As I made it to the top of the Devil’s Ridge Overlook from Stone Mountain, I looked back to reflect on my journey through the Coastal Plain and Piedmont. At this point, I was over 800 miles into my expedition of enjoying the beauty of North Carolina’s natural world while documenting fragmentation from roadways and development throughout. It was an emotional moment taking in that I had made it this far while also being humbled by the fact that I had challenging terrain and elevation gains ahead. My body was beginning to tell me it was time for a prolonged rest but my heart and mind dwelled on why I began this journey in the first place and why it was important to keep going. I was hiking to raise awareness for the need to increase habitat connectivity in North Carolina and reminding myself of the mission of this expedition reinspired me to push through and ultimately finish strong.
Kicking off the mountainous region through the southern Appalachian mountains within the Blue Ridge range was as breathtaking as it was formidable! For the majority of the first 100 miles, I enjoyed hiking through dense hardwood pine forests, expansive high mountain meadows, rocky outcrops, gorges, and riparian buffers. The soundscape of rivers, creeks, and cascades lulled my mind into the wild where variations of birdsong played on surround sound. My eyes took in the tireless work of pollinators among the rich mountain vegetation and pops of vibrantly-colored wildflowers adorned the forest alongside the trail. As the miles and elevation gains began to weigh on my physical capabilities, I looked toward the next great obstacle between me and the finish line: summiting Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
I remember texting a handful of trail angels in hopes of finding someone who could help shuttle me over the next five days between my hostel and the trailhead. Trail angels are dedicated volunteers of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail who help hikers with anything they may need from offerings of snacks and hydration, to a shuttle, hot shower, bed, and a warm meal. I found my trail angel, a gentleman with a daughter my age who happened to also have a knack for adventures within nature. With great generosity, he safely shuttled me to my starting point for the day close to the base of Mt. Mitchell. I hopped out, grabbed my gear, and then quickly noticed I had forgotten my hiking shoes for the day. I looked down at my feet and realized that my Crocs were going to be put to the test to conquer the almost 4,000 ft of elevation gain to the summit ahead.
As I gained elevation with each step, the hardwood forest began to blend into northern evergreen conifers and alpine Fraser firs. Humidity was no more as the cool, crisp, pure air surrounded me. While my feet were in severe pain, the feeling of nearing the summit and having the experience of documenting the biodiverse ecosystem in this area made every ounce of pain worth it. I walked slowly out from nature’s trail to the paved path that led to the summit lookout and took in the panoramic views I worked so hard for. I said a prayer and began the final leg off of the mountain and towards the trailhead where I would end my day. That evening, I collapsed into my hostel room bed exhausted and thankful I had gotten as far as I did in my now, overly-worn, Crocs!
With sore feet, swollen legs, and overall exhaustion, I wanted to begin to pick up my pace a little more. I had one more segment to go until I was facing my final segment to the finish line. To be so close to completing one of the greatest adventures of my life seemed to make my feet want to move faster. I trekked through the beauty of the Balsams and into the uncertainty of the Middle Prong Wilderness. Situations arose that challenged me physically, left me with injuries, and tested my survivor skills. Through it all, I learned extensively about nature and all of its complexities. In one moment, you can be enveloped in nature’s heartbeat, observing the vibrant personalities and lives of wildlife, the variety of wildflowers, fungi, and trees among a patchwork of diverse habitats. In the next moment, you can be facing your own survival when changes to the weather, terrain, and personal situation can happen in an instant.
My family came to join me as I neared Waterrock Knob and trekked into the Cherokee area. I was now getting close to the last segment and was honored to be joined by Gil Jackson, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and an avid hiker. Listening to Gil’s hiking stories allowed me to feel a sense of solidarity and understanding from someone about what I had been through while being inspired to garner strength as he exemplified in his thru hike to complete the Appalachian Trail. Stopping alongside elk herds as Gil shifted his storytelling towards gifting my kids with his wisdom on the trail also gave my trek a deeper meaning. As the skies would have it, a downpour commenced with one fourth of a mile left until I reached the end of my hike for the day and the end of Segment two. The feeling of sheer excitement from making it to the final segment trailhead was hard to contain. It was now time to head back to the cabin for the night, rest up, and prepare for my final leg to the finish. I couldn’t wait to wake up and meet members of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation who would join me on a two day backcountry adventure to Kuwohi, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and my finish of the Trek for Connectivity Expedition via the Mountains-to-Sea Trail!
Please see the Mountain Film Recap below! Stay tuned for the final film recap in the next blog post!
Stories & Images by: Cassia Rivera