake. There above 9,500ft. we were to practice hiking and climbing techniques specialized for particularly snowy environments. We made our way around the frozen lake and came to a ledge on the left that presented a decent opportunity to try out new skills. As the flakes pattered against the plastic of our helmets, we spent the day learning the footwork neccessary to climb in snow, and we also got a brief introduction on how to ice climb; a passion that I would later come to embrace. The highlight of the day was the portion of instruction that focused on how to perform a skill called "self arresting". This is essentially where you practice falling down the face of a mountain and stopping yourself just before you careen off into oblivion. Disconcerning at first, this actually harkened me back to my days as a kid when sliding down a steep hill of snow would be a thing of pleasure on some random day off from school in February when, by southern standards, the weather was particularly wintry. We practiced arresting both with and without an ice axe, and after several trips down the hill with snow spraying in our faces and occasionally down our backsides, we retired to the parking lot and ultimately the comfortable hamlet of Estes Park.

Tomorrow's activities were a mystery because of the weather, but we were confident that whatever we did, we would learn more important skills to undoubtedly help us further our mountaineering education. Rock climbing tomorrow would present a whole new set of challenges and even a bit of danger along the way. More to come soon....

SFS Climbing 2011 - Day 1

Day 1 began with a warning of flash flooding, and it ended with notice of a winter weather advisory that locations above 7,500ft. would be receiving between 6 and 12 inches of snow overnight. Did I mention that Estes Park, where I am staying, is at 7,522ft.? You know the weather isn't cooperating when even the guides don't want to go out in the stuff, especially when they start talking about avalanches. So today our guide decided that climbing indoors would be a much more valid option. I agreed.

After an hour-plus-long discussion on gear and equipment ranging from how climbing helmets and carabiners work, to how a neurotransmitter called substance p induces nausea in rock climbers who don't shake out their hands periodically while climbing, we decided to head into the city of Boulder to escape the elements and get an introduction to the technical aspects of rock climbing at the indoor gym at the Boulder Rock Club. After driving 45 minutes from Estes to Boulder, we began our lesson from Andrew Councell, a tall, thin, soft-spoken but very knowledgeable guide who appeared to be in his late 20s sporting a neat beard and somewhat messy sandy-brown hair. Over the course of the next 6 hours we went over knots, belay techniques, climbing strategies, and rappelling procedures; all information that we were told would come in quite handy during the next few days. As I looked around and observed the others in the gym (it was exceptionally crowded today because of the weather), I was amazed at the diversity. Most of the people climbing had body fat percentages that would make Gandhi jealous. You know the type. These were the kind of bodies you see on commercials for energy bars or Michelob Ultra, racing Lance Armstrong on bikes and then enjoying a beer on some metropolitan rooftop. However, I say "most" because I was equally impressed by the fact that there were also several men climbing who looked old enough to be my great grandfather, and there were women who could pass for Lane Bryant models. All of them were genuinely enjoying their time, and it occurred to me that this is a sport that might just be for everyone, given the right amount of basic knowledge and practice. It's a hobby that I certainly think will follow me back to Georgia.

Tomorrow the forecast is calling for more rain and snow, about a 60% chance all day, so I hope we will be able to put some of these newly learned skills into real-life action soon. More to come soon...

Conasauga River Trail

I'm off to check out another trail up in the Cohuttas this weekend. The Conasauga River Trail is a reported 12.1 mile shuttle hike which crosses the river for which it is named approximately 38 times. Backpacker Magazine deems this trail an 8-out-of-10 rating for difficulty, with a total net elevation change of 1,432ft. The forecast calls for mid 80s and 60s, so it should be just about perfect hiking weather. Can't wait to get back and write about this one!

Raven Cliff Falls

Located just northwest of Helen, Ga. off the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway is the trailhead to Raven Cliff Falls. This trail, which is surrounded by the Raven Cliffs Wilderness Area inside the Chattahoochee National Forest, is a 5 mile out-and-back hike with plenty of attention-grabbing scenery along the way. The hike follows Dodd Creek 2.5 miles upstream to the 80-foot Raven Cliffs formation where the rock is split by the falls in a series of cascades. The creek initially drops 60 feet before splashing over some ledges and finally creating a quite deep pool at the base of the falls. From the pool, the water flows down another 20 feet to continue Dodd Creek back towards the trail's eastern terminus. Hikers rarely lose visual contact with the creek and are treated to multiple other cascades and falls as they make their way. Several of these are rather large and present an excellent opportunity to take a swim or at least cool off with a splash of mountain water before finishing the trek.

After looking for a while, I finally decided that I would use this simple day hike as a way to try and hopefully get my little sister into the whole "outdoor thing" and also to spend a little quality time doing something that didn't revolve around soccer for once. Plus, I hadn't hit the trail in a while and really didn't feel like going it alone this go round. The last time I tried to take Kalley on a hike, I thought for sure that she would never speak to me again. We did about 7 miles on the Pine Mountain Trail, which I didn't think would be too difficult, but I soon discovered that my assumption was quite wrong. With a sore knee, wet shoes, and a dog that would not behave either on or off the leash, my sister left Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park with the assured resolution that we would never return to this, or any other such place of torture again. So it was to my surprise that she rather quickly agreed to go with me to check out this northern Georgia trail. With temperatures forecast for the lower 80s, and only a slight chance of rain, the weather was about as perfect as it could have been. The drive to the trailhead took us about 2.5 hours from Peachtree City, but it was a pleasant revelation to discover that there was no fee for parking or for access to the trail, something the USFS frequently does not let happen.

Almost immediately after beginning our hike, we saw a huge campsite off to the the right, approximately 200 yards from the parking area. Part of Dodd Creek flowed through it, and someone had even fashioned a rope swing which hung from a branch reaching out over the water. Campsites were abundant along most of the trail, and nearly all had flat spots for tents, fire rings, and were within 20 yards of the stream. The trail was very easy and relaxing, never less than 3-4 feet wide, and almost constantly shrouded in a canopy of mountain laurel and hardwoods. Overall, the hike in gains only about 650 feet of elevation, so it's a nice stroll, even for the most amateur hiker. It was exactly what I was hoping for: easy to navigate, yet full of beautiful scenery. Along the way, we also observed several cascades and other waterfalls (one in particular was over 50 feet high) which offered plenty of play spots and places to cool off. If I'm honest, a few of these places were more entertaining than the actual falls for which the trail is named. It didn't take us long to reach the western end of our route.

I am apparently notorious for my long stride and fast hiking pace, so it was nice to see Kalley maintain pace and reach Raven Cliff Falls in only an hour and a half. For me, this was a rather anticlimactic zenith. As much as it is touted for it's impressive beauty and wonder, the falls were little more than a trickle this day, no doubt due to a recent lack of rain in the area, and I was worried that I'd hear something like, "Geez. We came all that way for this?" However, I was happy to see my sister kick off her shoes and socks, and wade out into the pool at the base of the falls, happily checking out the water-created rock formation in front of us. While she was in the pool, I scrambled up the rock scree another 50 feet to see if I could find a way onto the top of the cliffs. I gave up after minimal effort and headed back down. As we were debating about how many snakes were living in the pool, I noticed that many of the surrounding rocks were beginning to become speckled with dark spots. Initially, we figured it was just overspray from the waterfall, but we quickly remembered that the weather forecast called for a 40% chance of isolated thunderstorms, and so we soon began to head back to the car.

At some point not long after, Kalley decided that she would run the rest of the way back and took off...with my dog Guinness fast behind. There I was, hiking at 2,000+ foot of elevation, with a potential thunderstorm looming overhead, and both my sister and my dog had left me in the proverbial "dust". A smile slyly crawled across my face though, as I soon realized that I had the car keys and both rain jackets. Sweet.

On her way back, Kalley had apparently taken the time to scratch the letter K into the path at various intervals just to let me know she was alive and on the right path. Very Hansel and Gretel-ish. She was having fun though, and that was the whole point. Because the trail is nearly all downhill on the way back to the parking lot, I covered the distance much more quickly. What took an hour and a half to hike in, took only 45 minutes to hike out. The rain ended up holding off, yet I still returned to the car to find Kalley standing there soaked not from the rain, but rather from the sweat of running that distance through mountain humidity. It was a good day, and time had been well spent. On the drive home, I asked her if she would be interested going camping with us sometime. She replied with a yes. I knew my mission was accomplished.